I’ve been asked “Well, Dan, have you quit writing? Nope, completely the opposite. I am now writing a book! There is time now to edit, write, rewrite, delete, edit, and write some more. You guys are seeing the trend here. I am setting aside time to write. And motivation! Friends who have written their own books (shout out to June, Geno, Ralph, Barry, and Gary) in their own ways have encouraged me to write the story as though talking to a friend . So while there won’t be new material on this blog post, know that sometime in the next year or two there will be a book. I’ll keep ya’ll posted!
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3
See Ya! Dan Ainsworth Wilderness Preacher……… and writer
Dudley, our sissy house dog is terribly afraid of thunder.. Just ask our Ole Miss friends, the Parkes. While we were gone, a large and loud thunderstorm came over our house. Dudley, I call him “the Big Dud”, went berserk, crazed, wild. Because he was so scared of the thunder and lightning he decides to leave. First, he goes upstairs and chews and claws the door trying to get in. No luck. He then pushes open the front door, chews a hole in the dogproof wire of our backyard………. He gone!!!
Now when we drive up and see the door open, and then no Dudley, our hearts are in our throats because we know how he gets in a storm. We call, yell, honk horns, everything. We call out the cavalry/family. We are out riding the country roads while it’s still raining. I get on the 4-wheeler riding the back pastures. Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Staci and I go to bed but there’s no sleep. Not for me especially. I’m mad because I didn’t lock the door behind me when I left earlier in the day. If only I had locked the door, then he would still be in the house. I’m fearful because I know what’s in the backyard and woods. Also, I’ll admit to this. I am sad. The thought of losing this dog has saddened me. I’ve always had manly dogs. A Lassie Collie, then a brown Lab, then a bloodhound. This dog is the only dog we have now. He is Staci’s pet. A shih-Tzu…….but he’s my little wolf!
Look it up. What dog is the most closely related to a wolf. You would think it would be a Husky, or a German Shepherd. But the guys at Mission Wolf told us that the Chinese breeds like the Shih-Tzu are closest kin. Now it makes sense to me. I’m attached to this little fellow because deep down he is a wolf. I can relate to that!
At 2 am, it’s unusually quiet. Spooky because it’s so quiet There’s fog and no wind. The rain has finally stopped. I go outside and call. I can hear sounds from the 4-lane highway a couple of miles away, the trucks and their gears shifting. What’s so bad is that I can also hear the owls, the coyotes, and all the other predators that roam the nights. What’s good is that I promise you I hear a little dog howl. Immediately, I wake Staci (she’s not asleep). “Get out here and call for Dudley” I’m telling her and rushing her outside.
Staci comes outside and calls for her puppy. She yells, “Come get a treat, let’s go to Mimi’s, want a puppy cup?” All these phrases are things that get the Big D to respond when he’s at home. I thought I heard a howl off in the distance. But nothing. Staci goes back in, I walk around in the woods for another hour. Mad, fearful, saddened, now dreading what the outcome of this will be. Why? Well, if I did hear a small dog whimpering somewhere in the night, so did all the predators. As I walk in the woods, the howl of a coyote only a short distance away raises the hair on my back, but at the same time lowers the feelings in my heart. My dog is gone. Where oh where can he be?
It’s morning now. The search party of kinfolks has arrived. We start asking neighbors, riding the roads, and searching. We get a call that he was seen over a mile away at a neighbors driveway. Off we go. It’s rather comical now, but you would think that we had lost something special. Well, we have. Dogs become part of our lives, part of our own being. If you have never experienced the loyalty and love from a dog, then you must have a cat. Or either you have a huge hole in your heart that has never experienced a companion with 4 legs. I feel a bit sorry for you.
The search party spans out over the area. I get a hunch that maybe the little wolf may be trying to get back home on his own. He’s a house dog, spoiled, can’t walk on grass ’cause he gets stickers. There’s no way ……….well, except somehow God gives these creatures a sense of where home is and how to get back. While everyone is searching this last place he was seen, I begin the mile long trek back towards the house. Halfway home, in a sandy road bed I see little dog tracks, along with fresh deer, turkey……….. and coyote tracks. They are fresh, too fresh. I start running and calling as I go. A quarter mile from the house I am on top of a large hill. I let out a holler for my little wolf. And he answers! boo woo woof. I take off running. I’m trying to call the search party on my phone as I run. “Get home.” I yell, “He’s close to the house”.
As I run to the backyard, I see the prodigal dog. He’s scared of me. I guess he’s been through a lot. Now he won’t even come to me. I kneel down and wait. Suddenly he bolts to me whimpering and jumping into my lap. His whimpering sounds as if he’s crying, the little wolf pup. The daddy wolf is shedding a tear or two himself. Why? Because Dudley has come home.
All the search party celebrates. We eat Pizza!
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
But this story was about a dog. He left on his own. He’s done it to himself. Doesn’t matter what caused him to leave. He may have been scared. But even if he had been rebellious, disobedient, or well, think of whatever reason YOU can think of to leave home yourself. The point is that there was love waiting for him when he returned.
We have a Loving, Living, Heavenly Father who waits with open arms for me and you to return to Him. Why do we run away when we’ve got it made where we are? We get scared. Or maybe we get rebellious, disobedient, or well, think of whatever reason YOU can think of to leave God yourself. The point is our Heavenly Father’s love is waiting for your return. You’ve never experienced His love? Well, you must have a huge hole in your heart (and soul) that has never had this experience. I feel a bit sorry for you. He’s waiting….
See Ya! Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, on a journey with a “little wolf”
This morning’s hike was COLD!!! How Cold? My beard and mustache are covered in ice. My heavy breathing was from…. a) hiking up and down rough terrain while strapped to my backpack, and b) the thin high altitude air. The moisture from my breath was freezing to my face because of the 8 degrees this morning’s temperature. Why do such a thing you ask? Grab a chair, sit by the fire with me and let me explain.
I’m glad you have chosen to “partner up” with me as we answer the question, “Why do all of this?” Why go out into the cold, cold world? Why cause yourself a lot of pain (sore muscles)? Why bring on hard times (heavy breathing)? Why be in a situation that causes fingers and toes to go numb (cold temps)? Why? My answer is this. The best is yet to come!
I hike for the exercise. I’m in the outdoors to experience nature. I experience a most magnificent sunrise while at the same time falling and skinning a knee. It’s exhilarating to see where a bobcat’s tracks just crossed in front of me, yet it’s humbling to know my joints ache more than in years past. My fingers and toes, (and today add my nose to this list), go numb on these hiking excursions. The fireplace and coffee are that much more of a pleasurable time when I come in to dwell for a spell in our log home.
What you say? Get with the modern times? Get a Peloton exercise bike? Explore an entire world of workouts with your own personal trainers, right there on the TV screen in front of you………. and not leave the comforts of your own living room. Hurry, Call now!
I don’t think so. I want it REAL! I want to journey in this cold, cold world to experience all I can. That means taking the “bad” with the good. I’ll be out and about in this cold, cold world but at the end of the day I will be dwelling in my warm, warm log home! That’s kinda like knowing the the best is yet to come.
The hike today was special because of the cold. Picture yourself tagging along with me. (Ready? Strap your boots on!) Together we are taking a hiking journey together. I’ll guide you pass the gold mine, and over to the rocky lookout,(Careful, don’t get too close to the edge.) We will maneuver past a steep gully and climb up a good ways to a hidden cave area. I was hoping to show ya mountain lion tracks, but nothing has passed through today. Oh well, next time. Probably about now on this hiking adventure is when you realize that you have no feeling in your feet. Good! Cause now is when we go in and warm up by the fire. It’s where I like to dwell!
Psalm 23:6 Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever…….. (starting TODAY)
If you focus on this cold, cold world, you can’t help but feel the pains, the hard times, the numbness. Hey, we’ve all been living in and through it haven’t we? Covid this and Covid that. Pure lies thrown at us from government leaders. Scientist twisting “science” so they can promote their own activities. That causes pain and hard times. Loosing friends and family also brings grief and sorrow into these hard times. Numbness? The loss of contact with other people, the inability to communicate with others because I don’t believe EXACTLY like they do. I’ve grown numb because of the “Cancel culture” from both sides!
But partner, we must remember that we are in this world but not of the world. We travel/hike through this world everyday knowing that at the end of the travel/hike we come home to a warm house and can sit next to a warm fireplace!
On our spiritual journeys/hike we are to enjoy our everyday travels in this cold, cold world. Soak up the atmosphere, see the grand views, experience life to the fullest! Hmmm. That also means feeling the hurts, sensing the cold, experiencing the numbness. You don’t climb to the top of the mountain without a few skinned knees and elbows!
The best is yet to come! I can say that because of my belief in Jesus Christ. I can travel through this cold, cold world because I know that I get to DWELL in His house forever! I choose to do that starting today. And every day! My hope and faith and trust are in Him. No matter how cold the world is that I am walking in today, I know that there is a spiritual place for me to dwell.(with a cozy warm fireplace!)
My 92 year old Mother likes to remind me that my own human body is not as strong as it once was. It doesn’t handle the cold like I think it should. Falling down hurts a lot more than it used to. (I guess her baby boy of 63 years is having a hard time of admitting it is true.) But in the same breath she talks of being blessed and thankful that she is able to keep going. What keeps her going? Knowing that the best is yet to come!
Let me break it down. To you older folks who have partnered up with this visit and talk. We are traveling in a cold, cold world having to deal with death and dying of our family and friends. If you don’t believe in a life after death with Jesus, that’s like staying outside in the cold and refusing to come in by the fireplace to get warm. It’s your choice. You can choose to sit in the cold world and grow numb or DWELL in the warmth of a Living and Loving Saviour. I want to invite you to come in. ( I’ll be spiritually waiting at the door with a cup of coffee!)
To my young friends who are reading this. You are traveling in a cold, cold world that is wanting you to not think for yourselves anymore. Let the government think for you. Let some celebrity tell you what to do. Copy how some sports GOAT lives and your life will be great! Settle for fake and not have to struggle with the REAL! BUT…….. If you want to live your whole life knowing that the BEST Is Yet To Come,……. I’d like to introduce you to Jesus. You can dwell with Him forever…….starting TODAY! (I’ll be spiritually waiting at the door with a cup of chai latte!) 😉
Love you guys! Dan Ainsworth Wilderness Preacher, wilderness hiker, part time barista! 😉
