Life Matters - June 12, 2024
Though it drains approximately 22,000 square miles in its 710 mile flow, beginning in central North Dakota to where it empties into the Missouri River in southern South Dakota, just east of Yankton, the James River, at approximately a 5 inch drop per mile has one of the flattest slopes in North America. The 710 miles is in following its ‘’snakery’’ as its not near that far as the crow flies. Or if lumberjack Paul Bunyan were to hitch his Babe the Blue Ox to one end and pull it straight! As if that were possible. Mr. Bunyan, who became a legend, was, I expect, a real man whose legendary feats grew with the re-telling of stories in the lumberjack camps of yesteryear. Camps that have become legends of their own, though most history being more believable than Babe the Blue Ox!
I suspect the Paul and his Blue Ox stories had their origin in the very basic instinctive desire in all people everywhere for a hero capable, and with a history of astounding accomplishments outside the realm of what could be naturally perceived as said hero’s self-interest and pursuits. There’s a little boy in all of us, even grown men, that wants a strong rock-solid man, a central figure, yes a father, to look up to: is there not? I suspect that holds true for Donald J. Trump as well as his desperado adversaries having a, so far unbending, will to ‘’take him down.’’ I suspect the Democrats have some of their own ‘’little boy’’ or ‘’little girl’’ insecure feelings and they instinctively try to take down the man whom they see as the strong one who really has no right, nor reason, to not be as themselves. As I said ‘’I suspect’’ though I say it from what I believe to be a Scripture-educated observation. This life is insecure enough in itself without building on the shifting sands of human opinion without God.
Human opinion quicksand, where every person is his or her own hero, and by default, making their own vain attempt to save themselves, is a stomach-churning, insecure place to live that brings out the worst in people. Or the best. The best for those who turn to God and find security in His soul-comforting Presence and courage to apply His precepts to life on this spinning orb. This spinning orb that God created beautiful, and though unavoidably tainted by sin, still has an incredible variety of beauty.
‘’Every area has its own beauty,’’ I said to son Caleb, upon Sadie and I visiting him and his sweet wife, Mary, and three sweet little ones in western Montana a few weeks ago, ‘’but here you don’t even have to look for it.’’ The snow-capped mountains are stunningly beautiful, the valleys lush, (June) the streams and rivers clear, the air clean, a wide variety of wildlife…’’beauty is…just…everywhere!’’
We stayed five days, and while there Caleb served me coffee in a mug with ‘’A child’s first hero, Dad’’ stamped on its side. When I saw what it said I asked Caleb if he gave me this mug on purpose? He said he did, sending warm circles around my heart, as I thanked him. It got me to thinkin’ (which is not unusual, in case you’re wondering)…remembering our little ones and how good it felt to be their hero…and how it felt when I knew they were getting old enough to notice my faults…so I thought…and related my thoughts to Caleb. ‘’Yeah,’’ he said, ‘’mine aren’t old enough yet to notice my faults, but I know it’s coming.’’ God bless you, Caleb, and all you young dads out there, with love, courage, and wisdom when that inevitable time comes. And with that love, courage, and wisdom, to be humble.
There is one hero that will never let us down. He is the One who created this spinning orb with its mountains, its rivers, its creeks, trees, wildlife, the fruited plains, Rock Creek with its valley behind our house. He created family. Family was His idea that He brought to reality. And yes, dad won’t always be ‘’Paul Bunyan’’ but perhaps he can still be a gentleman, by the grace of God, and, through renewal of life by faith in Christ Jesus, become something even more rewarding than being a temporary hero (rewarding as that may be) by being united with his posterity through shared faith in Jesus Christ. Allowing still waters to run deep.
Life Matters!