Category Archives: Friendship

Posted on

Riding Horses Gives a Different Point of View

a different point of view

Instead of hiking, I’m riding horses with Zach and Jay.  This is a journey with a new way of thinking and a completely different point of view.  Why?  Because I’m riding a new horse.  Ruby, is not even 3 yrs old! Also Ruby is new to me, I’ve never ridden her.  It’s going to take me a little time to see how she responds to me.  Also, it’s going to take a little time to see how I respond to her.  We’ve got to develop a little trust for each other.

This trail is the one that I hike in the early mornings for exercise, for clearing my mind, for being in nature, for time alone with God.  I immediately can tell things are different from all the times I’ve walked on my own feet.  The main difference is that I have a different point of view.  I’m seeing things differently from a few feet higher off the ground, sitting on top of Ruby.  I am aware that there will be no movement in any direction unless Ruby takes me there.

I haven’t ridden a horse in a while.  I wanted to get “back in the saddle” to get the feel again.  (I’m possibly going to be an extra in a movie that may require my riding a horse.  Shhh……. if I make it into the movie you guys will be the first to know.  To be an extra in a movie has been on my bucket list.  I’ll let ya know if it happens.  Now you know why I’m having to grow my beard!)

I’m having a great time with the guys. We are all enjoying the outdoors and the horseback riding.  We do the “guy talk” with each other, you know, gruntin’ about work, hunting, fishing, the ladies, (as if any of us know what we’re talking about). But also I’ve got to admit that I’m nervous.  Well, just my legs and rear end. The legs are clamped on like vice grips.  It’s as if my rear end is covered in Gorilla Glue.  I’m not going to let go!  Seems like I can’t get relaxed because I’m holding on too tight.  I don’t know why.  The horse is acting great.  It’s just me thinking about all those what ifs.  What if she spooks….what if I do something stupid, it makes her jump…. what if…….. well you never know.  I’m not on my own two feet, I’m trusting Ruby’s four feet!

We’ve probably been riding for over an hour when it happened.  No, I didn’t fall off,…… I relaxed.  Just out of the blue Ruby and I became a team.  She was probably glad I took the “clamps” off her rib cage.  I could sense her movements and almost tell what she was thinking.  I was enjoying the view.  It was like I felt her say, “Enjoy the view and the ride, I’ll be carrying you all the way”.

Isaiah 46:4The Message (MSG)3-4 “I’ve been carrying you on my back
    from the day you were born,And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old.
    I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray.
    I’ve done it and will keep on doing it, carrying you on my back, saving you.

My horse is carrying me all the way.  We come to the creek where I usually have to go around when I’m walking on my two feet, and cross a log to get to the other side.  Not with Ruby.  She is carrying me over this water.  The other guys are also carried across.  Just like our Lord and Saviour who promises to carry us on His back. We just need to “Let go and Let God”.  Maybe in our spiritual journey we “hang on like vice grips and Gorilla glue”. I guess you are like me and get nervous when you are not on your own two feet, but instead you are letting God carry you.  That’s what was becoming clear to me on this adventure.  My different point of view?  I’m trusting my horse instead of myself!  You see things different when you are being carried by a horse.  Things definitely look different when you are being carried by God.

Jay gave some words of wisdom when he said, “So, if you make it back home without falling off, it’s been a good ride!”  I took a spiritual meaning from that.  When God is carrying you on this journey, stay in touch with Him so that you won’t fall off.

Zach gave me some encouraging words.  “Let’s ride again next week!!”   Sounds good to me.  Let God carry you on lots of spiritual journeys.  Go for it.  Keep riding, letting God carry you.   You’ll see things in a different way.  Ride on!

See Ya!!   Dan Ainsworth  wildernesspreacher

Posted on

Don’t tell my wife, but I “borrowed” her ATV

 

Didn't go as planned.

Didn’t go as planned.

Hey!  It was just a small outing in between rainy days.  The trail, looked inviting even though there was a “small amount” of mud and slush on the trail.  Funny, but at the time the mud holes only looked a few inches deep with muddy water.  Later, I would realize that there was two more feet of gooky, slimy, mud underneath those couple inches of water.

Oh boy, Now I’ve got to call Staci.  I guess I’ll have to talk her into helping me pull her ATV out with the tractor.  That’s not going to be fun.  It wouldn’t be fun for you either.  First you have to admit to yourself you made a mistake.  That’s hard enough!  But then you’ve got to admit to others (especially the wife) that your decision making skills have been reduced to the abilities of a drunk cowboy. (You may not remember him, This cowboy had been drinking and ran nude through the cactus patch.  As he was being treated at the ER for his injuries, the police asked him why he did this.  He responded, “It seemed like a good idea at the time”.

I’ve got a better idea!  I’ll call my huntin’ buddy.  He brought his 4 wheeler right on over and pulled me out.  That’s what friends are for.  He didn’t laugh at my predicament, well not for too long.  He didn’t make me feel stupid.  Well, he did throw a few zingers about my inferior brand 4 wheeler.  But he also reminded me of when I had pulled him out of a wet field about a year ago.  Hey, I had forgotten about that.  Well, that’s what friends are for.

He pulls me free of the mud.  We both go our own ways.  My way takes me back to the house.   Staci’s 4 wheeler is covered with crappy smelling mud.  So am I.  I’ll just have to go ahead and confess to her of my foolishness and promise to clean up, both me and the 4 wheeler.  I’m dreading the interrogation.  I’m definitely not looking forward to whatever her response will be.  Will I feel stupid?  She may just laugh at me.  Could be a scolding.   Probably though, she’ll just roll her eyes like all the times before.

I tell her of the whole adventure.  Actually, the mud hole has grown as I tell the story.  The version she hears is that the mud hole was over 8 ft deep.  I almost drownded, (that’s worse than drowning), not from my bad decision making, but from saving her ATV from total destruction.  She should feel lucky to be married to me.   That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Her response?   She gave me this reply.  “Yea, yea, whatever.  You probably got stuck riding the trail down at the mud hole. The one that only looks a few inches deep.”  Then she remarked, “remember that time I stuck your lawnmower in the mud?”

Why I had forgotten about that!  Now we’re even I guess.  No, I think what she made me realize is that all of us make dumb decisions.  We’re dumb as that drunk cowboy on occasion.  But we are all in this together.  In that brief moment, she somehow lifted my spirits.That’s what friends are for.

Galatians 6 New International Version (NIV) 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  We must all remember that on our spiritual journey we are there to help one another.  It may be to pull your friend out of a bog.  It may be to lift someone’s spirit.  True friends will pick and joke with each other about our situations.  But deep down there is that Christian Love.  No matter my inadequate decision making, a fellow Christian is there to carry the load.  That’s what friends are for.  Be that friend!!

(Time out)  I must take this time to tell the whole world how lucky of a man I am.  Why?  Because I am married to my best friend.  Through good and bad, paved paths and mud, Staci has been beside me.  I wanted to share a picture of her that brings back memories.  Why this picture?  Well, that’s what friends are for 😉

Staci Bogged down My Mower!!!

Staci Bogged down My Mower!!!

Posted on

I’m singing the Church special, and I choke!!

friends

Yes I actually choked up.  Here’s why.  I’m singing the song ‘Wayfaring Stranger’.  The song means a lot to me because it tells us that no matter what, we’ll see our Heavenly Father.  Our journey at times will be rough and steep.  But no matter what, we will be with Jesus.

Sitting not 10 feet in front of me is my dear friend.  He has seen dark clouds, He has lived a steep journey.  Health issues, stroke, have left my friend in the position of only being able to speak maybe three words at a time.

But I see him. And also yes, I see my living Lord and Savior shining through this man.  My friends’ eyes are watery, and squinting tightly together.  His lips are moving and he does something that he can’t do.  I get choked up.  My throat is tightening, uh oh, I’m having thoughts that I’m not gonna make it through the song…..

I love to sing.  Also when I sing, I look at people while singing to them.  I want to connect.  Make sure they are hearing me, make sure the words are being heard.  I see people smiling, some are nodding along to the beat.  As always, there are a few with that “bored, whatever” look.  What pleases me is that there are people singing along.

So, what was my friend doing that he can’t do?  He was mouthing the words to the song.  Not just two or three words that his physical body will only allow.  But he is singing every single word.  I’m getting choked up again writing this.  My friend isn’t just singing a song,  he lives it.

To see a fellow human being actually living in Christ is inspiring to me.  I do not pity my friend, nor do I feel sorry for him.  Actually I want more of what my friend has!

What does he have? He’s got God’s love shining in him, faith and trust in the unseen, and a joy coming from deep within.   He is the Wayfaring Stranger.

Travel well my friend, knowing in your heart with all the confidence in the world, that you will one day in Heaven see your Heavenly Father.  Continue to travel knowing that each day you’ll see your Lord and Savior right there with you every step of the way.   We need more friends like this.  Thank you Lord for my friend and his inspiration to the world.

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth  wilderness preacher