Category Archives: Steps Along This Journey

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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.

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How Hawks Use Talons: A Lesson for Your Spiritual Journey

Are those claws sharp? That’s the most asked question about my hawks and owls that I fly. And YES!! They are sharp!


Claws? Talons is a more correct word used for birds of prey. Talons must stay sharp as they are the tools the bird uses to grab, hold, and tear prey apart. Not only are they sharp, but there is immense power in the hawks “pressing power” This is her ability to squeeze, whether its prey, or as it perches on my glove.

When training a hawk, a great way of knowing her mental state is by how she is pressing/squeezing my gloved arm. If she’s nervous or scared she clamps down with intensity. If she’s relaxed there is very little if any pressure coming from her talons When my hawk gets excited to go hunting she will “dance” on my glove with a grab, release, grab then release motion indicating her raised level of excitement. So I do talk or should I say communicate with her. She makes me aware of her thinking by the amount of pressure applied to my glove.

These talons and beak must stay sharp! The beak and talons are critical tools that these birds of prey use for their survival. Hawks have a way of sharpening their tools. It’s by continually using them. If you place a hawk in a pen, always giving it cut up meat (they don’t eat salads ya know), their beaks will grow abnormally long. This would require a manual process called “coping” to file the beak down to where it would function. My hawks must always be able to rip and tear their food. They have been created to do just that.

“Talons/tools” used on your spiritual journey

What are your ‘tools’ that you must use on your spiritual journey? A) If I’m not continually sharpening my relationship with God, it stands to reason that it will grow dull. A dull, boring walk with God doesn’t give you the joy and peace that would come if you stay sharp.

B) Another tool I value is my guidebook (the Bible) to keep me on the right path and provide spiritual food.

C)I value the power/tool of prayer as it sharpens my awareness of what I’m sharing with God as well as what He’s sharing with me.

D) I value the worship that I have to Jesus for His not only forgiving me, but His desire to walk with me each and every day

All those tools just mentioned are our “talons” that have been given to us to keep us going and growing on our spiritual journey. How do you stay sharp? By continually using these “tools/talons”. My prayer for you this week is that we stay hungry, and that we stay sharp!

I have come to realize the power that talons give my Redtail hawk. (I’ll show you my scar from wearing too short a glove one day.)

For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword (or talon I might add). It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 Now that’s sharp! See Ya! Dan Ainsworth Wilderness Preacher

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Life After the Vote: A Cowboy’s Reflection

The day after I vote what will happen? Gobbledegook and jibber jabber are no more.

From this locking horns and buttin’ heads, we’ll get some relief. Which is good, cause my ears have grown sore.

Political pundits, will have less things to say. Less words used to pretend and or offend.

And hopefully this nasty bad mouthin’ we’ve heard, FINALLY, will  come to an end.

After watching these candidates debate one another, and watching ’em every day in the news,

It’s given this cowboy an agitated, tense stomach, and a severe case of “get this over” blues.

When I believe something’s wrong, they want to tell me it’s right. Lies are told as if they are true.

Yes, they say they want to help, but this power they seek? Will it give benefits for me and for you?

If I disagree, then, they give me a name. Call me things that hurt deep in my heart.

If I choose to agree, then that’s when they want money.  My money, yet they want a large part.

Who won? You will ask. Who lost? You will say.  Why did it turn out this way?

No matter the outcome, Americans we are. Dear God, please bless the U S of A.

The day after I vote I won’t yell at TV. Whether it be that I’m disagreeing or agreeing.

I’ll focus more on this journey with God. Believing in Him, and with Him, just being.

Well, pardner, here’s my thinkin’, my two bits of advice. Here’s how I’ll continue to live.

One side gets my vote, because it’s my right. But my trust to neither will I give.

I’ll trust not in man, the proud or the lying. My trust is in God, you should know.

Call me names if you want, but that’s how I live. I follow Christ. Where He leads, I will go.

The day after I vote I’ll be out mending fences. Daily chores will be accomplished of course.

Less time will be spent listening to intellectuals and scholars. More time spent listening to my horse.

How blessed is the man that makes the Lord his trust. And has not turned to the proud, nor such as turned aside to lies. Psalm 40:4 (KJV)

See Ya Dan Ainsworth Wilderness Preacher/Cowboy