Category Archives: Great Outdoors

Posted on

Carved Trees and Lasting Legacies

While bushwhacking in the Colorado wilderness, I discovered this carved tree. This aspen tree shows evidence of Mr. Monte’s presence. There were no roads or trails in the vicinity. My search for a quicker route to a fish-filled mountain lake resulted in this discovery. It makes me curious to think about how many people have walked this same spot. Maybe just old Chas and me. I’m willing to wager he was riding a horse. What motivated him to write this message? Was he starting an adventure? Might those have been his last days on Earth? We can only guess why Mr. Montes stopped 75 years ago, but I’m thankful he did. It prompted reflection on my lasting impact. How will people remember us? Ever thought about it?

Well, think about this. The legacy you leave can be the life that you lead. That’s a pretty neat saying! Some leave a legacy for others to remember them by as a building, a sizeable chunk of money, or a monument. Chas Monte left a message on a tree. 

We have the power to build a lasting legacy. I advise against carving messages into trees. So, how is that done? You define your legacy by how you live your life. Guiding your life is much like leading a horse.

Whoa! (Grab a cup of coffee as I explain). Have you ever considered the idea of your life being like your own horse? Consider this: you’re in charge of both your life and your horse. You lead your horse to water, down the path, over the river and through the woods. I think you get the idea. You also have your own life to lead, don’t you? Your life is in your own hands. Your actions, destinations, timing. You determine your life’s path.

Yes, we sometimes feel out of control. A scared or disobedient horse causes the same ‘out of control’ experience. Life can feel the same way. We sometimes get spooked. Sometimes we act against our better judgment. We don’t practice what we preach. Your frightened horse will go off the path. My horse and my life share a tendency to stray. I’m still trying to guide my life. Life’s journey is a struggle; things aren’t always falling into place.

Your life reflects your choices and actions. Your life follows your lead. You lead and guide with your heart and soul. That’s the best I can explain it. You have chosen your horse. Saddle up, take the reins of your life, and trust and pray as you continue on your Christian journey.

The righteous will stand firm. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Psalm 112: 6,7.

We have the privilege of making our own decisions. I determine the path my life takes. I lead and guide according to my beliefs, following my Lord and Saviour with all my heart. My life and legacy will reflect how I follow God’s lead and guidance.

You can pass your legacy, the life you lead, on to others. Not that you go around bragging, tootin’ your own horn. Your life draws attention. They see your trust in the Lord. They feel your heart. You’ve taken the reins of your life. While you lead your own life, it’s good to follow God’s lead and direction.

Lead as you are being led. Follow Him!

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher “learning to follow as I’m being led”

Leave a comment, or send me a private message describing your legacy.

Posted on

Snakebite! Conquering Fear With Faith!

Looking back, I remember hearing that slithering noise that a snake makes as he’s moving through the leaves. I even remember asking myself,….. is that a snake moving underneath the limbs I’ve just picked up to move?

There is barely enough light to see as the sun has set for the day. The sun may be through doing its job, but I’ve got just a little more to do. I’m cleaning brush and fallen limbs from around the lake. A few more handfuls carried to the trash trailer and I’ll call it a day.

     Five minutes later, I’m sitting on the bench at the front door of the house removing my hiking boots. Staci insists I remove whatever footwear I’m wearing before I can enter HER house. After forty-two years of marriage, she has me trained fairly well. I usually remove my shoes/boots before entering her humble abode. (The only time in my mind it’s permissible to leave my shoes on, is when she is away and I’m only coming in to drink milk, water, or Sprite straight out of the container……no glass needed.)

     So, as I was saying, I’m removing my hiking boots. I feel a pain, more of a sharp tingle. Allow me to compare it to this. Not so much as a bee sting, but more like three or four fire ants biting at once. But I’m definitely thinking, something has bitten me.

That’s when I see it. The undeniable fang marks of a snakebite. Well, this isn’t good. What to do now? Google snakebites to see how long I have to live? Show Staci so I can get sympathy and “babied”? All that will come later. Right now, I’m going to monitor this injury to see just what, if anything, is going to happen.  

       A doctor friend of mine (who is a specialist in snakebite treatments) once told me that when snakes strike, they do not inject venom in up to thirty percent of all strikes. Another thirty percent of snakebites may not have a full dose of the venom. (Somewhere between ‘boy that’s gonna hurt’, to ‘well maybe we won’t have to amputate.) What?

        I’m thinking that I must be playing the odds in my situation. I did not see the snake strike me. There is definitely a fang mark on the back of my ankle. I feel a slight pain that is honestly hard to describe. So, I wait. Two hours later, after wasting time googling snake bites and trying to get sympathy from Staci, I make the prognosis that everything’s going to be OK. I definitely got bit, but no venom to amount to anything! Woohoo!!!

       In all honesty, if I had seen the snake strike me, I would have first screamed like a girl! Next, I’m sure that I would have overreacted and called four different people to see who could get me to the ER the fastest. Hyperventilation would have set in along with stomach issues. (I had just eaten about half a watermelon). Let’s just say I would have not been an easy patient to deal with.

        But,……. everything was OK. In fact, it turned into a Thank You Lord moment! I mean, I got lucky right? Could be that when we pray for protection and provisions, our Heavenly Father says, “I gotcha on that!”

       Now the burning question…… for me anyway.  Do I go back out to the pond and continue to clean up trash and limbs? Hmmm…. I have to answer with a yes! I can’t live in fear! Sure, I’m going to be more cautious. For a while, I may be overly cautious. Shake that stick before I pick it up. Poke a stick or rake in the leaves before stepping into it. 

        How would it be to live a life full of fear? That’s not the life you or I want. Neither does God want this for you!

       2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

       In the spiritual journey we take, there are many “snakes” out there that can cause us harm. We have the power, the love, and a sound mind given to us by God through his son Jesus. That power is much stronger than the fear.

     I have a hunting buddy who will not walk through tall grass. Why? Because he’s afraid of snakes! Even when I tell him to follow in my tracks, he won’t do it. (Says I’ll just stir ’em up then they’ll bite him.)

So how can I, the wilderness preacher, tell you not to fear? (especially when you know I scream like a thirteen-year-old girl when I’m scared). FOCUS. Focus on the power, not the fear. The churchy way of saying it is like this. Faith is the opposite of fear. So fear is the opposite of faith.  

  This Christian journey is a growing time. A time to grow your faith. The fear will always be there, to some extent. But when it paralyzes us (like my hunting buddy who won’t walk in the grass), faith has no way to grow.

Take one step at a time. Step out into the grassy world of snakes, (spiritually). Use the sound mind given to you to help with your decision making. Realize you have a power, also given to you by God, to help overcome the fears, and take the right directions. Last but definitely not least…….you have the gift of love.

This gift of love is eternal. Nothing, no one, no circumstance, no evil, nothing even mistakes of your own doing can rob you of this love. Say aloud the previous sentence. Hmmm, it’s already helping with the fears you are facing, isn’t it?

See Ya! Dan Ainsworth Wilderness Preacher

Posted on

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!”