Tag Archives: friendship

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Why There’s a Turkey on Airport Road

turkey

What’s the story behind this hedgebush being pruned every year into a “Turkey”?  A couple of years ago, I was cleaning the fencerows at the end of my driveway of weeds and brush.  There were a couple of bushes that had grown underneath the fence.  The cows had munched on them giving them an odd shape and appearance.  I’m cleaning up the fencerows of all this undergrowth and these two bushes stick out.  I know that they are just ordinary bushes, but I see the shape of an elk and a turkey.  I’m betting that I am the only one at the time that sees anything in these bushes because every one else that drives by on airport road is probably too busy to see anything but maybe two scraggly, weedy bushes.  Shoot, anybody speeding down Airport road probably doesn’t even give a thought to what’s under the fence, much less to what I see.

So, instead of killing these bushes, I decided to be a little creative.  I prune and cut limbs, branches, and twigs to the shapes that you see here.  Honestly, I do this because I enjoy being creative.  I see something in this bush, which makes me want to bring it out even more.  Will my creativity be accepted and highly thought of?  Will my pruning efforts be considered works of art?   Showing others what I see in the ordinary…… is this considered a noble effort?  I don’t really know that answer.  Are my  bushes that resemble an elk and turkey perfect? Well, I do know the answer to that. It’s a big NO.  Hey friends, if it was perfect, then no one would believe that I did it! 😉  That is not my motivation.  I’m motivated more by what I feel on the “inside” to somehow be shown to the “outside”.

Last year two ladies stopped by the house.  I was in the front yard working on the lawnmower, (so Staci could mow the yard).  They wanted to know if I am the one that “grows” the animals at the end of my drive. ” Yep, that’s me,” I replied.  The lady then goes into how every time she drives by on airport road she gets a feeling of calmness and peace by slowing down to see the elk and turkey.  She thanked me over and over for doing this.  It brings a small amount of “calmness” and “peace” (those are the precise words she used) to her travels every morning she drives by.  I thanked her for sharing her thoughts.  She must have really meant it, by  taking time from her work and day to come tell me how this affected her.

When she left, I walked up to the road staring at the bushes for a while.  I was looking for that calmness and peace she was talking about.  I found it.  I also sensed God’s presence.

1 Thessalonians 5:10-12New International Version (NIV) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

You see, in some small way, my whittling on these simple bushes brings a satisfaction to my inner most soul.  Why?  Because I see something in the ordinary that compels me to bring it out into the open.  It is a most spiritual thing for me.  It’s a most personal thing for me.  It’s between me and God.  If others slow down as they drive along Airport Road and are encouraged by what I’m doing, then my giving Glory and Honor to God is also helping and building others up.  Being blessed by being blessed.

It’s the same process going on with the wilderness preacher blog.  I share what I see.  Usually it’s in the most ordinary of things.  Why do this?  It brings a satisfaction to my soul.  It’s a most spiritual and personal thing for me, between me and God.  If you are encouraged by what you read on the wilderness preacher as you travel your spiritual journey, then my giving Glory to God is also helping and building you up.

Consider me as your guide.  A friend (Hey Gary!) shared the other day that every good movie, song, or story  has this classic setup.  A hero is living his life, meets a guide who shows him/her something that can happen in his/her life.  The hero faces a challenge (is he up to it?).  There is a consequence if he doesn’t, but a reward if he does.  The story is if and how the hero lives out his life.  Example Star Wars movies, pretty much any western movie, all Hallmark channel movies,  etc, etc

Here’s what I’m trying to prune and carve from this.  Let me be your guide.  You be the Hero.  Live your life facing the classic setup and challenge of facing the monster inside of your head that asks “do you have what it takes?”  Realize that there are consequences if you choose not to do certain things, but also realize there is a reward in choosing to do and BE certain things.  Sound complicated.  It is.  It’s called life.  But that’s why I recommend taking one step at a time.  Let’s do this together.  It’s not about me.  I’ll be the guide, but more importantly, you be the Hero.

My pruning a bush into a turkey, my telling a story with scripture each week as the wilderness preacher helps as your guide to bring you another step closer on your own spiritual journey.  I accept this position as the guide because it’s what God has created me to be.

You, living your everyday life with all it’s decisions and challenges.  You are the Hero of your very own life.  Will you accept this position?  You are writing your own story of your own life.  It’s what God has created you to be.  What in your next chapter?  Stay in touch.  I’m curious how all you heroes are going to face the next challenge.  And don’t forget……… I got your back!

1 Thessalonians 5:10-12New International Version (NIV) 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

 

 

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Cutting a bee “hive” out of a wall

removing bees from the wall

removing bees from the wall

A Catholic Priest and two Baptist preachers walk into a room filled with bees.  Sounds like the beginning of a joke, huh?  No, it’s actually the beginning of an adventure I experienced here in Westcliffe, Colorado.  There were bees in the wall of one of the buildings at Horn Creek Christian Camp (where I volunteer in the summers).  They gave me the chance to remove the bee colony (estimated 30 – 40,000 bees) to a better location at my friends’ place.  The local priest had a lot of experience with bee removal.  The video (click below to watch) is a summary of the 4 hour time it took to cut out the bees and transfer them to their new home.

Bees are an amazing sight to watch.  The honey is an extra benefit.  Even here at Horn Creek (altitude of 9,000 feet) with cold winters, the bees not only manage to survive, but actually thrive in harsh mountain conditions. A single queen along with 40,000 worker bees all working together, each doing their part.  Some of the bees are nurse bees tending to the eggs laid by the queen.  Some are foraging bees, seeking nectar from flowers in the mountain valleys for their honey production.  A few of the older ornery bees have become guard bees. Their job is to protect and sting any intruders. (we met a few of these during the cutout 😉 )

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!  Psalm 133:1 NIV

We could learn a lot from honeybees.  They are definitely beeing what God has created them to bee!  Whether in your church,family, or whatever social situation comes your way, look for what you have in common with other people.  Todays’ world is spending way too much time on our differences and what divides us as a nation, or community, or even as potential friends.  Just like the bees, we all can work side by side doing what God has created each of us to do.  Now you go and Bee what God has created you to be.  He is your Heavenly King, or in this example, the Queen?………

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher

 

 

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Hard Livin’ on a prayer

peeling bark from the logs just like the pioneers and old timers

peeling bark from the logs just like the pioneers and old timers

It’s hard work.  It takes a lot of elbow grease, literally.  I’m using a drawknife to pull and scrape the bark from these logs.  As I’m breathing hard in this thin Colorado air, I’m thinking of just how hard our ancestors worked to make a living.  The drawknife is a steel blade that I pull under the bark and slice a piece from the log itself.  It’s very back breaking, with shoulders and arms pulling in a rhythm to peel the bark inch by inch, foot by foot, and finally the whole log itself is ready to be used. (see the pile of logs in the back)

I’m using these logs to build a deck on our house here in Colorado.  I’ve got to have a place where my friends (THAT INCLUDES YOU!!!) and I can sit and look at the mountains.  It’s hard work, it’s even harder on these joints and muscles of mine. I guess you’re wondering why I do this?  Well, there is an enjoyment, a sense of accomplishment knowing that I’m doing something that will be useful to me (AND YOU!!) in the future.  With this clear conscience I feel God is pleased.

2 Timothy 1:3 NIV  I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

Paul wrote this to Timothy.  I’m now writing this to you. (yes, YOU).  I’m thankful for the work ethic that was passed on down to me from my father and his father and on and on.  But I’m also thankful for the prayer ethic that has been passed down to me also.

It seems that  in todays’ world that there is not much of either the hard working or the true praying going on.  I’d like to see a change in that.  How can it be changed?  Only way this country boy thinking preacher sees to do this is by one person at a time.

As with the scripture I chose for this week, I have a clear conscience.  That means that I believe with my whole heart that I’m headed in the right direction by following Christ and His teachings.

And every day I remember you in my prayers. (yes, YOU!)  I have a list of growing subscribers that I look through.  No, I don’t read the entire list each and every day and go Lord, remember so and so from Magee, Ms.  And also remember so and so from Texas.  It’s not like back in “Romper Room” for those of you that remember that old show.  I don’t take a magic mirror and read everyones’ name out loud so they will get a “prayer treat” for the day.  But at the same time it’s not like…. “God is great, God is good, pass the bacon”.  It’s way more serious than either of these examples.

As with the scripture, I constantly remember you in my prayers. (Seriously, YOU!)  Praying can be compared to peeling the bark from these logs.  It’s time consuming, It can be considered “hard work” because of all the other things that have to be done and set aside so that you can pray.  I guess you’re wondering why I do this?  Well, there is an enjoyment, a sense of accomplishment knowing that I’m doing something that will be useful to me (AND YOU!!) in the future.  With this clear conscience I feel God is pleased.

If there is a special time or need for prayer, drop me a line.  I won’t share with others.  I’ve got a prayer request I’d like for you to add in your prayer list.  Me.  On this journey we are all on, we help each other, we support each other, we love each other, and we pray for each other.  It’s kinda like feeding each others horses.  Your horse or my horse doesn’t need feeding only when there is a crisis, or problem, or special need.  Definitely feed your horse in those times, but each and every day, make sure you feed your horse………. and feed my horse too.  Praying works the same way.

Clear your conscience.  See Ya!!!

Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher