Category Archives: Great Outdoors

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They That Wait On The Lord,…… Are Called Crazy??

The is the rainbow trail, very rocky and definitely not smooth and flat. Also it’s in the edge of the wilderness and is at 9000 ft altitude. Question…… Would you run, hike, trot, jog 100 yards on this path? How about one mile? How about, get this,…… 100 miles! You are reading this correctly! In the middle of our 10 day backcountry elk hunt/ fishing trip, we witnessed a most unbelievable site! People were running, hiking, trotting, this trail for a total of 100 miles. These people are crazy! Teenagers, young women and men, even a handful of 70+ year olds were determined to make the distance of 100 miles. I know, I agree, it’s just a crazy thing for someone to do. I’ve got it figured out now though. They do this because they are waiting……….

One elderly lady passed through our camp late at night as she was continuing her quest for 100 miles. (She looked 75 – 80ish) We asked her how she was doing. Her words were this…..”I’ve done 84 miles so far, looks like I’m gonna make my 100″. Those people are CRAZY!!

My job on this journey into the wilderness was to get my guys close to some elk. We were archery hunting. We definitely got into elk, but not close enough to bring meat home. These guys from West Virginia that I had the opportunity to “guide” were amazing! They were fun to be around, enjoyed God’s beauty in the mountains, and weren’t afraid to walk. They actually clocked in over 60 miles while on this trip. Unlike the runners, their walking was up and down the mountains, (9,000 to 12,000). Many days while hunting, they would hear an elk bugle and they would take off to its location. Didn’t matter how far or how hard! These guys were CRAZY!

Don’t let the picture fool you. It would take most folks 2- 3 hours of heavy breathing to climb this mountain. Would you do it? Most of you are saying no, cause that’s just crazy to climb that for a shot at an elk. But I’ve got this figured out. They do it because they are waiting…… and I guess that makes them crazy!

What about this picture? Would you hike a grand total of 11 miles to be able to fish this lake?

I made it to the top Macy Lake in the middle of this wilderness. A most beautiful place at 12,000 feet altitude. Caught two of the biggest cutthroat trout I’ve ever caught. Would I do this steep, 11 mile long trip again? Yep, why? Because I’m crazy and besides that, I’m waiting…………

Isaiah 40: 29-31 [The everlasting God, the Creator] gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,…….

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength: They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Do you see a common thread in all these “crazy” people? They are definitely crazy (me included), but they are all also waiting……… Allow me to explain.

Here’s another example of waiting. I’m in the middle of WAITING on my daughter. She’s getting married in three weeks. It’s an outdoor wedding, which means that I’ve been truly busy landscaping, weed eating, graveling roads, and “yes ma’m”ing any and everything she needs.

See, waiting is not necessarily sitting on the couch eating ‘tater chips. It can actually be actively involved with whatever process is happening. The runners are waiting for that “runners high” to kick in as they are on the 35th mile. The elk hunters are waiting for a close up shot as they stalk up the mountain. I’m waiting on that big fish to hit my hand tied fly. Hope is eternal!

I’m now waiting on my daughter to enjoy her special day…… even as we enjoy this busy time preparing for what’s to come. Each day is about to wear me out as I wait on her “hand and foot”. Ha! But each day is a joy because my waiting on her is giving me the opportunity to wait for something even more joyful!

Waiting…….. look at it a little differently. Actively involved with current activities while expectantly looking forward to MORE. Bigger and better things. That’s my take on me waiting upon the Lord. I’m not in a state of “doing nothing”. I’m in a state of “being”. My focus is on the Lord and His Will for me. If in my spiritual journey that means I “run for miles”, or “stalk straight up a mountain”, or try “eight different flies before I find the right one”, then it means that I am “waiting on the Lord”. I’m following Him, BEING with Him, and fully expecting more to this life as time goes on.

I totally agree that there are times when we wait on God by slowing down, by just praying, by just having a quiet time by the creek. But what I came to realize while in the backcountry for ten days is this. They that wait upon the Lord,……… are crazy! They are not after a goal, but rather the journey. They are crazy! They don’t think like most people of the world…….. they are focusing on having the Mind of Christ. They are crazy!

They are waiting! Not by idly passing their time, idly flipping through the channels, or going through the motions. They are actively in pursuit of God and His activities. Actively chasing where He is leading them. Actively waiting! They are CRAZY!

God, please give me and my friends the strength to follow You. Amen

I’m waiting on God. Actively waiting that is. Call me crazy! What about you?

Crazy wilderness preacher Dan Ainsworth

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To Be Successful In Life, Fish Like A Girl!

“You’ve got to fish like a girl!” Those words still ring in my head. I was fishing with a professional guide on the Arkansas River. He gets paid to fish, and he gets paid to give advice. He makes a living by helping others be successful. Quite honestly, his success as a professional fishing guide depends on the success he gives others as they fish.

So, I hired this guy to help me learn more about fishing for trout in the river. Good guy, fun to be around, full of knowledge, and ready and willing to help me have a successful fishing trip.

We met at the local fly shop. He picked out various flies and lures that the fish had been biting lately. We had some small talk. (I think he just wanted to hear me talk, with that Southern drawl thang I got goin’ on ya’know!)

He asked me what goals I had as far as fishing the river today. I pondered the question. Should I say, “I want to catch twenty fish, or I want to improve my casting abilities, or I want to catch the largest trophy trout ever caught from these waters.?”

I think my answer was pretty clever. “I want to be successful today!” My answer to his question should cover any and all desires, goals, plans, …… whatevers that are out there. Make me SUCCESSFUL! Brilliant! He should be impressed, cause I am! Teach me O wise guide. Er, Ah,…… I know how to fish, just tell me your secrets, techniques, hidden skills so that I can catch more………… and be successful.

He looks right through me with that “this guy is full of it” look. Sizes me up as if he’s got x-ray vision with those sunglasses of his. Then he says this. “I don’t know if you can do it. But to be successful in life, in love, and in fishing, you’ve got to fish like a girl!”

Well, alrighty then! Didn’t know I was talking to a psychologist or some kind of life’s guru. I want to catch fish and he’s telling me that if I want to be successful in life I’ve got to “fish like a girl”?

This could be a most interesting day is what I’m now thinking. Is this guy going to guide me fishing, or is he going to tell me how to live my life? Come to find out,…… he did both.

As we wade into the water to begin our fishing adventure, my guide begins to explain. “Here’s what I mean when I say you need to “fish like a girl”. Every man I guide fishing does the same thing. They wade out into the middle of the river as deep as their waders will take them. Then they cast their lines out forty, fifty yards, or even more!!! Looks like they are trying out for one of those Hollywood movies. Trying to impress everyone, (mainly themselves). Listen, basically it’s all about themselves. How far they can cast, how deep they can wade. They think their technique is better than anyone else’s. When the fish don’t bite, it’s never their fault. A man fishes and it’s all about “me, myself, and I”.

“But when a girl fishes……” he continues. As he’s talking, a smile big as Colorado itself shines on his face. “When a girl fishes, she’s all about the experience of fishing. She will wade out into the water maybe ankle deep. She throws her line maybe 20 feet ahead of her. And by George, she catches fish. Here’s why. “

“She’s not all about herself first of all. She’s into the fishing. She doesn’t wade but ankle deep into the water. Don’t know exactly why this is, but….. this gives her an advantage to see the waters (and fish) ahead of her. She doesn’t have to impress herself and others by throwing the fly way, way out there. She throws it closer to her. This gives her more control. She can naturally present the lure better. Also, she can set the hook quicker.

This guy is good! He is definitely giving me lessons on flyfishing, (and life in general). What I’m realizing is to “fish like a girl” means to quit letting everything be about me, myself, and I. Focus on the fish, watch the waters ahead of you. The next cast. That’s all that matters.

The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. John Buchan

When us guys (and some ladies) go fishing, isn’t it about I, I, I? That’s why we get frustrated when we don’t catch anything. That’s why we get discouraged after fishing for a time. That’s why we want to “give up” and call it a day way too quick. It’s because we feel that we are not successful. You and I think that there is something about us that is “not good enough” that is causing us to not catch anything.

Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. John 7:18

That scripture is telling us to “fish like a girl ” as well. See, if it’s all about you, whether in life, love, or fishing……. there is only so much to gain. It only takes you so far when it’s about me, myself, and I. Then it’s back to frustrations. But to see the whole truth. To BE REAL, in life, love, and fishing,…… then live your life and “fish like a girl”! Focus on what’s ahead. Focus on the experience not on yourself. In my way of believing AND living, that means focus on what God is doing in and around me. Live life each day talking (and listening) to God. How do you do that? Best way I’ve found to explain living like that is to …….. you guessed it…….. “fish like a girl”.

This week starts my ten day backcountry elk hunt/fly fishing trip with seven other guys. I’ll give you highlights to our adventure in a few days. Basically I’ll be guiding them into the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and teaching them to live and “fish like a girl”. Just don’t expect to hear any little giggling going on.

Ladies, girls,……. let’s go fishing. Allow me to tag along and fish with you. I’m pretty sure I can learn a lot from you. About fishing….. and life in general.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth, wilderness preacher and now living life “fishing like a girl”

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I See Where To Go….. I Just Can’t Get There.

This butterfly knows where to go. He can actually see where he needs to go. He can see through this problem stopping his journey. But in no way can he himself actually “go” through his problem and be rid of it. He’s going to have to have help. This butterfly is “trapped”, “confined”, “stuck”. There’s no way out! Ever been there?

I’m putting up new screening on the porch at the log cabin in Mississippi. I’m halfway completed with the project, when this butterfly flies in. He comes in where there is no screening yet and flies to the inside of the section of screening that I’ve just installed. You can see that the situation has made him totally confused.

Now, I don’t know how big a brain a butterfly has, but it’s running on overload at this moment in his journey. He can see the flowers in the yard. He can see where he needs to go. But he can’t “see” how to get out of where he’s trapped. That poor little butterfly brain is thinking, “all I gotta do is fly from this side to the other side”. It’s not going to work little butterfly. You can’t fly through the screen. You can see through it all day long. But, you need help.

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

I’ll save you little butterfly. He is so fragile,…… but so beautiful. What I do is this. I gently cup my hands around this delicate creature. He’s now inside my grasp. I’ve got him. I feel like I’m saving this butterfly from his own torture. He now won’t have to constantly fly into the screen over and over and over,……. thinking that somehow he’s going to fly free.

Carrying him outside for his release into freedom, I’m thinking. We need orchestra music playing in the background. This is a tremendous moment in this butterfly’s life. He will be ceremoniously lifted into the skies. I’ll open my hands and raise them into the blue sky and he will victoriously fly into the open air. “Freedom !” I yell. Wow! This has really become theatrical and there will probably be a whole movie made from this one scene of freeing the butterfly. 😉 Emotions are running high as I open my hands, the butterfly sees he can leave, and now it’s up to him.

He flaps those beautiful wings of his and he’s up and away. I’m yelling like it’s a football game and he’s breaking away for the touchdown. “Go butterfly Go!” (Hey, nobody’s around to see or hear me.) And he does! He flies away making a big circle (making a victory lap I suppose). He continues flying and flies…………well, flies right back inside the porch to the inside of the screening where he was in the very beginning. Once again he’s stuck.

Sometime you are the butterfly. You get “stuck” in life. Oh, you can see where you should be. Just like that screening, you can even see through your problem. But your problem is hiding an even bigger problem. You are not able to do it on your own. That’s, yep, that’s your real problem. It’s tough for a butterfly to admit that they need help. Your problem is not just a “screen”, but in realizing that you need help along the way.

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

God will help you and wants to help you. Focus on God’s will, not on the screen. He’ll free you time and time again if that’s what you need. God will wrap His loving hands gently around you. How? There are so many ways God works in our lives. It may be from a song you are hearing. A sunset, a scripture, an interaction with another person. Or maybe a story about a butterfly.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher 601-832-8567