Tag Archives: nature

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135 year Old Tree Gives Birth to a Baby Tree Already Filled With Memories.

Our 135 yr old mulberry tree is our family’s favorite tree. It’s been there for four generations. Learning how to take cuttings from the tree and potting them to grow its own roots has given us a chance to have several new baby trees identical to this icon of our family farm.

Four generations. First, Rice Ainsworth grazed cattle around this tree in the early 1900’s. The tree was already large enough to provide cooling shade from the sweltering heat for his cows. I imagine Rice himself stopping a time or two to eat the delicious berries produced starting in May of each year. Close your eyes and picture the cows resting underneath this tree. That’s a calming picture wouldn’t you agree?

Second generation, Wiley Ainsworth grazed cows and cut hay around this tree during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. Even before then he climbed the tree to eat his share of mulberries. As a child he would walk out on the huge limbs to feast on the berries. There was a reason he could just walk the limbs and not climb them. The tree had blown over,probably from a storm. It didn’t die, but would from then on grow with these huge limbs stretching out horizontally to the ground. All bent and mangled, it definitely lost its timber value. But,….. it provided easy access for us Ainsworths to climb in and around the canopy of leaves. Why would generations be climbing in this tree? Well, to grab handfuls of those tasty berries is the main reason. But really the main reason was it was such a calming place in nature to be.

understanding your roots
(Wiley Ainsworth 86 yrs old, tree roughly 127 yr old in this picture)

Third generation. The 70’s and 80’s brought a young Dan Ainsworth (me) traveling to and from this tree. My memories with this tree are uncountable. Jet, our horse at the time provided me several rides to the tree. I would then stuff myself full of berries. The tree was conveniently located between two of my best fishing holes. I’d stop and stuff myself full of berries. By the way, don’t eat a belly full of mulberries and then eat green plums. It will make ya sick!

Some days I would just climb the tree and sit. I want to say that I heard God speak to me at an early age while in this tree. All kinds of sounds could be heard while in this tree. A Mockingbird, a Bobwhite Quail, cows mooing, a distant train whistle, and the most exciting sound for me,…….. the screeching call of a Red Tail Hawk. Hmmm, maybe it was God. He was speaking through his creation/choir members.

The calendar keeps turning. 2000’s and 2010’s, the fourth generation of Ainsworths (Jamie and Jordan) are enjoying their time with the mangled but majestic tree. Jordan could spend hours in that tree if you’d let him. Just the other day, Jordan and his wife Jill took a picture holding the sonogram picture of their soon to be born baby close to the tree. 5th generation coming into the scene?

Jamie had such an impression of the tree that she named her store Mulberry Dreams. I like the sound of that myself. It gives you such a picture of calmness. Wow, just like when the cows were grazing there years and years before.

Excitement is now in the air! I have learned how to propagate a mulberry tree using cuttings from the tree itself. They will be genetically the same as the old, old tree. These cuttings/ baby trees will begin their life in a Solo cup, then repotted to a one gallon pot as their roots grow. Then they will be planted wherever Jamie and Jordan choose to plant them. The trees (loaded with memories from past generations) now will grow roots and continue to flourish providing a newer place of calmness for generations to come.

(I love this translation of this scripture from THE MESSAGE Bible translation) Deuteronomy 32:7 Read up on what happened before you were born; dig into the past, understand your roots. Ask your parents what it was like before you were born; ask the old ones, they will tell you a thing or two.

We all have a history, a past. This history has a tremendous effect on how we face the future. Naturally, if you have a past then there will be good and bad memories mixed in. But all in all you’ve been growing roots to prepare you for the future. Just like my baby tree in that Solo cup, you’ve got to be providing a place for your roots to grow even more.

Spiritually the same applies. Maybe you’ve got your own Mulberry Tree/ a calm place/ a safe place. It’s where you like to hang out. God provides you with a “cutting” so that you can carry this “calmness” with you. But you’ve got to let the roots grow! Feed your roots with prayer by talking (and listening) to God. Grow even more with readings from the Bible. The times in your “spiritual Mulberry Tree” can then be passed on to future generations!

As I write this I’m watching a squirrel in the Mulberry Tree acrobatically climb out on limbs and stuff himself with the fruit. I think I’ll join him. It’s probably best if I stay on the ground to eat mine. See Ya!

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My Roots are in The Rock of Ages

tree rooted

This tree is rooted in the Rock of Ages.  I so want to be just like this tree.  Everything, I mean everything, that it receives comes from  the Rock of Ages.  Its nourishment, the rooted foundation, the sustainment,…. all, I mean all that it is, or ever hopes to be……… it depends totally on the rock.

“But Wilderness Preacher man”, some of you readers are saying, ” are you OK?”  “Look at the tree again.  It’s scrawny.  It’s feable looking.  It’s a weakling.  No strength in that pathetic specimen of a tree.  You sure you want to be like that?”

Go ahead and say it.  You see no value in this tree.   You are looking at this tree like my timber guy looks at trees.  What value can this tree provide?  How can I cut it up to make what I want out of it, is what he is thinking.  You are looking on the outside, on the production, not on the inside and what it is BEING.

But I WANT to depend on this Rock of Ages for all that I am meant to be.  If the nourishment from this rock only allows me to survive,  Then Glory Hallelujah!!  If the “spiritual food” from this rock causes me to flourish, to grow 50 feet tall, to (in the eyes of the world be SUCCESSFUL and PRODUCTIVE), then Glory Hallelujah!!!!  It better be giving Glory, cause if it becomes all about me, myself, and I, that’s when that “timber man” will take notice and “cut me down”.

Sharing something personal now.  I write this wilderness preacher blog to help you (and me) take one more small step to BEING closer to God.  This is my way of “preachin”.  I view this blog more as sharing with you my friends. I share what “spiritual food” I receive from my Rock of Ages.  The world and honestly most people look on a successful preacher by how many numbers and how many buildings, and how many projects, and how many trips are planned.  The Wilderness Preacher views success not by all that I am “doing” but by just the “BEING”. I think my Heavenly Father has the same view. “BEING” in His Grace, His Love, His Mercy, His Providing………. BEING in The Rock of Ages will give me all the opportunities to “do” things for Him.

And you???…………..You are JUST a housewife, just a secretary, just a single dad, just a mom, just a fledgling writer,  just a country lawyer, just a retiree, just a teacher, just a small time pastor, just little ole you…… a little weakling,…… and a little scrawny “tree”. WHAT? Nope! Not when you’re rooted in the Rock of Ages! Just BEING where God planted you, and depending on Him……. The world will never see nor will it understand the STRENGTH you have been given. Funny thing, it’s not because of what you do….. it’s because of the grace/nourishment from the Rock Of Ages!

Maybe in the eyes of the world, or (Careful now, in your own eyes) you view yourself as worthless.  Pity party time!!  “Nobody loves me, everybody hates me……. guess I might as well  eat worms.”  Never heard that?  It’s a blast from the past. 😉

A beautiful hymn “How Firm a Foundation” has a verse that goes like this……

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;

I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand

Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.    

This song uses these verses from Isaiah 41:10  Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

A song that uses God’s own words that we in turn sing back to Him.  Now that’s what a hymn should be.  We are created to glorify God.  We use what He gave us (in scripture) and give it back to Him (in singing this hymn).  He gives to me, I in return give back to Him.  It’s such a satisfying thing.

A life and all its blessings.  He gives to me and you.  Jesus came to Earth to give life.  We in return give back to Him  each and every day of this life.  Give to Him each opportunity you face.  Give to Him each difficulty you face.  He gives to you, you give to Him…… such a satisfying thing.

You and I may always be considered scrawny, weak, insignificant,…… a nobody in this world eyes.  Wait a minute.  Not me!  Not you!  I know I’m somebody!  My roots are in the Rock of Ages.  All that is within me is  reaching up to the Heavens.  The world may not see what I get to see.  I see a wonderful and LIVING relationship between me and my God.  And I must say, I enjoy the “view”.

tree scenery

See Ya!  Dan Ainsworth wilderness preacher, hiking in the wilderness

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Merry Christmas! God With Us!!!

A Colorado “Wilderness” Manger scene! Do you see the Bighorn Sheep? How about the Elk/Deer? What’s that other animal behind the manger? A Fox, a coyote, maybe a mountain lion?….. You tell me.

All these “animals” were made from scrap pieces of firewood. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder I guess. As I was moving the scrap wood one day, I thought to myself, this piece looks like a fox with a bushy tail. Hey, there’s a scrap piece of firewood that looks like a bighorn sheep. (I looked really hard, but couldn’t find a bear or an alpaca in the scrap pile 😉 )

You’ve seen all kinds of manger scenes over the years. They usually have Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. Most of the time there is a camel, or donkey, or some wise men and maybe even an angel or two. I’ve even seen an manger scene with a cowboy and his horse kneeling in front. Oh yea, and the one where Santa Claus is kneeling in front of the manger. (Not sure how my theology friends deal with that one.)

When I was just a child our church (Shout out to Goodwater Baptist Church) had a LIVE nativity scene. We dressed up as Mary, Joseph, Wise men, Angels, etc.etc. AND WE USED LIVE ANIMALS!! I vaguely remember our mule getting scared and pulling one of the posts down. Seems like some angels fell from the rooftop,……screams,… chaos, spilt hot chocolate…some of ya’ll will have to fill me in on the details. Ha!

In the Colorado Wilderness we don’t have camels. But we do have elk. In this wilderness, we don’t have sheep (like in the Bible), but we do have Bighorn Sheep. In the Colorado Wilderness we don’t have what’s in other parts of the world, but we do have Baby Jesus!!!

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel” (which being interpreted is, “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

Now that’s a Merry Christmas right there! The story is such a mystery! But somehow in God’s Divine way of thinking, He chose to send our Saviour Jesus Christ into this world as little bitty baby. Born in a little bitty stable, lying in a little bitty manger. I got it figured out. God did this so that my little bitty brain could understand that even though God is all knowing, all powerful, and all EVERYTHING,….. He still wanted to be WITH itty bitty me!

If you can see a fox shape in a culled scrap piece of firewood, I’m thinking that you also can see that God wants to be WITH you! If you “see” a sheep or a deer in my wilderness manger scene, I’m thinking that you just look at those pieces of wood an well, there it is. No need to analyze, compare, measure or take a DNA test. You just look and say, “I believe that looks like a fox”!

God chose to send Jesus to Earth as a little bitty baby. HE did this because He wants to BE with You. Such a strange way to wave the world. You can be with God simply by believing in Him. Such a strange way to save your own life.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Now that’s Merry Christmas right there!

Maybe you yourself need to “Kneel” in front of your own manger scene and tell God that you believe and are thankful that He wants to be with us. God is with us! He’s with us in the good, and the bad. His overflowing peace, joy, and Love is there with us. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas!!

“Dear Jesus, I thank you that you came to Earth to be with all us itty bitty folks. Thank You. Happy Birthday Jesus! I pray for those out there who are dealing with whatever “bad” things that are happening in their lives right now. I ask for the comfort you give, the peace that comes from you, the forgiveness that is needed. I’m so glad that you came to BE with us! WE love You. Amen.”