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.