Bourguet Home

Micquette and I spent this last weekend in Monticello New Mexico. Monticello is a semi-ghost town of 100 souls on a dead-end dirt road West of Truth or Consequences. We found the school her grandmother attended, her great-grandparents graves, a fire house dedicated to James Bourguet (her great-grandfather). Across from the fire house, we had a long conversation about the area with a member of the historical society. The village, nestled in a peaceful valley, is a time capsule of the 1880's.

Driving North-West out of town, we crossed a wash lined by large Cottonwood trees. The word "Idyllic" ran through my head as the trees swayed in the breeze. "That's it, that's my great-grandparents house." Micquette's smile lit up the car. Under the trees, sheltered by a hill, stood what was left of an adobe house, it's blocks returning to the earth through rain and wind. We crawled under a barbed wire fence and stepped back in time. Over 100 years ago, her family built this home and filled it with dreams, hope and lots of children. I walked around the broken walls, listening to the story of a couple creating something from nothing. Creating family. The house had been home to a lifetime of memories. I looked through every tree for the fort that all boys build. We saw glass jars and a long abandoned refrigerator.

After James died, his wife Guadalope moved away. The structure had done its job. The kids were all adults. Micquette's grandmother, Lucia became a teacher, a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother... She lived in Silverbell Arizona: now a true ghost town. A week does not go by without someone telling Micquette a story of how Lucia impacted their life. Lucia's daughter/Micquette's mother, Lu became a teacher and, for thirty years, shaped countless minds and hearts with passion. The family of James and Guadalope Bourguet goes on and on, changing lives.

If you ever go to Monticello, drive out through the cottonwoods west of town. Just before the road dead-ends, lays the broken shell of a house on the right. The structure is empty: it's useful life over. Looking at the front door may see nothing special. Out of this doorway came a family that has changed their world. A legacy of honor, hope and faith walks from that door ever day.

It does not matter what your name is, where you come from or what you have had to overcome. You can make a decision to create something from nothing. You can send a dynasty out from your doorway. Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matt 19:26. Now it's our turn. As for me and my God, we will send out life, creativity, hope, healing, faith and love from our doorway.

May the Lord make His face shine on you,

Mark