Category Archives: Steps Along This Journey

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Being Filled With Hope

Being filled with hope. That’s what I like about being a Christian. Being filled with hope. That’s what I like about fly fishing.

I’m excited, can’t wait, looking forward to this newest adventure,…… and I want you to come along with me. The next few months, I’ll be “guiding” several groups, families, and individuals into the wilderness to hike,explore, and best of all, do some flyfishing! The excitement of what we will experience gets the best of me sometimes. Knowing that someone may experience a hike to the mountaintop for the first time is a rush. Seeing a “just made new friend” catch a cutthroat trout for the first time is something I get a “kick out of”. Seeing a person change from just holding a fishing pole to actually getting into a rhythm and casting a fly makes me “come alive”. And there’s a Big, Big, part of me that wants to share these experiences with everyone, including you who read my wilderness preacher blog. So to everyone, you’re invited. Plan a trip, jump on a plane, Staci and I will pick you up at the airport if needed. Contrary to what “People” say, you don’t need a lot of money, time, patience, physical ability, or heck,…. you don’t need much of anything except a desire. Let’s change that to this,…… you just need the PASSION to want to get out to the mountains, rivers, streams, and lakes. I’ll be glad to go along side of ya!

Those of you who physically won’t be along for each trip, well, there’s good news!!!!!! I’m devoting the next few months of this blog to report on these fishing/hiking/ exploring trips. Each of you will get to experience these adventures as if you were there yourself!

What is it about exploring the wilderness? More specifically, what is it about flyfishing? Why am I so obsessed, so passionate, so “BEING ALIVE” when I’m flyfishing?

I came across this quote the other day. It sums it up better than I can.

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

Bam! That’s it for me!! That’s what causes my excitement! The never ending hope! Just one more cast. The next cast is going to be the one. Missed….. well, try again…… just one more. No luck? No problem cause the next fishing spot, the next day, the next lake. I’ve got an unlimited supply of hope. That’s what makes this so REAL for me. It’s not what you’ve caught. It’s not how many or how big the fish. It’s the pursuit of what is elusive (a mystery), and knowing that there is real hope in catching it.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. NIV Romans 15:13

See, that’s why I’m also obsessed, passionate, and living my life by “BEING ALIVE” as a Christian! God gives His children (me and you) an unlimited supply of hope. It’s not how you’ve lived in the past (whether good or bad). It’s not how big or how many fish ( your status, or wealth, or possessions.) (Or even how good you try to be) It’s the HOPE in Jesus Christ.

Once again read this quote: The charm of fishing (BEING a Christian) is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive(The Mystery of God) but attainable (By Jesus Christ), a perpetual series of occasions for hope (for blessings, joy, and peace).

God has given me a desire to seek after Him. I don’t understand many things here on this Earth. Since I don’t understand, I’ve learned to TRUST my Lord and Saviour. The Hope He’s given me (as well as you too), by the Holy Spirit, allows me to wake up each morning and say “God, what are You AND I gonna do today?”

SEEKING God’s Will and fish

So, join in with me the next few months by reading (and sharing) my blog. It’s your blog too you know.

I’ve made a bold statement and plan for these adventures. It’s this. They are not going to be just a good thing,…… but a GOD THING!!! I’m looking forward to these trips, and having you along with us.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher

Don’t settle for fish sticks
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Hurt People Hurt People (Comforted people comfort others)

It’s my Birthday, let’s have knee surgery!


Yep, the ole knee needed some surgery. The Doctor said there were a couple of tears, he could go in and fix it, ………..and I would be good to go within a week! Thankfully this was not a bunch of repair or replacement work on the knee. So honestly, it hasn’t been as bad as it could have been. But,……… bad enough to cause a little pain and hurt. How do I celebrate my Birthday when I’m hurting? (Just like you, admit it right now), if you or me are hurting, it’s pretty much a given that others are going to have to hurt as well.

C’mon now. I’m admitting so you might as well admit it too. We are not the best patients. We don’t like to experience pain. If we HAVE to experience pain, then ALL of us want someone else to be right there experiencing their own pain as well. Ever notice that the people we are the closest to, and care for the most, are the ones that we jump on the quickest. Well yea,…….duh…….. they are the easiest targets. Plus, they don’t know to get out of the way. 😉

Pain , what pain!! Need to stick my arm and hook me to an IV! Bring it on lady! What now? Banged my left arm on the side rails of the bed. Who did that? Dunno, they’ve taken my glasses so I can’t see who did it. It might have been me myself. I can’t remember now cause the nite nite medicine is starting to take effect.

Whew, that was quick. I’m awake now. After I’m allowed to fully wake, in walks THAT nurse. You know, when you first go in for surgery, everybody is, “Hey, how ya doin’, oh it’s your birthday, aren’t you sweet!” But THAT nurse is like, “Hey, let’s get you out of here, NOW!!!” She’s bossing me around. Do this, do that. Oh she’s got a smile on her face because she knows the torture she’s fixing to give to me. PAIN??? When the nurse ripped off the heart monitor pads along with hair, skin, and what seemed like the very fiber of my being, what did I do? Nothing. I took it like a man! Pain?? Bring it on lady. Pain? No problem. I can handle it. Load me into the car like a sack of potatoes. Shut the car door. Smile and wave at THAT nurse as she’s headed for the next victim. I’m now headed home. What pain and hurt I will be experiencing, I will be able to handle it. How will I handle it you ask? By making sure others are hurting. Just like you remember, I’m a people. And,…. hurt people hurt people.

Staci is driving me home. That makes her the easy target. I honestly don’t mean to be short,testy, and a little on the grumpy side. The pain is not too bad, but there is enough hurt there for me to be,….. well,…..short, testy, and a little on the grumpy side.

Traffic is terrible. That’s her fault. I deserve a honey bun. We stop and it takes FOREVER for her to go get it. Since I took it “like a man” concerning all that THAT nurse did to me, I now made Staci relive the whole thing with me. “Like a man”, I’m expecting sympathy from my sweetheart. Instead I get “poor baby”. I might as well go back to sleep.


2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

I’m back home now, the sleepy time medicine has gone away, and most of the skin injuries from THAT nurse have started healing, I’ve got to admit something.I realize that during my time of pain and hurting, Staci was by my side comforting me.

Our God and Heavenly Father provide us with comfort from all of our troubles. He does this out of love and compassion. He also does this so that we in turn can share His comfort to others just like He does to us. Totally makes sense, except when YOU are the one hurting.

Hurt people hurt people. We see it all around us. Comforted people comfort others. Do you see much of that? Hmmm…. you yourself can take a step in showing someone some comfort. Our Lord and Saviour stands there ready to comfort you during your times of hurt. Talk with Him and to Him about your needs. Then BE a Christian and share some comfort to this hurting world. One person at a time. Even to THAT nurse!!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher.

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Faced With Knowing You’re Not Good Enough

Oops, I crossed the line

There I go, making ANOTHER mistake! Seems that I can’t do anything right. I mean, try as hard as I might, I’m still not good enough. I don’t know if I could be considered clinically depressed, but I’m dealing with depression. Oh, ahh, not supposed to admit that am I. In our society it’s ok to have a stomach ache, a headache, even a heartache. But no one admits when they have a mental ache……… aka depression. Well, I’m admitting it cause………well, what else can go wrong. I’m frustrated, aggravated, and just down in the dumps. Hey, I know, I know, it could be worse, but today, in my mind it’s bad.

I’m struggling with, of all things, the pressure I’m putting on myself. Hey, I don’t intend to be perfect, but can I at least stay in line when I cut the boards. My project today is so simple. Build a bird house. Can’t find the nails, can’t cut a board straight. When I nailed the boards together, one of them split. I mean what’s the use right?

Whoa, I hear what you’re thinking. “Toughen up Danny boy,…… it can’t be that bad.” “Get it together, son”. “Hey, you just need to get better, bro”. Probably the best thinking I’m hearing is this one………….. “Why don’t ya just give it up, cause you’re no good.”

Hey, you guys out there think I’m always positive and things are going great with me right? Well, here’s a news flash………..you ready?………….. Dan, the wilderness preacher, sometimes gets depressed. Yep, I personally deal with the monster called “you’re not good enough”. Sorry to make you feel uncomfortable right now, but odds are, you yourself have to fight the “you’re not good enough” monster yourself. What can we do?

As disappointed as I am in my birdhouse, I go ahead and hang it on a pole.

See, a couple hours earlier, a pair of mountain bluebirds were sitting on the light line, chirping and singing away. They were “telling” me, that they were looking for a place to nest this year. That’s what made me want to build a bird house, and build it right now!

All I can see though are mistakes, mistakes, and more mistakes. That is the most pathetic, most “terribleist”, most worsest, whatever………… it’s the most depressing looking birdhouse I’ve ever ……. wait…………………………………………………………………………………

Then it happened. Within 5 minutes of me putting up my poor, pitiful creation of a bird house,….. guess what? Both the male and female bluebirds were going in and out of the house. They were singing and chirping and “telling” me that they LOVED IT!!

Galatians 2:16 NIV know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Christ Jesus. So we too have put our faith in Jesus Christ that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works…….

Look at it this way. I was depressed because of how my “works” had caused my birdhouse to look so bad. But, and this is important……… I had FAITH that the bluebirds would come and live in my house. Enough faith to actually hang the birdhouse up even with all the “not good enoughs” within the works and construction.

Funny how a bluebird “of happiness” can make the monster of “you’re not good enough” go away. It’s hard to focus on all my mistakes, when that chirpy, singing, happy little bluebird has decided to come into my birdhouse…….. and into my life.

I don’t mean to belittle the subject of depression. Some people have to fight it and have even had a doctor tell them they are clinically depressed. Others, like me, get a good dose of it from just living in this world, dealing with frustrations, and all those “you’re not good enough” thoughts.

But there is a peace beyond understanding that comes from the fact that Jesus wants to come into our lives…… even with all our mistakes. We just have to make the decision to put our FAITH in Jesus.

Funny thing too is this. When He decides to move into our birdhouse/heart, our focus isn’t so much on our mistakes as it is on HIM.

I find a joy in my heart that the bluebird has made his home in my birdhouse. An even more amazing joy I have found by having Jesus make His home in my heart!!

What’s this got to do with you? Why not put your own birdhouse in your yard. Enjoy! Why not offer your own life to Jesus, let Him come in, focus on Him and not yourself. Live in Joy!

“Lord, would you help us deal with the monster of “you’re not good enough”. Would You live in our lives and help us see as You see! To you we give the honor and glory.”

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher