Traveling through time and space to Port Aransas

Thursday May 19, 2022

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Traveling through time and space to Port Aransas

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands!

Today we take our long-awaited journey to the Gulf of Mexico – to Port Aransas, Texas. European history in Tejas (Texas) began along this coast in 1519 with Spanish explorations by conquistador and mapmaker Alonso Alvarez de Pineda. One historical thread follows him as he names the area after a Franciscan monastery in Spain’s Basque Country.

The Sanctuary of Arantzazu in Spain is appreciated today for its quiet life and the Franciscans’ devotion to the Virgin of Arantzazu. “The place benefits from the highland silence and peaceful atmosphere of the Aizkorri mountain range. In this area the Virgin of Arantzazu appeared to a shepherd named Rodrigo de Balanzategui in 1468. He found her in a thorn bush, and his exclamation, ‘Arantzan zu!’ which means ‘Thou, among the thorns!’ gave rise to the name of the place.”

We’ll be staying near the Chapel on the Dunes and directly behind a highrise called the Dunes Condominiums. Horace Caldwell’s Pier is a five minute walk, and the beach is nearer still. I assume our hideaway will be less quiet than the one in Spain, but taking a walk out to sea on the pier might be somewhat peaceful.

The largest fish caught off the pier was a 13 1/2 foot tiger shark. Years ago. Today’s fishing will be fun to watch, but that’s all. I don’t have a Texas fishing license, and I think that’s just fine. If someone catches a big fish while I’m out there on a peaceful walk, I can certainly take a break and get excited along with the fisherman.  And assuming Miles and Jasper are with us on the walk, it won’t be particularly still anyway, whether or not anyone is catching sharks.

“Thou, among the thorns!” A town’s name never had a more colorful genesis, whether or not the Europeans who eventually settled here had any idea. Jean Lafitte was one of those early 19^th century settlers. A hundred years earlier Spanish explorers brought horses to America and released them on “Wild Horse Island.” Monsieur Laffite was a famous pirate, and he buried treasure on what is now called Mustang Island, not far from Port Aransas. Perhaps we will do a little digging.

For centuries before these white Europeans arrived, the Karankawa Indians lived here, catching fish and eating them, living simple lives mostly without conflict. They painted pottery made from local clay and lived in willow-framed huts that were easily moved from place to place. They did not have regular sleep or eating schedules; they slept whenever they wished, ate and drank at all times of the day. They covered themselves with alligator oil to repel mosquitos.

In the centuries after the Europeans arrived, the Karankawas were mostly eliminated, murdered, wiped out. A few individuals claim descent from the Karankawa people, but their tribe is not officially recognized.

So we are going to play in the sand, swim in the salt water, walk on the pier, eat shrimp and crawfish and whitefish. I hope we’ll have music and devotions in the morning. Miles and Jasper will lead us in afternoon naps. Perhaps we’ll visit the modern day pirate ship that is anchored in the bay. Who knows?

I’m glad to know a little about the people of the place while we’re here, though, and offer what respect I can from a distance to those who lived here long before any white people arrived. It is very easy for me, descendant of German immigrants, to forget all about the Native Americans, the Karankawa Nation, and think things have always been the way they are now.

That is never true.

As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.

(Acts 15, Psalm 96, John 10, John 15)

(posted at www.davesandel.net)

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