THE GIFT OF GIVING

My eyes slowly opened, and everything was blurry. After blinking a few times and rubbing the sleep from my eyes, things started to come into focus. I noticed the house was quiet. This was a rare occasion in a house with four young boys. It felt so good just lying there until it dawned on me; it’s Christmas morning; what am I still doing in bed?! I threw myself out of bed, probably yelled something at one of my brothers about it being Christmas, and flung the bedroom door open, banging it against the wall. I ran through the hallway, which seemed a lot longer back then, and headed down the stairs. The stairs were non-existent to me. I took one large leap to the first landing and then one more as I thunderously landed on the living room floor.

As I straightened up and gazed toward the Christmas tree, there it was...the best Christmas present of my youth! The metal and brass pieces glared blinding reflections of light as I cautiously walked toward it squinting my eyes. I sat on the little throne, picked up the two smooth, wooden sticks and began to play my first drum set. It was a Mickey Mouse set and I loved it! If anyone was still sleeping at that point, no one was asleep anymore.

Maybe not the exact set...but this is how I remember it

My parents had a knack for knowing what we wanted for Christmas. It was one of those things I took for granted as a kid - like how they provided food, shelter, and protection. They never seemed to think much about it, they just did it. Being a husband and father, I now understand how you just do things for those you love without thinking much about it.

Much like my parents, the woods provide many of the same conditions. Trees provide food for us and many critters of the earth. We build homes from their timber and the critters build nests within their limbs. They protect everyone from the scorching sun, heavy rains, and relentless winds. I am grateful that both my parents and the woods are a part of my life.

I'm also thankful for you, the readers of this blog! Without you, I would just be some guy hammering away on a keyboard. To show my appreciation, five of the new Timber of Faith caps will be given away. If you are interested in a cap, please comment below, or send me a message on Facebook. Your name will be placed in a drawing to distribute them. THANK YOU!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

MAN, IT'S DARK OUT

It’s that dark time of year. It’s dark when you go to work, it’s dark when you get home…it always seems to be dark. On December 21^st (the Winter solstice) It will only be light for 8hrs 46min 12secs of the 24hr day. That’s a lot of darkness!

As a pre-teen I was able to find my way into plenty of trouble. On one occasion the trouble was serious enough to bring me in front of a judge. Leading up to my court date I tried to act cool and pretended like it was no big deal. Within our family it was a very big deal. My dad had to take time off work to be at court. He even cut my hair, so I wouldn’t look like a vagabond. The night before court was the longest, darkest night of my life, I didn’t sleep a wink. I laid in bed thinking about all the “what if’s”. At that age I didn’t know how to clear my thoughts and be at peace. I anxiously waited for the sun to rise. The seconds seem to tick by in slow motion. My body tossed and turned hundreds of times that night. I can vividly picture the bottom of brothers bunk from starring at it for hours and hours. Eventually the sun finally rose, and the day begun.

Fortunately, this current very dark time of year does offer many opportunities to catch a sunrise. I love watching the sunrise! A sunrise marks the fresh start to a new day. It doesn’t matter what happened earlier, currently, or what is yet to be; while watching the sunrise, nothing else matter. It’s 10 to 15 minutes of complete bliss for me. Do you have a way to find your peace?

A recent winter sunrise

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

GUARD YOURSELF

There are a ton of trees in our area, however only a few fire hydrants. You may be thinking, “yeah, so?” Well, there are also a ton dogs.

Dogs and fire hydrants make me think of those cartoon images from my youth where it seemed like dogs only “relieved” themselves on fire hydrants.

Maybe those cartoons were of dogs that lived in the heart of dense inner cities, or maybe it’s easier for an artist to draw a cartoon of a fire hydrant rather than a tree. Either way, dogs in my neighborhood have a plethora of trees to choose from, and they seem to take advantage of each and every one.

So, why all this talk about dogs and where they relieve themselves?

Well, the other afternoon I was walking our dog (a female, who doesn’t utilize either a tree or a fire hydrant) and noticed that a lot of the trees are discolored from dogs relieving themselves. So, of course, that got me wondering if it’s harmful to trees. After some research, turns out it is and can also cause long term effects to the tree. The bark of the tree provides some protection, but not very much. These trees, though rooted firmly in their foundation, can’t defend themselves, so there they stand, day in and day out, taking whatever the world (or dogs) dumps on them.

Thankfully, we have a way to protect ourselves from becoming the world’s dumping ground.

Ephesians 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power, put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

STAYING FOCUSED FOR SUCCESS

Knowing it could be many hours before getting out of my deer stand or even seeing a deer, I nestled into my seat and patiently waited for the sun to rise. While sitting in the darkness I reminisced of previous hunts and felt certain there were deer sneaking all around me. Finally, the sun began to rise, just as it has for the past 31 deer hunter opening mornings. 

As the darkness gives way to the light, my eyes and ears go to work. My head slowly pivots from side to side like an owl scanning for field mice. In recent years it takes a bit longer for my eyes to focus. 

An experienced hunter could see many possible deer in this picture

In the twilight everything looks like a deer; the short oak tree with its brown leaves, the trunk of a fallen pine tree; even my own shadow looks like a deer. My ears pick up sound as well; the flutter of a chickadee’s wings swooping overhead and the woodpecker looking for breakfast in a dead tree.  I also hear a red squirrel chattering away; maybe to warn me of an approaching deer or maybe to warn the deer of me. Nevertheless, I am completely focused on my immediate surroundings. My eyes zoom in around each tree and behind them looking for any movement. As the sun continues to rise the frost begins to settle on my shoulders and everything else in my life fades away; it’s just me and the woods. I know that the longer I stay focused on my objective, the higher percentage of success, so for countless hours I continue to focus on the woods in front of me and nothing else. Now, if only I had that type of focus in other areas of my life.

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter til the full light of day. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.

WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY

It was the last day of the Trout fishing season in Wisconsin, so my good friend, Scott, and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful autumn day and go fly fishing. The plan was to go immediately after church. We both had our gear ready and waiting in our vehicles. Once the church service ended I swiftly got out of the pew, kept my head down, and made my way to the back of the sanctuary for a subtle exit. Wouldn’t you know it, someone had a question about the church’s heating system. After spending a bit more time than planned, we finished the heating system tour. As I headed toward the exit, another guy stopped me and had a question about tools he wanted to borrow. I kept the conversation to a minimum until finally, there was a clear path to the exit. I joined Scott outside, we loaded his gear into my truck and we were finally our way.

Scott had a secret spot we hadn’t fished before and he wanted to start the day there. He has a lot of secret spots and thankfully never blindfolds me while in route…maybe because I’m driving.

As we pulled up to the secret spot there was a vehicle already parked there. Hmm, some secret spot, I thought to myself. In addition to the vehicle, the shore leading to the bank of the river was covered with “No Trespassing” signs. We headed further down river to another secret spot. The next location looked perfect; the sun was shining on the water, making each ripple look like twinkling stars. We geared up and hit the river bank. The fishing was pretty tough; there were plenty of trout in this river, however they weren’t attacking our flies liked we wanted. Over several hours a half dozen trout were landed, photographed, and then released back.

Since the fishing was slow, my attention drifted to other things around me. (Side note, I collect agates, which I consider as just another of the many ways to enjoy the outdoors.) While maneuvering the bank of the river I was looked down to check my footing and there it was…an agate. I scooped it up and tucked it into my vest.

The day seemed to be filled with opportunities that I hadn’t planned on.

Colossians 4:5 Be wise in the way you act toward others, make the most of every opportunity.

NOT OUR TIME

I love the anticipation of planning a trip!

It had been a couple of years since my longtime friend, Matt, and I got away for a weekend of fishing together. It’s mind blowing how quickly time flies by. Anyway, we coordinated our schedules and made plans to fish Lake Superior on Minnesota’s North Shore. Everything was coming together; we checked fishing reports the weeks leading up to the trip and gathered up all the gear we’d need. The anticipation was really building!

Weather and wave forecasts are very critical for a trip like this. Strong winds and storms can create some monstrous waves on Lake Superior, and my 17-foot boat does best in waves 2 feet or less. Well, wouldn’t you know it, the initial forecast was calling for storms and strong winds. We did have a backup plan if the winds and waves were too high on Superior, but storms meant ugly fishing anywhere nearby. We were due for a weekend away and after some consideration decided to go regardless of the weather forecast. As the days passed and the weekend drew near, the weather forecast started to look better. Matt and I drove up Friday after work, and my older brother was going to meet us Saturday morning. We arrived at the cabin and started getting everything ready for the next morning of fishing. We were up late into the night catching up before we decided to call it a night. The alarm was set for 5:15am so we could leave for the lake by 6:00am.

“BRYON, IT’S 6:03!” Matt barked in the darkness from his bed.

I love the sunrise on water

Anticipation turned to hysteria as we jumped from our beds. I checked the alarm; I had set it for 5:15 pm! We threw items into a cooler, loaded a bag of food, and grabbed some last-minute gear. Thankfully, most of the fishing gear was already in the boat and the landing was nearby.
We met up with my brother, launched the boat, and were leaving the harbor by 6:40am. The three of us worked efficiently together and had six lines set up by sunrise, which by the way was spectacular.

Waiting for any fish to bite

It turned out to be a gorgeous day. The lake was remarkably calm and peaceful; in fact, too peaceful, the fish weren’t biting. We tried different locations and tactics, but nothing worked. On Sunday, Matt and I even tried a different lake; still nothing. It didn’t matter how bad we wanted it or how hard we tried, the fish just weren’t biting.

Life can be like that too - things don’t always turn out the way we want, but fishing with friends is always worth the trip!

Acts 1:7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” 

IT'S NOT TOO LATE

Have you ever heard someone say, “Labor Day means that summer is over”? I hear it every year, and every year it drives me crazy! Now, if you’re a teacher or student, summer vacation is over, but that doesn’t mean summer is over. This year summer ends on September 22; that’s three weeks past Labor Day. Maybe I’m a little touchy about this subject because summer goes by fast enough in the upper Midwest, and I’m not about to give up on it just because the kids are going back to school.

I don’t like to give up on things before time is due. Enjoy what’s left of summer, because fall will be here and the harvest season will begin. When the harvest does arrive, what will you reap? Have you been sowing? There’s still time! Thankfully, we humans don’t have to follow Mother Nature’s seasons of growth and harvest. It’s never too late to finally tackle that list of things you’ve been wanting to get done or learning new ways to better yourself. Start sowing and reap the benefits of your harvest.

What do you want your harvest to look like?

    

                                                       

Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE

The day came to move our oldest son back to college, and since this was the third "move in" day for him and we've become pretty efficient at moving him, we knew there would be plenty of time to see the sights. This particular location has several lakes nearby, including Lake Superior. My son and I planned to go fishing in the afternoon, while my wife and younger son toured a local mansion. The town seems to have something for everyone, which is good because we all have different personalities and interests. Plans for fishing changed to boating on Lake Superior, so while my wife and younger son saw the sights from land, my oldest son, his girlfriend, and I saw the sights from the water. At the end of the day, we met up for dinner to share the afternoon's stories (because we all like food).

Of course, thinking about that day and our different interests, my thoughts turned to trees.

Pine trees, palm trees, apple trees, and maple trees. What do they have in common? Yes, they’re all trees (the answer is as easy as it seems). They all have a root system, trunk, branches, and foliage, however they all look very different from one another and provide different things. Some provide fruits or nuts, most provide shelter to animals, and all provide a uniqueness to the landscape. What if all trees were exactly the same, how dull would that be? Same goes for friends and family; we all have a purpose.

Isiah 64:8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

A CHILDS IMAGINATION

Growing up, being around my cousins was (and still is) a good time. There were a lot of us so, of course, we were usually sent outside play, which was fine by me.

One of those times, several of us were running around outside and decided to re-enact The Wizard of Oz (not sure why, maybe it was the time of year where it had recently played on TV, or maybe because we were kids and that was all the reason we needed). One of the older kids assigned characters to each of us; I don’t recall which character I was, probably a munchkin or monkey…nothing cool like the Tin Man or Oz. Before we got too far into our characters, we needed to create the tornado scene. My cousins' house had a hill on one side, and the plan was to roll down the hill to simulate being in a tornado. So, when we got to that part, we all lined up at the top of the hill and rolled down. Yes, only Dorothy was in the tornado, but we were kids and all of us wanted to experience the tornado. After rolling down the hill, we all got up, dizzy and wobbling into one another. After we got ourselves together we continued re-enacting the rest of the movie. It was a very fun and imaginative time. To this day, I remember rolling down that hill with my arms tucked in, rolling for what seemed like for miles, seeing the sky, the earth, the sky again, until I reached the bottom.

 

                          How we imagined it.                          

       How we actually looked...thank God for imagination       

Many years later while visiting my cousins, I looked up at “tornado” hill. Thinking back to that day, I walked to the top of it and with one large step I was at the bottom. The massive hill of my youth was actually less than 3 feet tall and 3 feet long. Oh, to have the innocent imagination of a child.

Matthew 18:3 Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

WHO'S INFLUENCING YOU

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Jim Rohn

Recently, my sister-in-law, my wife, and I were taking a casual boat ride along the shores of a lake up north. It was a beautiful evening! A bald eagle swooped down in front of the boat and then flew up into a pine tree and perched there for a while as we took several pictures. We continued on, enjoying the lush landscape bordering the lake. Eventually, we came to an area of pine trees that had a few leaning out from shore, away from the crowd; it reminded me of my life in high school.

Most of my time in high school was spent with four other guys, and we would get into trouble…a lot of trouble. It didn’t matter if all five us were together or if it was just one of us, if something bad happened, we were all presumed guilty. That’s where I learned the term “guilty by association”. I wasn’t too concerned when I was presumed guilty for something one of the other guys did because we always looked out for one another, and they would take the blame for me as well. The principle and vice principle of our high school knew us very well. Needless to say, the road I was on didn’t have a lot of promise to it.

During summer break one year, on the 4^th of July to be exact, a friend of mine introduced me to her friend. Well, that friend of hers became my girlfriend and has been my wife now for almost 25 years. Having a steady girlfriend immediately changed my priorities; I wanted to be a better person. My buddies noticed it right away. They gave me a hard time, of course, but they knew how important she was to me. There is still distant contact with one of those guys, but I wouldn’t change where I am today. Sometimes it only takes one person to make a dramatic difference in your life and change the course of your path.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will.

ARE GOOD INTENTIONS GOOD ENOUGH

Being outdoors - whether it’s hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, with family and friends, or alone with God - is my happy place. One of those “with family” times reminds me of when my younger brother and I went walleye fishing.

The location was a lake in northern Minnesota. This particular lake was where my father-in-law taught me how to Linde Rig for walleye many years ago (Linde Rigging is a technique of fishing close to the bottom of the lake). Countless hours (days…the more I think about it) and many weeks have been spent walleye fishing on this lake. In fact, my sons have also learned how to walleye fish on this lake. So, when my younger brother and his family joined us on vacation one year, I was very excited to take him fishing and show him all the great spots. We caught a good amount of walleye over several days of fishing, nothing really big though.

On the morning of my brother's final vacation day with us, I wanted him to catch a big walleye, something to remember for years to come. We went to one of my usual hot spots and picked up a few smaller walleyes. Knowing we were running out of time, we headed to another productive spot. Several more smaller ones were caught as we continued to fish at different depths and speeds.

Then, it finally happened - he hooked a big walleye! The bend in his fishing pole confirmed it was a beauty. I quickly reeled in my line and grabbed the landing net. As my brother battled the lunker closer to the boat, I readied myself to scoop up the beast. The heavy fish was now close enough to see in the water and it was a beauty! My brother lifted his rod bringing the serpent to the surface of the water. I could tell the fish wanted to make a run to the safety of the deep water, so I thrust the net into the water just as the beast made a run for it. I intended on scooping up the fish with the net, not thrusting the net at the fish. Unfortunately, the thrusted net broke the line and the fish made it back to the safety of the deep water. However, my brother didn’t care what my intentions were, only that it could have been the biggest walleye he ever caught. 

James 4:17 So whoever knows the right thing to and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

CHASING RAINBOWS

It was the summer between 5^th and 6^th grade, a time when life was mostly innocent.  My days were spent doing typical boy stuff; mostly riding my BMX bike everywhere and anywhere.

One particular morning, it was raining when I woke up; not my favorite way to start the day while on summer vacation. Since it was raining, I took my time getting ready. I casually ate my bowl of cereal while staring out the window and thought the rain was never going to end. After finishing my Cheerios, I decided to go biking.  What did I have to lose? I was 11 and who’d really care if I got wet? So, I jumped on my bike and off I went.

Not long after setting out, the rain let up and the sky started to clear. 

Photo credit: Steve Erb

Soon, a beautifully bright rainbow appeared in the distance.

It was huge and spanned the horizon; the brilliant colors were mesmerizing. It seemed as though the rainbow was calling to me, so I decided to see where the rainbow ended. I pedaled as fast as I could because, even though I was only 11 and didn’t know much, I did know that rainbows never lasted very long. My legs were pumping and my heart was pounding as I darted down the street, taking short cuts through alleys, crossing railroad tracks, and blazing through a field, all the time keeping the rainbow in sight. While nearing the edge of the field, the rainbow disappeared as quickly as it appeared. I stood there disappointed while trying to catch my breath. On the ride back home, I told myself, “Next time, I’ll catch it!”

Looking back, I now realize that rainbows aren’t meant for us to catch or grab, but rather a gift for us to enjoy and appreciate when they do appear.

Genesis 9:16 “Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

THOSE LITTLE BUGGERS

A couple of weeks ago my wife and I went camping with friends. If you were anywhere near the upper Midwest at that time, you know it was very hot and humid, which doesn’t make for the best camping conditions, but we had planned this trip a while back and were excited to go.

We camped at Wild River State Park. The campsites were spacious and heavily wooded with large

trees that created a lush overhead canopy that shaded our tent, yet allowed for the strong breeze to weave its way through the timber.

One of the trees that helped shade out the sun

On a late morning hike, we encountered a large tree that strong winds had blown down.  It was broken right at the base of the trunk, which looked rotten, but on further investigation it was evident that a colony of insects had eaten away at the tree. I was amazed at how insects could tunnel their way through the hardwood. Our friend suggested the base of this tree was possibly damaged when it was young, which then allowed for the pests to move in. It must have taken many years, if not decades, for something that small to weaken that large of a tree and cause so much damage.

A close look at the base of the broken tree
Photo Credit: Shakyphotography.com

 Are the small things in life eating away at you?

James 3:4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.”

THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE GET WASHED AWAY

Well, it’s been one month since my last blog and in my opinion, that’s about three weeks too long. I let the hustle and bustle of life distract me from something that keeps me grounded.

One of the distractions was our oldest son's graduation from college. Don’t get me wrong, that was a very important moment in his and my life; I’m very proud of his accomplishment! However, in addition to his graduation were all the things that go along with it, like driving several hours to where he attended school, loading up all his belongings to bring home, and then unloading them.  It can wear a person out!

Another distraction was having a medical procedure done that took me off my feet for several days; one that is still slowing me down a bit. Once again, it was a good thing to do, however there were several little things that came along with it.

Last week, my wife and I were talking with some friends. The topic was where are you currently at with Jesus? My answer was, “I feel disconnected from Him.” It makes total sense since I didn’t bring Jesus with me through all those things. I also know it is primarily because I hadn’t spent a lot of time outdoors during those "distractions," and outdoors is where I connect with Jesus.

 

This is a good place for cleansing the soul, plus there's a lot of trout!

I spent many hours outdoors this past weekend with my good friend, Scott, fly fishing. We caught 40 plus trout and released them all (Scott caught most of them). The next day I started the morning at a local park sitting on a bench praying and meditating amongst large oaks and tall pines. Leaving there I felt lighter because I took Jesus with me.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go

AN UNEXPECTED REWARD

It was 4:30 a.m. on a mid-April morning and my headlamp illuminated a narrow tunnel through the darkness as I was following the trail to my turkey hunting spot.  There was a periodic sparkle from drops of dew clinging to grass and branches and eventually the point came to veer off the main trail and head deeper into the woods.

The first portion of these particular woods are thick with brush and hard to walk through, eventually opening up to an area of large pine trees where the walking is much easier. The ground is covered in long pine needles, which make a slightly crunchy sound when walked upon. After several steps beneath the pine trees, several large birds flushed from their roost overhead. My heart sank; they were turkeys…turkeys that normally roost on the opposite ridge. After taking a few deep breaths, I decided to keep walking cautiously to my pre-determined spot.

After arriving at my spot, I hunkered down on the ground against the base of a pine tree. After making sure the leafy camouflage clothing completely covered me, I shut off my headlamp. The sun started to rise about 30 minutes later and the black sky gave way to a midnight blue that kept getting lighter as the sun rose.

As the woods came to life with light and song birds, a thunderous turkey gobble cut through the air…then another, and then several more. My heart started to pound. Thankfully, the turkeys were still nearby, unfortunately they were out of my sight. However, a jake (which is a one year old male) and a couple hens flew down from their roost near me and held my attention for about 20 minutes, but they eventually left the area as well. The rest of the day remained quiet.

I set up in a different spot for my evening hunt. After sitting completely still for a couple hours, a hen started yelping nearby. She was slowly working her way towards me and  once she got into sight, I could see a large fully strutting tom (adult male) was with her. He was beautiful - his tail feathers fanned out, his head glowing white from excitement, and the rest of his feathers were puffed out. They started to veer around me. The tom was 43 yards away and gave me only one opportunity. I squeezed the trigger…BANG! The many small branches between the tom and I folded over and he flew away unscathed. That concluded the first day’s hunt;  my heart sank for the second time that day.

The next morning I entered the woods in the usual fashion and found a different tree to hunker down next to. The storm from the night before made the woods very quiet for several hours that morning. Suddenly, I could hear something coming through the brush in front of me; it was a whitetail deer. The deer knew something wasn’t right because it kept stomping its hooves and snorting at me. After several minutes, the deer laid down, right there, about 20 feet from me. I started the hunt hoping to get a turkey and  although a deer bedding down almost right next to me wasn’t the reward I was expecting, it sure was worth it!

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

PALM TREES AND PALM SUNDAY

Recently, I took a trip to south Texas to visit my parents; they retired and moved there about 12 years ago. One reason was because the climate was better suited for my mom’s health (they used to live in the Midwest). Growing up in the Midwest myself, it was hard to imagine a better place to live, but my parents really enjoy it there and live in a really nice retirement community.

Now, back to the trip - it was 35 degrees in the Midwest when I boarded the plane that was loaded with college-aged spring breakers. The young man sitting next to me was more interested in “snap chatting” than having a conversion. No worries, I thought to myself, I’ll just read my bible and enjoy the flight. After a couple of hours, the plane started its decent. As the warmth of the southern sun glared through my window, my jean covered legs and long sleeved covered arms got pretty hot. I was slightly envious of the snap chatting college kid with his shorts and t-shirt, but only slightly. The plane landed, I grabbed my bag, met my dad, and shed a few layers of cloths as we jumped in his car.

My parents tolerated my desire for tourist traps

As we drove back to my parents place, the palm trees fascinated me. Palm trees were everywhere, as were retired people, and spring breakers. It was nice to hug my mom. We spent the weekend doing some sightseeing and a lot of talking.

Of course, the palm trees kept catching my eye. The unique thing about palm trees is they have one very tall main trunk with no branches, and at the top is a brilliant green plume of long narrow leaves. Two Sundays ago was Palm Sunday. Our Pastor's sermon started out by explaining how Palm Sunday got its name (I was thankful because I never knew). In Greco-Roman times, palm branches signified victory,  so when all of Jesus’ followers waved palm branches and laid them on the path ahead of him into Jerusalem, it showed their celebration of His victory.  Little did I know, I was witnessing different forms of victory in south Texas that weekend - for the palm trees, all the growth was at the top; for the retirees, they were at the pinnacle point of their lives, and for the spring breakers, they felt at the top of their game. 

A victorious end to the day.

Matthew 21:8-9 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

SPRING INTO NEW BEGININGS

It was a beautiful spring day in the Midwest, so my wife and I took the dog for a walk. The sun was shining, it was 55 degrees, and the sky was a brilliant light blue. As we walked, the wild life was very active -  rabbits bounding around, squirrels scampering to and fro, and Canadian geese above were heading north in their customary V formation. The nice weather brought a lot of other people outside as well; people pushing their children in strollers, whiles others walked their dogs like us, all with smiles on their faces.

While we walked and enjoyed the fresh air, we could see the remnants of winter. The snow was gone, exposing the heavy layer of sand that covered the streets. Grassy areas were now brown and dormant, the trees were bare and their wet, shriveled up leaves scattered across the ground, all pointing to the end of one season and the beginning of the next.

  

Soon the springs rains will come and wash away all signs of winter. Grass will be nourished and start to turn green, and buds will begin to form on trees. Any grit from the previous season will be washed away to make room for new beginnings.

Isaiah 43: 18-19 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and steam in the wasteland.

THE BROKEN CAN HEAL

Growing up with three brothers in a neighborhood of mostly boys, things usually got pretty physical. Being young boys we had no reservations about taunting and teasing each other; it was usually in good fun though. Every so often when we were all gathered together, usually standing around in a circle poking fun at one another, someone would get shoved into the middle of the circle. While in the middle of the circle, the other boys would push back and forth. The one in middle would try to fight their way out of the circle, but the others would just push harder. The bigger boys would typically fight their way out of the circle, while the smaller boys couldn’t make their way out. The longer someone was stuck in the circle the higher the tension would get.  Sometimes the tension would get to be too much and the boy stuck in the middle would feel like cracking and get mad. If that happened, the other boys would increase the tension and push the limits. I was usually one of the boys that would crack and get mad.  Once that happened, the fun was over and the other boys would pick me up and let me out of the circle. It took about five seconds to get over it and get back in the game. Little did we know how this exercise would teach us to endure life’s pressures

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See the new growth on this damaged tree

Recently, there were very high winds in our area for several days. The continued tension left many trees with broken and cracked branches. Trees don’t stop growing because one part is damaged; sometimes new branches come back even stronger.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

WHAT'S NOURISHING YOU?

This past weekend our family took a trip to northern Minnesota to visit our oldest boy in college and on our way, we drove through a small town called Floodwood. Now, over the years I’ve driven through Floodwood many times and the same thing always catches my eye, many pine trees are stunted in their growth, while ones across the road are flourishing.

Stunted on the left  and flourishing on the right

So, of course, when one has questions and needs answers, what do you do?  “Ok Google…”, or, “Hey Siri…” Those sources were helpful to a certain degree; they gave information like there are two rivers that connect nearby and that the area is very flat and prone to flooding. The information seemed to allude to the possibility that the mostly wet soil does not offer well-balanced nourishment, thus stunting their growth. Since I was not completely satisfied with the web’s information, I contacted a friend who works for the forestry department. After he explained that he works more with the social effects of forestry rather than the biology of trees, he agreed with the thought that the wet soil probably did stunt their grow…that was enough for me.

All living things need water, but water alone isn’t enough to properly nourish for a long period. Just like trees, we need well-balanced nutrition. For humans, food and water are our main source of nourishment, but it also comes from people we talk to, those who we allow to influence our lives. One of my favorite quotes is: “you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”

What’s feeding you; more importantly, is there something/somebody preventing your growth?

John 4:34 Then Jesus explained, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, and from finishing His work”

DON'T BE AFRAID TO GO OUTSIDE

Part of my job is to talk to people throughout the nation. Whenever I talk to someone from the southern states and they find out I live in Minnesota, they typically ask, “how can you live up there?  It’s so cold!" or " do you ever go outside in the winter?” They’re amazed by the idea of ice fishing, downhill skiing, and the many other outdoor activities there are here. If you live in the Midwest, you may have had similar conversations.

Now, I realize some Midwestern people don’t consider themselves as outdoor enthusiasts. Thankfully, there are others who construct things that individuals can enjoy from the comfort of their car as they drive by.

The following are a few local examples:

A high school friend, Jim Gorbunow, has built many snow sculptures to help educate people about kidney health and the importance of becoming a donor. His sculptures have earned the attention of local news outlets, which is a great thing to help spread the word. Not only does Jim take full advantage of the Midwest winter, but he uses it to help bring awareness. What a guy!

Photo courtesy: Jim Gorbunow Transplant page

Photo courtesy: Jim Gorbunow Transplant page

A man in our neighborhood also came up with a creative way to have fun with the freezing temperatures.

Frozen Pants creator: Tom Grotting

There are even companies that capitalize on the freezing temperatures. Ice Castles, LLC, builds ice castles throughout the nation and Canada. They charge a fee for people to walk through and enjoy their creations. This ice castle was within 30 minutes of our home so, of course, we checked it out.

Inside the castle

Of course, some of you may like the idea our dog, Ruby, has.

These are great examples of taking advantage of whatever your current situation may be, and no matter what, don’t be afraid to enjoy yourself!

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.

WHERE'S YOUR PATH LEADING YOU?

It was a crisp fall morning during deer hunting season (my favorite time of the year), the sun had been up for an hour and the woods were coming alive. There was just enough snow to cover the ground, which made it easier to see deep into the woods. The birds were singing and the squirrels were being squirrely when out of the corner of my eye I noticed movement on the main trail I was hunting. It was a large deer…a large buck! I quietly re-positioned myself to look straight down the trail in his direction. He slowly kept walking in my direction; just as he was about to come out of the thick woods, he left the main trail and started veering around me. He stayed in the thick woods, on a narrow path, keeping a safe distance from me. I would get a glimpse of him every 10 yards or so, until he was out of sight and safely enjoyed his day.

That was at least fifteen years ago, and I’ve learned a lot since then. For instance, when the hunting season is over and there’s snow on the ground, it’s a good time to scout for the next hunting season. The snow helps show the typical patterns of your prey. Some trails have so much traffic that the snow is worn away. Now, if one looks off the beaten path you’ll find that there is a secondary trail, one much less traveled. That secondary trail is where the wiser deer travel; they know predators typically hunt the heavily used trails.  The worn-down trail is easy to travel; everyone’s using it so it must be safe, right? But, what’s waiting for you down that trail?

 

Here it's easy to see what trail the deer are using.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road the leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

ARE YOU UNIQUE?

Our youngest boy likes to play with fire...let that soak in for a bit.

When our family was asked to light the Advent candle at church a couple years ago, he was more than happy to be the one holding the lighter. If there’s a camp fire to be started and tended to, he’s on it as well. When he starts a camp fire, he has his own way of doing it. He does it differently than I would, so it’s hard for me to just sit and watch him do it without throwing all kinds of advice at him. Thankfully, he’s always had a healthy respect for fire.

Everyone has their own unique way of starting a fire; some form a tee pee, others use the log cabin approach, and some dump gas on it, throw a match and run. Any way you choose, fire is the end result.

Everyone has a uniqueness about them, whether it’s appearance, physical ability, or personality, we’re all different and do things differently. No two trees are identical either and those differences make for a beautiful landscape.

Tree mushrooms are unique. (photo credit: Shakyphotography.com)

...But I enjoy their beauty...Oh, by the way DON"T EAT THEM

Mark 12:31 …Love thy neighbor as yourself.

LET THEM GO, SO THEY CAN GROW

As our oldest boy was packing his car to head back to college a couple weeks ago, his mom stood in the doorway with tears in her eyes, and I watched with pride as he methodically packed everything in its place. As parents, I believe that one of our jobs is to train our children to be independent and live their own lives. If that’s done successfully, it can be the most fulfilling, yet heart wrenching feeling.

Let’s take a moment and think about how trees release their children (seeds). When a tree’s seed is mature, it’s time to let it go. When a seed falls, if it stays too close to the parent tree there may not be enough nourishment for all to thrive and grow effectively. Sometimes animals and rain (jobs, friends, or future spouse) will pick up the seed and carry it further away than intended, but still to a place where it can grow effectively. Ideally, a gentle breeze will cradle it to just the right location where all can admire its growth. The point is, no matter how the seed leaves the tree, it can’t grow if it doesn’t leave.

One of our little seeds safely placed to spout.

Every time our son comes home we’re fulfilled and every time he packs his car to leave it’s heart wrenching. We raised him to the best of our ability and no matter where his travels take him, we must have faith in where he lands and pray the winds carry him home every now and again.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.