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?