| Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter through the narrow gate that opens the way to heaven.” |
My wife and I took a recent trip to San Angelo. 3 nights and 2 full days. Neither of us had been before. We enjoy exploring Texas towns, following in Bob Phillips footsteps. We are usually surprised at what treasures we find off the beaten path. What we found? We stayed in the Old Central Firehouse Bed and Brew. Two women bought the former Fire Station and put lodging upstairs and a pizza restaurant downstairs in the truck bays. Very good pizza. It shuts down early on behalf of those sleeping above. We learned that the town of 100,000 is the largest in the state not having interstate highway nearby. There is a university, and an air force base. They have a first class visitor center with mesquite wood floors. Jim King told us all about the town history. The river walk has no commercial activity on it, preserved as a parkway. Three rivers meet there, all named The Concho. Originally San Angela, the name changed when the Post Office mis-spelled it. We ate at Peasant Village, a highly rated establishment. We both had the Brazilian steak special, not on the menu. $20. And it was so good. Not an expensive cut, but the marinade was something special. Wow! Fort Concho is a city park/museum, a post civil war frontier outpost with many original buildings intact. We had lunch (and dinner) at Miss Hattie’s. BLT and tomato soup for the Mrs. and Frito salad for me. For dinner, she had pecan crusted trout. I had to try Miss Hattie’s Burger, voted one of the best in Texas by Texas Monthly magazine. I can see why after it passed my lips. We spent part of a day at the State Park. We set out on a hiking trail. The lake was nearly dried up into a large pond sized puddle. We saw lots of deer tracks and scat. Finally saw the deer as well. On the trail we passed a man and woman on their way back. We greeted each other and ended up talking for a half hour. David and Mary Lempke from Nebraska. Most people would see the park as ugly. Arid terrain, mesquite trees, scraggly brush. But to me it is home. I was born in Odessa, and it reminds me of the landscape there. Not ugly at all to me. Sure, there are lots of beautiful places all around the world, but right here in Texas are so many little “best kept secrets” like San Angelo. Who knew there was so much to see? Oh, Conrad Hilton built the Cactus Hotel there in 1929, and after 4 years filed bankruptcy, thanks in part to the great depression. We toured the lobby and ballroom.
Heaven is a best kept secret of sorts. Jesus said that few will find the way to life. You have to get off the beaten path to find it. There they use gold as paving material. Father in heaven, thank You for the wonderful place prepared and waiting, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
– Jeff Beall
