HOLLOW INSIDE, FIND FULLNESS

As the sun began to shine upon the neighborhood it became very apparent how much snow fell the night before. There was a thick, white blanket hanging on everything in sight. Power lines were sagging lower than normal, and when the slightest breeze whispered by, they bounced and appeared stretched to their limit. The branches of evergreen trees hung low from the weight, causing the lower branches to drape on the ground. The bare oak and maple trees didn’t seem to be bothered by the extra weight, but the moisture from the snow was dripping off the limbs and running down the trunk.

While clearing the steps and sidewalk of the fresh snow, it felt heavy and full of moisture. Water ran off the scoop of the shovel every time it was lifted off the ground. With clear skies overhead, the wind started to build while the power lines swayed back and forth, releasing snow until they were finally clear. As the winds continued, the trees didn’t fare as well - several evergreens had branches break off within a foot of the trunk, and the oaks and maples began to lose many smaller branches.

The scenery was very different later that day, most of the snow had melted, but the damage left behind was very apparent. There was a large tree that had the main trunk break off just above the ground. The heavy snow and wind had taken its toll on the tree. What really stood out was that the trunk was completely hollow on the inside, so hollow that I was amazed it was able to stand, regardless of the weight of the snow. A tree that appeared healthy on the outside was, in fact, empty on the inside.

Colossians 2:8-10 (NIV) See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the element spiritual forces of this world rather than Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness…

BUSY AS A BEAVER

Busy as a beaver, or so the saying goes, right? Christmas can be a very busy time of year, traveling to see family, re-connecting with friends, buying gifts, sending cards, baking, decorating the tree, going to church…the list goes on and on.

There is a very distinct difference between being busy and busy-ness. The action of busy-ness can be defined as things we feel we “need” to get done, “should” get done, or ”want” to get done, but don’t necessarily benefit us or those close to us. Busy-ness can take away from time spent with those that mean a lot to us, or like spending time reflecting on the birth story of Jesus.

Being busy as a beaver has purpose…meaningful purpose.

As Mr. or Mrs. Beaver waddle through the small brush in their life, the focus is to find suitable branches they can use to build a safe and secure lodge.

The large trees they encounter can be a source of food and for building dams and flood areas to increase their habitat.

As busy as beavers are, they don’t do it for show, they do it in private.  They’re also very hard to get pictures of, though I was able to get this one very lame picture of Mr. or Mrs. Beaver.

The beaver is that round blob on the left

They even eluded my trail camera, either by moving so fast the camera couldn’t catch them, or by moving so slow they didn’t activate it.

Notice the downed log

        The beaver eluded the camera but you can see a lot of that log missing

I do admire their purpose driven life, but also really wonder what their dentist bill looks like.

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

KEEP DIGGING

My wife and I were enjoying a leisurely boat ride on a nearby river one sunny summer afternoon. Of course, I told my wife it would be leisurely, but we both know I’m always on the hunt for something.

The sun was high in the sky causing every ripple in the water to sparkle like thousands of stars. We were heading north upstream when we noticed two bald eagles overhead. The eagles were soaring back and forth from one bank of the river to the other. Every so often a gust of wind would lift the eagles higher towards the sun and then they would swoop back down continuing to the hunt for an afternoon meal.

Eventually, we motored past the eagles to a narrower part of the river. This was a place that seemed more conducive for the prey I was after. As we continued upstream, the perfect location appeared like an oasis in the desert. It was a bank of the river that was a mixture of sand and rocks that were undisturbed by humans. I told my wife we were going to beach the boat on the bank so I could walk around and stretch my legs. The boat softly pierced its way through the sand and finally came to rest on the bank. I jumped out of the boat, grabbed the anchor rope and tethered it to a large downed tree. My wife put her feet up on the edge of the boat and started to soak up the sun.

Walking the bank with the sun shining over my shoulder, I scanned the sand and rocks looking for any sign of something sparkling back at me. After several minutes a sparkle appeared, and it was exactly what I was looking for…a deep red, raisin sized agate. It was small, but it was precisely what I was on the hunt for this day. The rest of my stroll was uneventful, so I wandered back to my wife and the boat. As I approached the boat, something caught my eye; it wasn’t a sparkle, but more of a glow. The object was different than any other stones around it. I bent over to pick up the nickel sized object, but it didn’t budge. I started brushing the sand away from around it and kept brushing the sand away until eventually the object was unearthed. It was the shape of a rounded pyramid and the size of a softball…it was a chalcedony agate! To this day, it has been my most captivating find, mostly because I had to keep digging to see what lay underneath.

A friend reminded me lately that a blog about agates was in order.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail. for when he stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

BEING HUMBLE HAS IT REWARDS

Have you had 15 seconds of fame?  Are you still waiting for it to happen? Maybe you don’t want the attention and feel more comfortable standing in the shadows. Is it possible to enjoy both?

I think everybody will have a moment of “fame” at some point in their life. It may be showing off talents for many to see or being the center of attention when a presentation flops, however fame isn’t always a positive experience.

Trees seem to have a good balance between fame and staying the shadows. In the springtime, they sprout new buds and produce some spectacular flowers that attract the attention of many creatures. During the summer, their lush green foliage can be easily overlooked because it’s everywhere. In the fall, their magnificent color change draws people outdoors to catch a picture of the beautiful scenery. During the winter months when the nights are long and their branches are bare, trees are more subtle. Even during times of subtleness, trees have a way of supporting other things in having their moment.

One of my favorite sights is the horizon just before sunrise. As the sky starts to turn from black to a deep blue, the plain, dark silhouette of trees helps accentuate the color scheme. Slowly, the deep blue sky lightens, and when the clouds cooperate, the sky glows with a combination of yellow and orange. Once again, the dark silhouette of trees helps to accentuate the beautiful canvas…sometimes being in the shadows helps others to shine.

Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

SELF-CONTROL

I don’t do well with self-control, and this past Thanksgiving was a perfect example. Because extra pounds have been creeping their way onto the scale, I’ve been trying to watch what I eat. I did pretty well during dinner, eating only one plate of turkey with all the fixings. However, when it was time for dessert the flood gates opened and I ate four pieces of pie with ice cream and Ready Whip. My stomach aches just reminiscing about it.

Since this is an outdoor blog, not a food blog, let’s get to the area where I have the least self-control…firearms deer hunting season. Now, I could give you all kinds of reasons and excuses as to why I lack self-control during the firearms season and so I will. First, I love deer hunting! I love everything about it - the time spent with family, time in the woods, and all the prep work leading up to it. Second, the minute I get home from the hunt, I start looking forward to next year. The list goes on and on. 

This year, like many previous years, I told my hunting partners that I’m only going to shoot a buck. Also, this year, like many previous years, they scoffed at me, knowing I lack the self-control. When opening morning arrived, my anticipation was very high. A couple hours after sunrise, my son sent me a text stating a doe was heading my way with a buck 30 seconds behind her. He even said, “wait for the buck, it’s right behind her.” This got my heart pounding with excitement, so much so that I’m sure the space station could hear it. Sure enough, a moment later the doe came right toward me. My mind raced with thoughts of what if the buck doesn’t come this way, or what if this is the only deer we have an opportunity to shoot? BANG! I decided quickly and harvested the doe. Sure enough, 30 seconds later here comes the buck. BANG! There were no “what if” thoughts for him. Sure enough, that evening my hunting partners harassed me about shooting the doe. NOTE: no other deer were shot that weekend and I brought home the big buck trophy (second year in a row).

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

STAY IN THE LIGHT

Even though it’s been getting darker and darker on our evening walks, our dog, Ruby, doesn’t seem to care, she just loves going for walks.

Enjoying illuminated trees at night

Recently, I’ve noticed things changing.  As soon as it starts to get dark, the song birds stop singing and settle in their nest; the squirrels, who seemed to be everywhere just a few weeks ago, suddenly disappeared up the trees and nestled in for the night. There are also less people out and about.

Once all seems quiet, creatures of the dark start to wake up. First, the predators start to prowl over the area. Owls will suddenly appear, perched overhead looking for a tasty morsel. Foxes will constantly be on the move looking for their next prey. Then, as the night grows on, the scavengers slowly creep out from their holes. Raccoons and possums waddle around looking for any scraps that may have been left behind.

One similarity about the creatures of the dark is that they stay in the shadows and on the fringe of any light. As Ruby and I walk in the dark, these creatures start to creep near us. When we get near an area of light, the creatures fall back and keep their distance, but as soon as we enter the darkness, the prowl begins again.

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

BEAUTY IN THE VARIETY

Photo Credit: Renee Leigh Bailey

Ah, fall has arrived, which means the leaves are changing and bringing about some of the most spectacular colors of the year.

If you’ve been anywhere near a park or even a cluster of a few trees over the past couple weeks, you may have noticed people out with their cameras. Some may be taking high school senior pictures, wedding engagement or family photos, or just trying to capture the beauty of Creation. One thing’s for certain, they’re all taking advantage of the beautiful colors. The variety of trees and shrubs is what brings out the various colors - the evergreens hold onto their deep green foliage,  oaks slowly turn from their summer green to a dull brown as the fall progresses, birch leaves quickly turn yellow before releasing them early in the season, and maples (my favorite of all) have a variation of yellow, orange, and red.

Photo Credit; Jon Quijano

Photo Credit: Renee Leigh Bailey

As the season progresses the leaves disappear and only a skeleton of trunks and branches remain, making it hard to tell the difference between them.

Revelations 7:9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…

Photo Credit: Me and Minnesota's North Shore

REJOICE AND BE GLAD

There was a tug on my fishing line, so I let some out to allow the fish to devour the entire night crawler.  After a few seconds, I reeled up the slack in the line and then set the hook…

A month ago, my oldest son and I made plans for a fall fishing trip. As we coordinated our schedules, we reminisced of a fall fishing trip several years previous where we absolutely hammered the walleyes. You could say, we had visions of walleyes dancing in our head. My son expressed that he hoped we’d catch a few hogs (aka big, fat walleyes).

I headed north from home and my son headed west from his college town - it was a two-hour drive for each of us to meet. We got the boat ready and launched it into the water and through a narrow river leading out to the lake. As we came around the final bend in the river, we began to feel the blustery cold wind. The weather forecast was wrong!  Instead of the predicted light breeze, it was more of a harsh 20 mph wind. However, we came to fish, and fish we did.

We fished with the wind, across the wind, and against the wind. We tried several different techniques and bait…nothing was biting. As we continued to fish our way down the lake, the wind was finally started to let up. Suddenly it happened, there was a tug on my fishing line. It didn’t feel big, but it was something. As I reeled in, the anticipation was growing, and when the time was right, I lifted my catch out of the water…it was a pair of pliers. To be exact, they were hook-out pliers, the ones used to remove hooks from deep in a fish’s mouth. It was better than nothing, and I even took a picture since it could’ve been the only thing we caught for the day. We continued to fish and eventually my son caught a nice walleye; not the “hog” of our dreams, but still nice. Unfortunately, that was the only walleye of the weekend. We didn’t let that stop us - we caught several perch, sunfish, many bass, and a crayfish…yes, a crayfish.

We didn’t get exactly what we came for, but we sure had a good time creating memories.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

HOW WE GET THERE

It’s very inspiring and humbling for me when someone sends a picture of themselves wearing their Timber of Faith hat while out and about.

Recently, a lifelong family friend, Desi, sent a picture of her husband wearing their hat in Springfield, Missouri. Desi grew up in the upper Midwest. We spent a lot of time together in our youth because our parents were best friends, which gave us the opportunity to become friends. I think it’s safe to say, Desi never pictured herself living in Springfield, MO.

Over the years Desi has lived on the west coast on two separate occasions. During the second occasion, she met her husband, Jake, whom has been an incredible blessing in her life (pretty sure she never pictured that happening either). Their path seemed to be heading exactly where they wanted when all of the sudden, like for many of us, the path changed. The thing I admire most about their situation is they used that opportunity to become closer to God, which inadvertently brings them closer together. Even though they’re still on course for their life together, the steps taken may not be ones they planned.

 

A happy model

Proverbs 16:9 In the hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

MAKE IT BETTER. BE BOLD

Looking back on the past 31 years of whitetail deer hunting I’m reminded of how much the hunting techniques my family uses have changed…and for good reasons.

The very first time I went deer hunting my stand was a branch that measured about three inches thick in diameter. It was nailed between two tree trunks, and the “bench” stood about two feet off the ground. Twenty minutes into the hunt my skinny butt was already sore, and I couldn’t sit still. Needless to say, all the fidgeting around prevented a deer, let alone any animal, coming within a hundred yards of me.

The next year we brought metal folding chairs to sit on. The chairs were more comfortable, which enabled us to sit still longer, creating more opportunities to see deer…emphasis on “see”. Sitting on a folding chair on the ground meant we were at eye level with the deer, which means, if you can see them, they probably already saw you. In this situation you have about one second to shoulder your rifle, find your target, and squeeze the trigger. (Think about it, it probably took you at least three seconds to read that sentence). We were definitely seeing more deer, but our success rate was still very low. Harvesting one deer between the six of us was a good year. We clung on to this technique for way too many years because things were “good.”

One year, my oldest brother took a bold step and used an abandoned stand that was elevated and deeper in the woods. He immediately had great results - he could see the deer before they saw him, giving him ample time to be ready. His success rate sky-rocketed, and within in a few years we all were hunting from elevated stands. We didn’t shoot every deer we saw, but the hunts were a lot more enjoyable.

This picture doesn't span the entire 31 years...we didn't have many reasons for pictures early on

Imagine if we allowed ourselves to stay in that comfort zone of things just being “good.” Thankfully, my brother took the bold step that led not to only enjoyable hunts, but great memories for our family!

2 Corinthians 3:11-12 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever. Since this new way gives us confidence, we can be very bold.

FALSE ADVERTISING

The wife and I planned a day trip to Taylors Falls , MN. While making plans we talked to some friends who had just been there. These friends also informed us there are no falls at Taylors Falls. Secretly I thought our friends were crazy…no falls at Taylor Falls?!…ya right! In fact, my wife and I felt confident there were falls at Taylors Falls. In fact, the reason we felt so confident is that we thought we remembered being there and seeing falls.

We started the day with a long leisurely drive following the banks of the St. Croix river. When we arrived at Taylors Falls, it felt like I walked ridiculously fast to the river. Expecting to see the falls around the next bend, I readied my camera to prove our friends wrong…or maybe the next bend, or the next bend, or maybe not. Eventually we found a park ranger and asked where the falls were. With an awkward smile she said, “there are no falls”. “No falls at Taylors falls?” I asked. The ranger explained how the power company installed a dam on the river over a hundred years ago and now there’s only rapids.

Taylors Rapids...aka Taylors Falls

Despite the disappearance of the majestic falls we thought existed, we thoroughly enjoyed the day.  It got me thinking, what if we sold ourselves as what we used to be instead of what we currently are? Picture yourself back in high school. I’ll use myself as an example - there were many different groups or cliques people were in, and I was in the rocker/burn-out crowd. I had long hair, wore all black attire, smoked, drank, and poked fun at everything different than me. I’m not ashamed of my past, but thankfully by the grace of God and a loving woman by my side, I matured a great deal. However, if people came looking for the old me, they’d be surprised - hopefully pleasantly surprised and not disappointed they didn’t find the person who existed long ago.   

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.

THE BIRDS AND THE BEES...AND CICADAS

It felt good to be up early with some free time to enjoy the peacefulness of my backyard. Sitting on the deck in silence, I prayed and meditated. As the time slowly passed, my attention was drawn to a sparrow hopping around in a clump of weeds. The sparrow was feeding on seeds of the plant, plucking each cluster clean before moving on to the next. Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns. And yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

Soon it was time to get cracking on the project for the day - picking up plants and placing them in just the right spot around our new retaining wall. My wife and I arrived at the garden center early enough to beat the Saturday rush. As we wandered around looking for just the right plants and flowers, it became apparent that bees and butterflies thought this was a great place to be as well. They were everywhere and they didn’t seem bothered at all by us being there. It was a beautiful site! We picked out the plants we wanted while the bees pollinated everything in sight. Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.”

By the time we arrived back home, the sun was getting higher in the sky and the air was getting warmer. The warmer temperatures meant one thing…the cicadas would be buzzing at an ear-piercing volume, and this summer there have been an obnoxious amount of them. The buzzing is what attracts the opposite sex for mating. Who would think such an annoying sound would attack a mate? Exodus 10:14 “…Never had there been such a plague of locusts, nor will there ever be again.” I think it came close this year!

A cicada hitching a ride on our bumper

Trying our best to ignore the annoying mating call of the cicadas, the wife and I got to work. I dug the hole and she set the plant just right and back fill around it. The project went rather smoothly and after several hours we were finally done. We stood back and enjoyed the fruits of our labor. Genesis 2:18 “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him”

Our dirty, sweaty, swollen hands

It was a great day enjoying many of Gods creations...except those cicadas.

SMELL THE FLOWERS

Earlier this summer my wife took it upon herself to fill our planters with flowers. Typically, this is something we do together, together in the sense that she picks out the flowers and I plant them.  However, this year I was busy with work and other home improvement projects.

So, on a Saturday morning while I was working on our retaining wall she went to the garden center and loaded up on flowers. When she arrived back home, she gathered the necessary tools and off she went. Later that day while

walking back up to the house I noticed she had all the planters filled with a variety of beautiful flowers. There was pink, red, yellow, and of course purple…her favorite color. I complimented her on a job well done, and her reply was, “I probably put too many in each planter.” As the summer went on, she gave them the necessary care they needed, and they were flourishing. On the 4^th of July, we had family over for a BBQ.  Her aunt commented how nice the flowers looked, and again her reply was, “I probably put too many in each planter.” “As long as they get plenty of water, they’ll be fine,” her aunt replied. Recently, my wife had a friend water the flowers while we were away on vacation. When my wife contacted her friend when we got home to thank her for the help, she also commented on how nice the flowers looked. It was finally sinking in that she did a good job with the flowers.

Sometimes we can be so critical of ourselves that we forget to stop and admire the beauty of our work and smell the flowers.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS

The morning sun was just above the horizon, its rays of light piercing through the trees. For the past several weeks the morning air had been warm and thick with humidity. Today the air was cool and dry, and the neighborhood was quiet (which is typical for a Sunday morning). Sitting on the steps of our deck that leads down to the yard, I watched Ruby, our yellow lab, chase squirrels back up their trees and push sparrows from one bush to another. Every so often she would run up the stairs to me, prying her dew-soaked head under my hand looking to get her neck or an ear scratched, then off she’d go chasing more critters.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, its beams of light finally reach the Earth’s surface, and the unseen dew on the bushes that soaked Ruby’s head was now visible on each blade of grass. There were far too many to count, but they were twinkling like the stars in the midnight sky. Intrigued by the vastness of the droplets, I crept in for a closer look. I kneeled on the grass and looked at each drop of dew on the blades of grass. Ruby joined me and soon both of us were laying in the grass.  Each droplet was unique - some so tiny they were barely visible, and some so heavy they pulled the blade of grass they clung to closer to the ground. Eventually, the mosquitos outnumbered the drops of dew, so Ruby and I retreated into the house.

I’ve never paid much attention to morning dew before, let alone each droplet, other than thinking of it as a nuisance that gets Ruby’s paws wet, but this morning was different…Ruby noticed too.

Luke 12:7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered; so don’t be afraid, you are more valuable to God than a flock of sparrows.

TAKING THE LONG ROAD

Another Timber of Faith cap left the country! In a previous blog I shared that one of the caps was taken on a trip to Mexico (read previous blog), and shortly after that the owner of a different cap let me know they took theirs through Canada! Here’s his story.

The shortest distance from point A to point B is a straight line. That statement is true, however it’s not very practical in real life. For instance, when you’re out for a hike, you may be able to see your destination, but may have to overcome many obstacles to get there. The same may be true for a trip to the grocery store, you might just go to get a few burgers for grilling, but all of the sudden the candy aisle is in your way.

The man in this story started making plans for an ice fishing trip to Lake to the Woods. Lake of the Woods is a very large lake on the border of Minnesota and Canada. Most of the men going on the trip live in the Fargo, ND/Moorhead, MN area. A straight line from their home area to their destination on the lake, or as the crow flies, is 150 miles. However, these are men, not crows, which means they had to follow roads. The roads they had to take took them 75 miles out of their way and through Canada.  Even though they went a considerable distance out of their way and through another country, they eventually made it to their destination.  Their first annual ice fishing trip was a success! Many fish were caught and a good time was had by all…well worth taking the long road.

Kris showing off his Timber of Faith cap and a couple of their catch (I think the cap brought them luck)

Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you fill me joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

WHERE OUR VALUE COMES FROM

It feels like forever since my last blog post.  To be exact, it’s been 26 days; that’s 19 days longer than I like.

The busy-ness of life was beginning to wear me down and I knew that needed to change. The way I let go of all that life has been piling up on me is to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of creation. This usually happens early in the morning when there’s less people and noise, but that hasn’t been working out, so I went to a nearby park to clear my head.

Arriving at the park in the late afternoon gave me an appreciation for how much other people use the park.  The bench I like to sit in was being used, so I hunkered down at the base of a tree and allowed myself to melt away. After saying a few prayers, I started to focus on the woods around me. A butterfly caught my attention. Initially it was casually fluttering around, working its way from plant to plant, then the wind picked up and started blowing the butterfly back the way it came from. Occasionally the wind would die down and the butterfly continued on its original path. However, as sure as the sun rose and set that day, the wind picked back up, pushing the butterfly back to where it started. I found myself rooting for the butterfly, “keep going…you can make it!”  This went on until eventually the evening wind faded away and the butterfly continued on to its original destination. 

I’m glad I took the time to get outdoors and witness the butterfly in the same struggle I had recently found myself in.  Life was pushing it around, yet it prevailed and moved forward.

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

SEEK AND YE SHALL FIND

Several years ago, our family took a trip to Yellowstone National Park. One of the main objectives was to see all the different wildlife that called the park their home. Okay, maybe this was my primary objective, but the rest of the family didn’t seem to mind.

Only a few minutes after the entering through the park's east entrance, we came across a lone buffalo. I must admit, I was very excited! We just got there and we were already witnessing one of the first creatures of Yellowstone. I jumped out of our vehicle and took about a hundred pictures while the buffalo eventually wandered away into the vast forest. I climbed back into the vehicle,

but my family didn’t seem as excited as me, possibly because we had already been in the car for 8 hours. A few miles further down the road, we noticed a few cars that were stopped. As we crept closer, we saw a black bear on the side of the road. This time all of us were excited. As I got out of the vehicle, two bear cubs waddled out from behind a bush, and about a hundred more pictures were taken. What an awesome trip so far, we came seeking wildlife and we were succeeding.

The next day we spoke with park rangers about the best places to

see bear, moose, elk, sunsets, and so on. We took their advice, and each day we set out in search of our quarry. Some days we drove for over an hour and were fortunate to find what we were looking for; the more we searched, the more we found. Other times it took longer, and even though we grew tired, hungry and grumpy, the reward always seemed to be there.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

PAY IT FORWARD

The sun was just starting to dip below the tree tops and a fresh evening breeze began to dance its way down the river cooling the back of my neck. The swift current of water pushed the waders tight against the back of my legs causing small rocks to tumble around my feet. Each step had to be methodicaly so as not to release any of the river’s debris downstream and alert my prey. A fallen tree at the river’s edge created the perfect rapids that led into a fishy looking pool.

I motioned my fly rod forward and back several times before letting the fly land in the rapids just above the pool. As the fly drifted through the current into the pool, I picked up the slack pulling the fly slightly across the current. Eventually, the fly was clear of the pool with no fish interested in devouring it. My next cast landed in the same place, however, this time as the fly drifted into the pool, there was a quick tug on the line pulling it tight. I quickly raised the rod setting the hook on the feisty brown trout. It jetted from bank to bank trying to spit the fly from its mouth. Eventually, the trout tired and I pulled it close to my legs, unhooked the fly from its mouth, took a picture, and released it back into the current.

For the next forty-five minutes I continued this process working my way downstream, hooking ten more brown trout and releasing all of them. The gentleman who taught me to fly fish releases everything he catches, and I follow that practice as well. The majority of fly fishermen I’ve met also catch and release everything they hook. Decades of these practices has allowed the trout population to flourish. This doesn’t mean everyone catches buckets full of fish; hence the term fishing, not catching. However, the opportunity is there, if the fish is willing.

Luke 6:38 NLT Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full-pressed down, shaken together to make room for more. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

WANNA DISAPPEAR?

Have you ever wanted to disappear? There’s a chance you have experienced a situation where you wished nobody knew you were there - possibly in a work meeting where you hoped nobody asked your input because you were daydreaming and not paying attention. Maybe it was in the middle of a test you didn’t study for and all the questions seemed like they were in a foreign language. No doubt there are others that come to mind as well.

All of these situations can be viewed as negative experiences, however there can be positive situations in which a person would like to disappear. One that comes to mind for me is the minute I step foot into the woods. When I enter the woods, I don’t want there to be any sign that I am or was there. Everything that enters the woods with me exits the woods with me. During the fall deer archery and spring turkey hunting seasons, I take this to an extreme level. These two hunting seasons are times when full camouflage is allowed. In addition to camouflage, I do my best to be as scent-free as possible. It’s very enjoyable for me to be in the woods while none of the wildlife knows I'm there. On many occasions, squirrels have scurried up the same tree I was leaning against, birds have landed on branches a few inches from my face, and whitetail deer have silently meandered past, only a few paces away.

 

Two weeks ago, while turkey hunting with one of my sons, I looked towards him to confirm his whereabouts and was amazed at how well the camouflage worked. In the picture, he was 25 feet away and standing upright in the center. The picture on the right is zoomed in. Eventually, we quietly hunkered down for the evening hunt, enjoying the songs and dances of the creatures around us. No turkeys were harmed in the making of this blog.

Matthew 6:1,4 1Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 4then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

PRESSURE

The house we live in is on a hill, actually on the side of a hill. Living in a hilly area definitely has its advantages - a few of those advantages are that wildlife really seems to like it, when our boys were little they could sled down a snowy hill right out the back door, and it’s also great exercise walking up and down the hills (although not everyone would consider this an advantage). A few disadvantages are trying to drive up a snowy hill, mowing on a hill, and probably the most frustrating thing of all is trying to manage the water in the springtime from snow melt and spring rains.

The earths pressure crumbled these huge slabs of limestone

Several years back I had the ambitious idea to build a large garage into the side of our hill. My thought was to take advantage of as much space as possible. The extreme frustration and shear physical exhaustion from making this project come to fruition was overwhelming, and still is to this day. The challenges come from water that flows downhill and directly toward the garage. It’s amazing how much pressure water creates! Water from rainfalls flowing down a hill can wash out anything in its path. When the ground water freezes, it expands, actually heaving the earth. When the frozen ground water thaws in the spring, the frost leaving the ground causes it to heave even more before settling back in place. The pressure is immense! In order to keep the pressure from crushing the garage and surrounding retaining walls, great lengths have been taken to release the pressure. Drain tile and gravel around the garage to give it a place to go, and gutters with downspouts to redirect. So far, the results are promising.

If any of you have experienced anxiety or panic attacks, you know that these are typically the result of built up fear/anxiety/stress (aka pressure). Finding positive ways to redirect or release pressure is crucial in preventing situations that can crush our foundation and wash away our path.

Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise-in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

FAVORITE TREE part 2

Recently I wrote a blog about my favorite tree which reminded me of my family tree (read previous blog here); now I’m adding to that…the blog, not my family tree.

The Banyon Tree

The Banyon tree is different than most traditional trees. While most trees have a main trunk and single root system, the Banyon tree’s roots are shallow, grow sideways, and then protrude back above the soil and create another tree. That process continues, creating multiple trees from the same root system.

That process got me thinking about a few friends in my life that are as close to me as family; in fact, maybe even closer. These are men I choose to let into a deeper part of my life. They know things about me that some of my family members don’t even know. We’re from the same root system, the human race, and keep growing closer.  

Thanks Debi!

There’s a particular family member of mine who is close to just about everyone in our family. She is connected by the same root system and is also close to all the trees that grow from it. She knows everyone’s name…even all the second cousins, and in our family, that’s a lot of names to remember. She attends every family gathering, personal events, knows everyone’s birthday, stays connected via text, phone calls, emails, social media, and probably even writes a letter to some. This person even takes their Timber of Faith cap to Mexico, and we should all blessed to have a family member like her.

2 Corinthians 1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort we ourselves receive from God.

ARE WE EVER REALLY ALONE

The sound of something running through the woods was getting louder and louder, which meant whatever it was getting closer and closer. Pivoting around in my stand, I readied my bow. Two bucks were running right at me, then stopped 15 yards away. Drawing back the bow, I set my sights on the larger one and let the arrow fly…

An always willing partner for the woods

Archery hunting for whitetail deer in the fall and turkey hunting in the spring are times of solitude for me. They are typically times when I hunt alone and spend countless hours in silence. It’s a great opportunity to focus on the current moment and enjoy God’s beautiful creations. People have asked me, “What do you think about for hours when you’re hunting in the woods alone?” That’s easy, I think about hunting. On one particular turkey hunt, I hunted alone, camped alone, and sat by the evening fire alone. Funny thing is, I never felt alone. In fact, while in the woods I never feel alone. It’s a nice time of reflection, relaxation, and to think about hunting. Being in solitude is quite unusual for me, because I’m typically a social person. After returning home from that trip, my wife’s ears may have been bleeding from all the talking I did. There’s something satisfying about being able to do things on your own.

The arrow found it’s mark and the hunt was over. The adrenaline rush was incredible! My heart was pounding and I was practically jumping up and down in the stand. It was the pinnacle of my first archery hunt and wanted to share it someone, then I realized I was alone…or was I?

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

MY FAVORITE TREE

My Favorite Tree

The reason this tree is my favorite isn’t because of the type of tree, even though I’m a huge fan of maples, it’s because of the shape of the tree. It’s not a perfect lollipop shape; in fact, it’s a little lop-sided and leaning a bit to one side. It’s a lot like most family trees.

My three brothers and I come from the same gene pool (or tree trunk) and the same parental influence. Even though we come from the same place, we all have free will, and boy did we take advantage of it. We were all towheaded, mischief-making, little kids. We each found our individual way to get into trouble, yet being connected as brothers, we also found plenty of trouble together. As time went on each of us found our own path. While one was into sports, another was into music; while another enjoyed the outdoors, another not so much. We started growing our own branches and adding limbs to them, and even smaller ones to those limbs. Sadly, some branches have split and started growing different directions, yet still remain connected in some way or another. Looking at the tree overall, you can see some branches growing close to one another with a lot of limbs connected. On different sides of the tree, the branches aren’t so busy and have more space. That’s what I like about this tree - it reminds me of my family.

Pretending to be doo-wop singers

As for my brothers and I, we will always be connected, even while doing our own thing, and once in a while when we’re together, the little towheaded, mischief-maker comes out in all of us.

Psalm 127:3-5 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.