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Leaving Things Better: A Wilderness Preacher’s Lesson

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased Hebrews 13:16

Several years ago I enjoyed a long hike into the Colorado Wilderness. When I say that I enjoyed, it means that I endured, persevered, and patiently withstood the trek straight up into the mountains. But the beauty and the amazing sites on top of this mountain made this strenuous hike enjoyable.

On a trip of 5 miles one way, you need to carry as little weight as possible. I’ll always remember the guy who would cut his toothbrush in half to save the space and weight. Seems such an insignificant thing to do right? Yet this guy would be ready for an amazing backcountry trip carrying only 26 pounds on his back. Me? My pack would be totally ready for the same exact trip but would weigh in at 38 pounds! Who knew that extra socks and clothing, extra food (just in case), extra batteries, and those EXTRA bag of cheetos would add so much weight!

One thing that I did learn over my many mountain adventures was how necessary a saw would be. Maybe I should say how necessary a saw BLADE would be.

Think about the difference in size and space. A saw, let’s say a bowsaw is considered light. But that handle is extra weight that will add up when you count each step up the steep, steep climb. Why take a handle when you can FIND a handle when you arrive at your destination?

See the L shaped tree limb in the picture above? I found it. Perfect! Yep, it made a perfect handle to the saw that can now be used at the high altitude camp location.

I shared some advice with several younger guys who were heading out on a hunting trip and were planning to camp at this very same camp I was at months earlier. I said to them, “Look around when you get to the campsite. There will be a rusty, but sharp handsaw that you can use when you get there. No need to burden yourselves with the extra weight as you ascend to the top. The saw will be hanging on a tall tree to the left of where previous campfires were established.

I honestly forgot about that saw blade. I left it knowing that someone else could benefit from my actions. Isn’t it a good feeling to know that YOU can do something that will help others. And you don’t do it to promote yourself. You don’t do it to collect “brownie points”. You do it because somewhere in your journey on this Earth you learned to ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’.

I’ve never considered helping others to be a sacrifice. But God does! So give, give, give! Give to others what you have. Not just money, but give of your time and talents. Someone you know may be feeling down. Reach out with a few cheerful words. Someone may be going through marital problems, or bad days at their work, or just plain experiencing the age old situation of “everything that can go wrong is going wrong”. You don’t have to be a professional counselor, or expert on giving scholarly advice, or even someone who is able to solve each and every problem.

YOU JUST HAVE TO BE SOMEONE WILLING TO GIVE A LITTLE OF YOURSELF TO OTHERS!!! even if it’s just a rusty saw blade.

Giving of yourself. I guess that’s why it’s called a sacrifice. If you and I keep everything to ourselves then that action of giving is not experienced. But when we give of and from ourselves to others, then that experience of giving is activated. Thus a sacrifice has been made. No need to focus on whether the actions were microscopic or super big!

Oh yea! I honestly forgot about that old saw blade I left for others. Until, until these young hunters brought it back down off the mountain to give it back to me. “We figured you would want it back. Thanks for leaving it there for us to use. It really helped.”

Hmmm. Now what am I going to do with this rusty saw blade that is now 5 plus miles from the camp? Well seeing it again gave me this idea for another wilderness preacher story. And you know? This saw blade has something in common with me as well as a lot of you out there. We may have become rusty over time, but we still can be useful to others.

Hmmm. Guess I’ll head back up the mountain trail. Just to leave this saw again for others. In some small way I sense that God is smiling. I know I am.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher rusty but still being useful

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The Wilderness Preacher: A Fisherman’s Spiritual Revelation

Here is a mystery, a riddle so to speak, for you to figure out.

(Step 1) I caught a bluegill on the fly attached to my fly rod.

(Step 2) But I landed the largest Bass ever on this same fly rod. How did I catch one, but land the other?

Here is the answer……

(Step 3) The Bass gets eaten (by me), but the bluegill is released to begin a new life after being saved from the near death experience with the Jaws of Death.

Wow! This fish survived me catching him on a fly rod, THEN being eaten by a large Bass as I’m reeling him in, THEN waiting while I took pictures ha ! THEN…. I cut the bluegill from inside of the large bass and revived and released him back into the lake. This fish was caught by me and “saved” from the Jaws of Death. He now begins a new life. I’ve nicknamed him “Christian”. From now on, when I fish this lake and catch a bluegill, I’ll wonder if it’s Christian.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- in a flash, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

I’m not much of one to explain the end times. It’s difficult for me to explain how our souls live forever. I have to rely on my faith and trust as I walk this Christian journey.

But I know what I know. And that is this. God (picture Him using a fly rod) sent his Son Jesus to this world. Jesus, (picture the fly at the end of the line to God), Jesus lets us choose if we want Him in our lives. When we accept Jesus, and His forgiveness, His love, His way of life, (picture the Bluegill getting hooked by the fly) we have a strong connection to God. (via the fly line and fishing rod)

The devil (in this case the Bass!), comes along to consume us. He wants to kill us, to devour us. Yet this connection I have to God is so strong, that even though I’m trapped in the Jaws of Death, He steps in to “SAVE” me!

He restores my soul. He revives me. (Just like I did the bluegill). He leads me beside the still waters. Yea though I walk/swim through the valley of the shadow of death/the Bass, I will fear no evil.

Thy rod (fishing rod) and thy staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER! (Taken from the 23rd Psalm)

So in the simple ways of the wilderness preacher, there you have it. My definition of being “SAVED”!

Theologians, clergy, scholars, philosophers, and maybe even religious know it alls can debate, argue, and give opinions as to what it means to be saved as a Christian. Me? I’d rather be fishing. I see what I need to see from God on each cast that is made. The main reason I love to fish? Well, it’s not about catching fish.

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, ” whoa, I got another one!”

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A Letter to My Newborn Grand Daughter

My Dearest Faith, (Faith Marie Ainsworth)

I’ve got to get used to calling you that. This is your Grandfather, Dan Wiley Ainsworth. You can call me Dan Dan. (I’ve got to get used to you one day calling me that.) I wanted to write you a letter and welcome you into this big, big world. It’s a lot bigger than where you’ve been dancing around the last few months. Ha! You are a pretty special young lady, I want you to know that. You are and always will be surrounded by love.

When you get older, I’m going to find out from you first hand why you waited so long to be born. Were you already showing the world that you are always going to be late for everything? …. Just like your Dan Dan! Or maybe just a little princess in the making. Your Mother was in labor for over 36 hours! Either way, there was tremendous excitement when your grandmother (Tay Tay) and I found out you were born. Over the last few days, I’ve sensed all kinds of emotions. Love, anxiety, excitement, love, hope, nervousness, longing, love, not knowing, concern,…… did I mention love? Without a doubt, baby girl you are being surrounded with love.

How would it be in this big world without love? Well, take out the love that exists in your first two days of life? Here is the above list (without the love). Anxiety, excitement, nervousness, longing, not knowing, concern…… Now throw in an extra dose of hate, divisiveness, anger, and people being mean and you have what is going on in the world around you. Not the most pleasant place to get to grow up in is it? Nope, not unless you have LOVE.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…………. And now these three remain; faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13: 3-6, 13

My precious granddaughter, you have been blessed with some extremely loving parents. They will protect you from this unloving world. They will show you how it’s possible to love others even when it seems difficult.

As time goes by, you will learn about this Most Holy Loving God that I worship. He will give You His Love to share with others. It’s a great mystery, but well worth the adventure to follow Him.

You’ll also learn about love and how to love from your Dan Dan and Tay Tay! We can’t wait for our turn to show you love. How to love ice cream! How to love a tree swing! How to love fishing! Woohoo!

AI, (Artificial Intelligence) will be an all too common thing in your generation. While it may make things more convenient, just remember…… you have to search for the real things in life. The greatest thing in your life even now at just a couple days old? LOVE! It’s a real love! Keep this love going and growing in your life.

I’ll be behind the scenes watching as you start a life of your own. Come give me a hug. I’ll probably have something in my pocket for ya! A dollar bill, a piece of candy, a bag of cheetos. (to share of course!)

I LOVE you Faith! Signed Dan Dan wilderness preacher (stocking up on Cheetos!)