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Finding Hope in God’s Beauty: A Wilderness Adventure

Seeing the Beauty in Life using God’s Enlightenment

On a cold, dreary, late winter’s day, I’m propelling my kayak towards a remote and hidden spot in the swamp. This area is one of my favorite places for a wilderness adventure because it’s so secluded and quiet. Across the bog and with the water mirroring its image, a pink colorful plant catches my eye.

What is striking to me is the color from these delicate flowers contrasted to the colors defined by the dead. The dead tree, the dead grass, the dead branches and dead limbs. Everywhere on this dull, dreary, overcast day the drab is overwhelmingly painting a gloomy scenario. Yet, planted within this dullness, this plant full of pink flowers is offering a glimmer of hope to draw me away from the humdrum . The hope that no matter the dull and colorless that is seen in this world, my focus can be on beauty. I’m being drawn to this beautiful display as if my eyes are unquestionably focused on the good, not the everyday mundane.

I steer my kayak closer and take a moment to let my senses overflow with this beauty. The locals call this plant a “Wild Azalea”. Have you ever seen one growing in the wild? The fragrance from these flowers is nothing but SWEET! The colors can only be described as vibrant and beautiful.

It makes me come alive just to be experiencing this perfect illustration of seeing beauty in a dull, dreary world.

Here’s my prayer for you and me. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of Glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His Calling, what are the riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1: 17-19

Do you ever feel pulled into the “going through the motions” routine in your everyday life? It can feel so dull, so day to day, so normal, over and over, rinse and repeat. But there’s hope! On our Christian journeys we can know the hope of God’s calling to you. We can share in His riches of Glory! And we experience His power! All we have to do is believe.

How do you believe? Look at it like this. Don’t get “stuck in your kayak” surrounded by doom and gloom. Instead steer your kayak/your life towards that spirit of wisdom and revelation that comes from knowing God. I’ll keep praying for you to find Him. Many of you out there have found Him. I’ll pray for you that everyday you see the beauty that comes from not only knowing about God, but through Jesus Christ you will use your enlightened eyes to see the true beauty He is showing you. (even in a kayak!)

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I’m not Worthy

Not Being Worthy does not come from bad following, but from no following.
Not Being Worthy does not come from bad following, but from no following!

Meet Kylo! He’s a blonde Border Collie. He’s a great dog! He loves his Masters/owners. That would be Jamie and JM, my daughter and son-in-law. They love their dog without question. Kylo loves them like no other. He is also obedient, he does what they say. He is smart, affectionate, friendly beyond measure. But,…….

But, yep you knew there had to be a but in there somewhere. We talking bout a big ole “Bertha butt”. And here it is. Kylo will go anywhere Jamie and JM are going. He wants to be WITH them no matter where. You name it and he is there with the two that he loves, and lives to follow.

BUT, he will NOT follow them into the water. He is AFRAID to swim. That means he will not follow them if he has to swim. As the picture shows, he will follow around the edge of the pond consistently keeping the shortest distance between him and the ones he loves. But he will not swim. He will pace back and forth until they bring the boat back to shore. Once his owners are back on dry land it’s like the greatest reunion and lovefest you’ve ever seen between dog and man.

If Kylo won’t overcome his fear of water, then does that means he is not following? Does it mean he is UNWORTHY? Is he is no longer wanted, no longer loved? STOP! I can’t keep writing…. This is not the truth!

Matthew 10:38 New King James Version And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

Well, there it is in scripture. Jesus is saying if you don’t “take up your cross” then you are not worthy of Him. Understand what I’m getting at here. Take up your cross means to die to one’s self. Take up your cross means to let Jesus and His teachings of how to be a Christian be the driving force in your life. You follow Him, not your own thinking, planning, and living based solely on you and what you think is best for YOU! He becomes front and center in your life. See, if you choose to make Jesus your Lord and Savior, then you have “died” to your old self and become a new person through Him. He makes you worthy!

You get to pick. Choose to love Jesus more than everyone else—or not. Choose to die to yourself and live for Him alone—or not. To choose “not” is to become unworthy of following Him. Jesus does not declare them unworthy for following Him badly. Whoa! Say that again! You cannot say that you are unworthy because of following Him Badly! Those who will “not,” who refuse, make themselves unworthy because of their lack of complete and total commitment to Him.

There is a saying that is prevalent in religion. “God is good. I’m not. I need to get better”. That saying may be in man made rules and religion, but it’s nowhere to be found in a true relationship with Christ as a Christian. Follow, even if you’re afraid. Follow. Follow, even when you want to quit because this world is making you think you are not worthy. Follow. You are Worthy! Because of God’s Grace. Because of God’s mercy and forgiveness. You are worthy because of God’s Love! It’s nothing you’ve done. It’s because of who you are now following and what He’s done for you and me.

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him

See There? You are Worthy! Share God’s Love!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher. “Loving cause God Loves Me!”

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135 year Old Tree Gives Birth to a Baby Tree Already Filled With Memories.

Our 135 yr old mulberry tree is our family’s favorite tree. It’s been there for four generations. Learning how to take cuttings from the tree and potting them to grow its own roots has given us a chance to have several new baby trees identical to this icon of our family farm.

Four generations. First, Rice Ainsworth grazed cattle around this tree in the early 1900’s. The tree was already large enough to provide cooling shade from the sweltering heat for his cows. I imagine Rice himself stopping a time or two to eat the delicious berries produced starting in May of each year. Close your eyes and picture the cows resting underneath this tree. That’s a calming picture wouldn’t you agree?

Second generation, Wiley Ainsworth grazed cows and cut hay around this tree during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Even before then he climbed the tree to eat his share of mulberries. As a child he would walk out on the huge limbs to feast on the berries. There was a reason he could just walk the limbs and not climb them. The tree had blown over,probably from a storm. It didn’t die, but would from then on grow with these huge limbs stretching out horizontally to the ground. All bent and mangled, it definitely lost its timber value. But,….. it provided easy access for us Ainsworths to climb in and around the canopy of leaves. Why would generations be climbing in this tree? Well, to grab handfuls of those tasty berries is the main reason. But really the main reason was it was such a calming place in nature to be.

understanding your roots
(Wiley Ainsworth 86 yrs old, tree roughly 127 yr old in this picture)

Third generation. The 70’s and 80’s brought a young Dan Ainsworth (me) traveling to and from this tree. My memories with this tree are uncountable. Jet, our horse at the time provided me several rides to the tree. I would then stuff myself full of berries. The tree was conveniently located between two of my best fishing holes. I’d stop and stuff myself full of berries. By the way, don’t eat a belly full of mulberries and then eat green plums. It will make ya sick!

Some days I would just climb the tree and sit. I want to say that I heard God speak to me at an early age while in this tree. All kinds of sounds could be heard while in this tree. A Mockingbird, a Bobwhite Quail, cows mooing, a distant train whistle, and the most exciting sound for me,…….. the screeching call of a Red Tail Hawk. Hmmm, maybe it was God. He was speaking through his creation/choir members.

The calendar keeps turning. 2000’s and 2010’s, the fourth generation of Ainsworths (Jamie and Jordan) are enjoying their time with the mangled but majestic tree. Jordan could spend hours in that tree if you’d let him. Just the other day, Jordan and his wife Jill took a picture holding the sonogram picture of their soon to be born baby close to the tree. 5th generation coming into the scene?

Jamie had such an impression of the tree that she named her store Mulberry Dreams. I like the sound of that myself. It gives you such a picture of calmness. Wow, just like when the cows were grazing there years and years before.

Excitement is now in the air! I have learned how to propagate a mulberry tree using cuttings from the tree itself. They will be genetically the same as the old, old tree. These cuttings/ baby trees will begin their life in a Solo cup, then repotted to a one gallon pot as their roots grow. Then they will be planted wherever Jamie and Jordan choose to plant them. The trees (loaded with memories from past generations) now will grow roots and continue to flourish providing a newer place of calmness for generations to come.

(I love this translation of this scripture from THE MESSAGE Bible translation) Deuteronomy 32:7 Read up on what happened before you were born; dig into the past, understand your roots. Ask your parents what it was like before you were born; ask the old ones, they will tell you a thing or two.

We all have a history, a past. This history has a tremendous effect on how we face the future. Naturally, if you have a past then there will be good and bad memories mixed in. But all in all you’ve been growing roots to prepare you for the future. Just like my baby tree in that Solo cup, you’ve got to be providing a place for your roots to grow even more.

Spiritually the same applies. Maybe you’ve got your own Mulberry Tree/ a calm place/ a safe place. It’s where you like to hang out. God provides you with a “cutting” so that you can carry this “calmness” with you. But you’ve got to let the roots grow! Feed your roots with prayer by talking (and listening) to God. Grow even more with readings from the Bible. The times in your “spiritual Mulberry Tree” can then be passed on to future generations!

As I write this I’m watching a squirrel in the Mulberry Tree acrobatically climb out on limbs and stuff himself with the fruit. I think I’ll join him. It’s probably best if I stay on the ground to eat mine. See Ya!