Why You Don’t Fit In

will I fit in

Well, it’s started.  My dream of building my own log house, it’s now a reality.  The first step anyways.  The first of many logs has been cut, scraped free of bark, and now marked for it’s place in the wall.  But there’s a problem.  It doesn’t fit in.

I’ve read the how to book over and over.  I marked where the chainsaw and I are going to “dance” on this log.  It’s a big log.  It’s hard to maneuver.  But one thing I’m quickly learning about cutting and crafting big logs into a log home I will call my own.  It takes time.  It takes patience.  AND,   it takes small moves a little at the time that gradually turn into a big change.

First I had to move this log about 40 yards.  How do you move 1800 pounds of wood when I can only pick up oh, about 75 lbs myself?  You use lifts with wheels, also roll bars, also cant hooks.  See, I’ve got equipment to help me roll, slide, and move these heavy logs.  But honestly what I’ve come to grips with is this.  To move this massive log several yards means that I move it several inches at a time.  Over and over, until it is where it’s supposed to be.

Then the DANCE!  Funny how a chainsaw has become my constant companion.  Over the years, I’ve had more difficult and aggravating times with a chainsaw while growing up on the farm.  Mainly cause they wouldn’t crank. They’d make me madder than a wet hen. I threw one into a lake one time.  Sold one to a friend for 5 dollars one time.  It wouldn’t crank so it was worthless to me.  Naturally he could crank it.

But the chainsaw I have now is my constant companion.  I keep it fine tuned, sharp, and ready to run.  It’ll crank in three pulls or less.  I dance with this saw as I cut and carve each log to fit.  Lots of cuts at certain angles.  Carving on each log that will in turn cause it to fit with the next log……..which cause it to fit and turn into a log house.  Again I’m seeing a trend here.  It takes small moves a little at the time that gradually turn into a big change.

What’s crazy is that I’m using logs that look straight, but are actually  crooked, bent, having all kinds of curves and crevices.  But when the chainsaw and I get finished with the “dance” on them, they fit each other tight.  Tight as skinny jeans on that worship leader guy.

I’m using what’s called a scriber.  Without boring you with details, basically it’s a contraption that you must keep level at all times.  It has two pens on it that mark where the two logs will touch.  You take your chainsaw and cut at the pen mark.  Funny thing is, you flip the log upside down to cut it.  You don’t know if it’s going to fit until you flip it back over.  Then voila!!! if all markings were done correctly, the dance was done with precision and all cuts made precisely……..you got a log that fits!!!!  Tighter than a pair of jeans on ……. well you get the idea!

a good fit

But now let’s talk about you.  You feel that you don’t fit in, huh.  What, with other people?  Those friends, or that special someone?   Or is it you don’t fit in with this spiritual walk you are on?  These logs are a good visual example of what it takes to fit in.  When you want to fit in with other people you realize that we all are different with our own crooks and crevices.  Our own personalities and ways.  Our strengths and our weaknesses.  Just like the logs, its difficult to really fit in when you try to be like the other log instead of being yourself.

I don’t need to be like the other log.  I need to let God “dance” on and with me.  Let Him carve me into what He has in store for me.  What he has planned for me.  By letting God work/carve/dance with me, this will in turn help me to fit in with my own spiritual journey.  And get this…… His will in my life will allow me to fit in with friends and even that special someone.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity Jeremiah 29: 11-14

So, if you want to fit in, then it’s you and God.  Seek His will.  Pray to Him.  Pray with Him.  “Dance” with Him.  Yep, He’ll have to carve on ya’ a little.  But it’s not to hurt you, it’s to cause you to fit in.  In your mind you were picturing two logs fitting together.  In God’s mind it’s a much bigger and better plan.  It’s in His house!!

See Ya!   Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, chain saw dancer, fittin’ in with God’s plans

How to Reach Out and Touch God

windmill reaching out

This windmill reaches out and turns its own direction to an invisible source to receive  power.  Power to move,  to be,  to “come alive”.

While we were traveling from Colorado back to Mississippi, I caught this picture right at daybreak.  Amazing to me how the windmill was “reaching” towards the sky.  Its blades were higher than the surrounding landscape.  This is necessary so that the windmill can pick up the air currents that are moving around it.  It’s tail points the blades in the direction that the wind is coming from.  This allows the windmill to receive the full force from the wind.  The invisible wind.  The powerful wind.  The wind that is high above the landscape here, but also close enough to give this windmill movement.  To make it come alive.

God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and have our being. 29 As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring’.  Acts 17: 27 -29

Paul is writing in this scripture about why God sent Jesus into this world.  Jesus was sent as a way for us to reach out to Him. To feel the power of God.  How do you reach out and touch God?  Well, by actually reaching out.  You have to be like this windmill.  If you stayed “on the ground” you would be distracted by…….. let’s say……. the dirt.  The wind (power) comes from above.  So try reaching for a higher power than the dirt around you.  Asking God to come into your life (to give you His power) is a big step for reaching God and His presence.

How do you know where God is?  Well, the windmill turns its direction to the invisible power by using its tail.  So, basically what I’m saying is that you need to use your “tail” (your physical body), to turn from your ways, and now constantly let it be turning to God’s way.   How many times have you said to yourself, “well, now I’ve gotten my tail in trouble again.” “My tail is in hot water this time.” “My tail got caught this time.”

Wouldn’t it be better if you could say……….. “my tail  keeps me in touch with God (just like this windmill’s).”  Also when you reach out to God, then turn “your tail” to use God’s power in your life.  This allows you to be in God’s will.  This allows you to have more power in your life than what “dirt” has to offer you. This allows you to actually feel and be in an invisible power.  This reaching out to God and changing your tail’s direction to stay with God…………. you have now  come alive spiritually !!!

Reach out and touch God with a prayer.  Reach Him in an early morning quiet time.  You and this windmill are a lot alike.  Keep your tail out of trouble and start using it to point to God.  Reach out to Jesus, He’s reaching out to you.

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher, “pointing my tail in the right direction”

The Legacy You Leave Is The Life That You Lead

carved tree

I was “bushwhacking” through the wilderness of Colorado when I came upon this carved tree.  Looks like Mr. Monte left his mark on this aspen tree.  No major roads, not even a small trail was close by.  I’m curious how many people have walked here. Possibly ole Chas and me and that’s it.  Possibly could be that lots of folks hiking off the beaten path have walked here.  They just didn’t leave their mark.  I didn’t either.  Carving on a living tree just doesn’t seem proper for me to do.  I’m sure glad Mr. Montes did over 65 years ago.  It made me start thinking about what my legacy might be.  What will people remember about me AND YOU?  Ever thought about it?

Well, think about this.  The legacy you leave is the life that you lead.  That’s a pretty neat saying!  Some leave a legacy for others to remember them by in the form of a building, a big chunk of money, a monument, (a carved tree), etc., etc.  But you and I could leave a great legacy just by the life that you lead.  Just like leading a horse.

leading your horse

Whoa!  (Grab a cup of coffee as I explain). Back to leading the horse……..  Have you ever thought of your own life as being your own horse?  Look at it like this, Both your life and your horse are controlled by you.  You lead your horse to water, down the path, over the river and through the woods…….. You get the idea.  Well, you lead your own life too don’t you?  You have control over your own life.  What you do, where you go, when you go.  You yourself get to choose what you will do and be with your own life.

Sure there are times when we feel we’ve lost control.  When the horse spooks, or the horse doesn’t obey a certain command.  The same thing happens with our lives.  We sometimes get spooked.  Maybe I don’t even  obey a command given by none other than me.  You know, like when you do something even when you know you shouldn’t or you didn’t do something that deep down you knew you should.  See what I mean by leading your own life?  Your horse can bolt on his own, but most nearly all the time he goes where you lead him.  So does the life that you lead.

The life that you lead (you), is the life that you live.  Our lives follow where we lead them.  We lead/live our lives with our heart and soul.  That’s the best  I can explain it.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.  They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  Psalm 112: 6,7

Your legacy, the life that you lead, can be handed down to others.  This is not to say that you go around bragging, tootin’ your own horn.  But you live in a way that others will take notice.  They SEE your trust in the Lord.  They feel your heart.  Looks like you’ve saddled up your own life and now you are leading and living your own life.  While you lead your own life, it’s good to be able to follow God’s lead and direction.

Lead as you are being led.

See Ya!    Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher