Journal 2005 11 17
Guarded From Stumbling
The Corps is camped near today’s Fort Canby State Park in Ilwaco. About a mile and a quarter from the Pacific. Plans are made to go by land tomorrow to see the beach. Ten men sign up for the short excursion.
Hunters are sent out, Captain Lewis and a small crew attempt to “scout” the area to determine the likelihood of any traders or explorers in the area. Many of the Indians have been coming to trade with the “white traders” thinking they would find them at the mouth of the river. The Captains “smoke” with some of the Indians but unlike all their previous interactions they keep the Chinooks at arms length in all their interactions. No trust at this point.
In the process Lewis meets Comcomly, Chief of the Chinooks. Many Indians are living in and around the mouth of the river. Some trading is done for roots. Clark notes that the Chinooks are well armed with their “fuses,” a less sophisticated musket than the Harper’s Ferry rifles the men of the Corps carry. Still deadly though.
Six hunters are sent out. They return with two large but lean deer and enough waterfowl to feed the men. York kills ten birds himself. York must have been a skilled marksman and bird hunter. He has been noted many times for the numbers of birds he has killed since the Corps started descending the Columbia.
The winds have shifted coming now from the east. The rains have subsided and the gear is laid out to dry. (Ever been to the ocean beaches? Can’t imagine laying anything out to dry. Seems to me like our cool wet climate along the Northwest coast is always clammy and wet. The gear must have really been wet to benefit from a drying out in this location.)
So our intrepid travelers add another nineteen miles of scouting to the 4,142 already passed in getting here. Already there is discussion regarding where to winter. Some favor upriver by the falls. Others want to be nearer the mouth of the river in the event a trading ship should find its way here.
The Corps has essentially arrived at the target of their aim over this past year. Tomorrow they will fill their desire to clearly walk the shores of the Pacific.
I would think that spirits would be high. Four thousand miles traveled through great hardship. No loss of life. No serious injury. In fact the only problem recorded now is one bad cold attributed to the many cold wet nights pinned up against the rocks by the weather. Truly amazing!
“Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy,” (Jude 1:24) Leading us to a simple question, “Are we trusting God to keep us from stumbling, set us in His presence and His glory, unblemished and filled with joy?” I don’t know about you, but it is sure is easier to say than do, isn’t it? We have just seen a real example of great joy and a keeping from stumbling. I’ll take hope in that.
Inspiration for today from America's Greatest Expedition, the Corps of Discovery!
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Confinement Ended
Journal 2005 11 15
Confinement Ended
“The rainey weather Continued without a longer intermition than 2 hours at a time from the 5th in the morng. untill the 16th is eleven days rain, and the most disagreeable time I have experienced Confined on a tempiest Coast wet, where I can neither get out to hunt, return to a better Situation, or proceed on: in this Situation have we been for Six days past.— fortunately the wind lay about 3 oClock we loaded in great haste and Set out passed the blustering Point below which is a Sand beech, with a Small marshey bottom for 3 miles on the Stard. Side, on which is a large village of 36 houses deserted by the Inds. & in full possession of the flees”
Eleven days camped in the rain. Sounds like fun doesn’t it? I remember a time many years ago when Danita was barely moving in her mother’s womb and we embarked on a loop around the Olympic Peninsula. One night of rain in a tent in the cold campground and the local motel looked like a palace. The rest of the loop was indeed a car trip with a wet tent stowed in the trunk. These guys didn’t have the Kalaloch Lodge as an option. No Best Western, Shiloh Inn or Motel 6 at Ilwaco either.
It is hard not to be repetitious in recounting these days. Because it was repetitious. Rain is different on the eastern shores of the Pacific Ocean (which is the west coast of our great land). The weather patterns are not yet tempered by their passage over land. Storms roll in, pass over and are followed by either a short respite of clear sky or another storm. It is an ongoing series of smaller weather fronts under the context of a bigger storm system.
The Corps of Discovery was introduced to some of the worst conditions of winter weather that exist on the coast. Captain Clark records again today how fortunate they are that at least the weather is not frigidly cold. He notes that “the bulk of the party would suffer very much” if they had to depend upon their current wardrobe for protection from the severe colds of winter they were accustomed to in the east. His desire is for them to kill enough deer and elk to allow the men to tan new hides into winter clothing ASAP.
If you are looking on a map, the party is able to escape their “Situation” and round what we now call Point Ellice, just west of Megler on the Washington side of the Columbia River. They reach a large abandoned Indian Village on a long sandy beach. Well it is abandoned by the Indians, who the Corps recognizes as a new tribe, the Chinooks. The men soon realize it is still inhabited. By a loads of fleas! Clark says they are in “full possession” of it!
Their meeting with the Chinooks does not go well either. I mentioned in an earlier post that their time with the Chinooks is contentious and in no way comparable to the spirit of hospitality extended by almost all the other tribes they have encountered. Twice during the day men of the Corps lower their rifles on Indians who have stolen goods, including two rifles, from the Corps. The Captains let the Chinooks know in no uncertain terms that they will not tolerate any bad behavior toward them and that they are willing to defend themselves and their goods with their weapons.
Welcome to the other side of the continent Lewis and Clark!
With the Pacific Ocean now clearly in view William Clark, the expedition’s cartographer, records that they have traveled 4,142 miles from the Missouri River. I need to let that sink into my brain for a minute. And I hope to do a recap sometime over the next few months as the men are camped waiting for the mountain snows to clear enough to allow their return.
So once again, success is at hand and hardship is attempting to tag along. “Oh the joy” says William Clark upon seeing the Pacific Ocean. He might want to add “Oi vay” after meeting the neighbors, hanging on the riverbank pelted by storms and finding refuge in a flea infested camp.
But these guys are indomitable in their hearty spirits. They physical hardships are not the focus of their records or their work. The mission drives them through all hardship.
What is driving us? Is it enough to push through obstacles, the hardships, which attach themselves to the greatest successes? Are we willing to pay the price required of greatness? Great success will always be accompanied by great discomfort. Anything worth accomplishing is at war with the forces of nature. “For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do.” (Galatians 5:17)
“I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward--to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision--you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal.”(Philippians 3:12-17)
Confinement Ended
“The rainey weather Continued without a longer intermition than 2 hours at a time from the 5th in the morng. untill the 16th is eleven days rain, and the most disagreeable time I have experienced Confined on a tempiest Coast wet, where I can neither get out to hunt, return to a better Situation, or proceed on: in this Situation have we been for Six days past.— fortunately the wind lay about 3 oClock we loaded in great haste and Set out passed the blustering Point below which is a Sand beech, with a Small marshey bottom for 3 miles on the Stard. Side, on which is a large village of 36 houses deserted by the Inds. & in full possession of the flees”
Eleven days camped in the rain. Sounds like fun doesn’t it? I remember a time many years ago when Danita was barely moving in her mother’s womb and we embarked on a loop around the Olympic Peninsula. One night of rain in a tent in the cold campground and the local motel looked like a palace. The rest of the loop was indeed a car trip with a wet tent stowed in the trunk. These guys didn’t have the Kalaloch Lodge as an option. No Best Western, Shiloh Inn or Motel 6 at Ilwaco either.
It is hard not to be repetitious in recounting these days. Because it was repetitious. Rain is different on the eastern shores of the Pacific Ocean (which is the west coast of our great land). The weather patterns are not yet tempered by their passage over land. Storms roll in, pass over and are followed by either a short respite of clear sky or another storm. It is an ongoing series of smaller weather fronts under the context of a bigger storm system.
The Corps of Discovery was introduced to some of the worst conditions of winter weather that exist on the coast. Captain Clark records again today how fortunate they are that at least the weather is not frigidly cold. He notes that “the bulk of the party would suffer very much” if they had to depend upon their current wardrobe for protection from the severe colds of winter they were accustomed to in the east. His desire is for them to kill enough deer and elk to allow the men to tan new hides into winter clothing ASAP.
If you are looking on a map, the party is able to escape their “Situation” and round what we now call Point Ellice, just west of Megler on the Washington side of the Columbia River. They reach a large abandoned Indian Village on a long sandy beach. Well it is abandoned by the Indians, who the Corps recognizes as a new tribe, the Chinooks. The men soon realize it is still inhabited. By a loads of fleas! Clark says they are in “full possession” of it!
Their meeting with the Chinooks does not go well either. I mentioned in an earlier post that their time with the Chinooks is contentious and in no way comparable to the spirit of hospitality extended by almost all the other tribes they have encountered. Twice during the day men of the Corps lower their rifles on Indians who have stolen goods, including two rifles, from the Corps. The Captains let the Chinooks know in no uncertain terms that they will not tolerate any bad behavior toward them and that they are willing to defend themselves and their goods with their weapons.
Welcome to the other side of the continent Lewis and Clark!
With the Pacific Ocean now clearly in view William Clark, the expedition’s cartographer, records that they have traveled 4,142 miles from the Missouri River. I need to let that sink into my brain for a minute. And I hope to do a recap sometime over the next few months as the men are camped waiting for the mountain snows to clear enough to allow their return.
So once again, success is at hand and hardship is attempting to tag along. “Oh the joy” says William Clark upon seeing the Pacific Ocean. He might want to add “Oi vay” after meeting the neighbors, hanging on the riverbank pelted by storms and finding refuge in a flea infested camp.
But these guys are indomitable in their hearty spirits. They physical hardships are not the focus of their records or their work. The mission drives them through all hardship.
What is driving us? Is it enough to push through obstacles, the hardships, which attach themselves to the greatest successes? Are we willing to pay the price required of greatness? Great success will always be accompanied by great discomfort. Anything worth accomplishing is at war with the forces of nature. “For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do.” (Galatians 5:17)
“I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward--to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back. So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision--you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it. Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal.”(Philippians 3:12-17)
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Wall of Thorns
Journal 2005 11 13
Wall of Thorns
The men move less than a thousand yards back upriver to a small brook they didn’t see earlier and find slightly better refuge. They sink the canoes with rocks to protect them from being battered by the crashing waves on the shore. Gear is moved about half a mile upstream and fires are built to dry blankets and clothing bringing some level of comfort as recorded by Captain Clark.
Clark sets out to get above the banks of the river for a better view of this geography. He doesn’t record it, but his motivation had to lie in finding a better way to the ocean and a better camp should that way prove difficult.
“I walked up the Brook & assended the first Spur of the mountain with much fatigue, the distance about 3 miles, through an intolerable thickets of Small pine, a groth much resembling arrow wood on the Stem of which there is thorns; this groth about 12 or 15 feet high inter lockd into each other and Scattered over the high fern & fallen timber, added to this the hills were So Steep that I was compelled to draw my Self up by the assistance of those bushes— The Timber on those hills are of the pine Species large and tall maney of them more than 200 feet high & from 8 to 10 feet through at the Stump”
Laying aside momentarily the usual treatment of this material, don’t you just feel better knowing that three miles in this jungle of the Great Northwest tired out this mighty traveler? This is the same man who covered marathon-like distances like we might walk to the store. When you travel “off trail” along most of the Pacific Coast at some point, like William Clark, you will be pulling yourself up by the assistance of bushes and trees. I did crossing a steep clearcut south of Glacier Peak late this summer and have many times along the rivers and streams in the woods of Washington.
Back two hundred years and we find that the temperate climate, abundant water and soil have created a garden where the trees have grown two hundred feet high and are ten feet across at the bottom. Big and tall!
Colter, Shannon and Willard are dispatched to try and find a better camp downriver. They don’t return this evening. (Colter is kind of a tough guy and becomes one of the first “mountain men” of the Rockies. In fact, he doesn’t return to St. Louis with the Corps as he is allowed an early discharge in order to head back into the mountains next fall as the mission comes to completion.) Shannon and Willard are the two youngest members of the expedition. Their youth must have been tempered with experience at this point. That youth either put them at the bottom of the chain of command or gave them an advantage in strength and endurance fitting them for this mission.
What is one my mind today is the twelve to fifteen foot wall of arrow wood that faces William Clark as he ascends the valley created by the brook. I assume the arrow wood with thorns is some form of our common blackberry bushes that we have all come to “know and love.”
I would get a brush axe, chainsaw, gas trimmer with circular saw blade, machete, pruning shears or preferably a bulldozer to clear the way through that tangle. My North Face synthetic long johns have all kinds of “pulls” in the fabric from these bushes as I encountered them south of Mt. Rainier in pursuit of the elusive wapati two years ago. Can’t imagine cutting up my only buckskin shirt in the pursuit.
How many times before have I said it? These guys are tough!
What obstacles stand in the way of our view today? Are you pushing to finish something good? Do you need to climb the mountain for a better look at the problem? What wall stands between you and that better view? We can take inspiration from William Clark as he uses all resources at his command to “get on top of it” in his quest for the finish line.
Send out scouts. Climb the mountain. Push through the wall of thorns. Proceed on.
Wall of Thorns
The men move less than a thousand yards back upriver to a small brook they didn’t see earlier and find slightly better refuge. They sink the canoes with rocks to protect them from being battered by the crashing waves on the shore. Gear is moved about half a mile upstream and fires are built to dry blankets and clothing bringing some level of comfort as recorded by Captain Clark.
Clark sets out to get above the banks of the river for a better view of this geography. He doesn’t record it, but his motivation had to lie in finding a better way to the ocean and a better camp should that way prove difficult.
“I walked up the Brook & assended the first Spur of the mountain with much fatigue, the distance about 3 miles, through an intolerable thickets of Small pine, a groth much resembling arrow wood on the Stem of which there is thorns; this groth about 12 or 15 feet high inter lockd into each other and Scattered over the high fern & fallen timber, added to this the hills were So Steep that I was compelled to draw my Self up by the assistance of those bushes— The Timber on those hills are of the pine Species large and tall maney of them more than 200 feet high & from 8 to 10 feet through at the Stump”
Laying aside momentarily the usual treatment of this material, don’t you just feel better knowing that three miles in this jungle of the Great Northwest tired out this mighty traveler? This is the same man who covered marathon-like distances like we might walk to the store. When you travel “off trail” along most of the Pacific Coast at some point, like William Clark, you will be pulling yourself up by the assistance of bushes and trees. I did crossing a steep clearcut south of Glacier Peak late this summer and have many times along the rivers and streams in the woods of Washington.
Back two hundred years and we find that the temperate climate, abundant water and soil have created a garden where the trees have grown two hundred feet high and are ten feet across at the bottom. Big and tall!
Colter, Shannon and Willard are dispatched to try and find a better camp downriver. They don’t return this evening. (Colter is kind of a tough guy and becomes one of the first “mountain men” of the Rockies. In fact, he doesn’t return to St. Louis with the Corps as he is allowed an early discharge in order to head back into the mountains next fall as the mission comes to completion.) Shannon and Willard are the two youngest members of the expedition. Their youth must have been tempered with experience at this point. That youth either put them at the bottom of the chain of command or gave them an advantage in strength and endurance fitting them for this mission.
What is one my mind today is the twelve to fifteen foot wall of arrow wood that faces William Clark as he ascends the valley created by the brook. I assume the arrow wood with thorns is some form of our common blackberry bushes that we have all come to “know and love.”
I would get a brush axe, chainsaw, gas trimmer with circular saw blade, machete, pruning shears or preferably a bulldozer to clear the way through that tangle. My North Face synthetic long johns have all kinds of “pulls” in the fabric from these bushes as I encountered them south of Mt. Rainier in pursuit of the elusive wapati two years ago. Can’t imagine cutting up my only buckskin shirt in the pursuit.
How many times before have I said it? These guys are tough!
What obstacles stand in the way of our view today? Are you pushing to finish something good? Do you need to climb the mountain for a better look at the problem? What wall stands between you and that better view? We can take inspiration from William Clark as he uses all resources at his command to “get on top of it” in his quest for the finish line.
Send out scouts. Climb the mountain. Push through the wall of thorns. Proceed on.
Friday, November 11, 2005
Cleft of the Rock
Journal 2005 11 11
Cleft of the Rock
“A hard rain all the last night, dureing the last tide the logs on which we lay was all on float Sent out Jo Fields to hunt, he Soon returned and informed us that the hills was So high & Steep, & thick with undergroth and fallen Timber that he could not get out any distance; about 12 oClock 5 Indians came down in a canoe, the wind verry high from the S. W. with most tremendious waves brakeing with great violence against the Shores, rain falling in torrents, we are all wet as usial and our Situation is truly a disagreeable one; the great quantites of rain which has loosened the Stones on the hill Sides, and the Small Stones fall down upon us, our canoes at one place at the mercy of the waves, our baggage in another and our Selves and party Scattered on floating logs and Such dry Spots as can be found on the hill Sides, and Crivices of the rocks.”
Buckskin clothes rotting away as the men wore them, camped on driftwood logs “on the float”, and men seeking some respite from the raging storms in the “Crivices of the rocks.” Sounds like a recipe for disaster rather than great adventure.
Every time I drive from Vancouver or Portland westward to the Pacific I find I’ve forgetten just how remote this area of our great land still is. Abandoned docks, ghost towns of dashed dreams and still very few people carving out a living along this rugged stretch of land. The hills always more rugged than remembered and expected. A mile and half from the riverbank the hills reach 1,500 feet!
Yesterday the men broke camp and made ten miles around the point in the process retreating two miles to the only place that held any hope of surviving the night. Captain Clark described it above. Only in the most desperate of situations would we ever consider a camp like the one they stayed in.
Respite, refuge, relief from the onslaught of the storm is found in the clefts, or cracks, of the rocks. When we speak of the clefts of the rocks I usually think of hiding or being hidden away. Moses was protected from the power of the Glory of God in the cleft of a rock as God passed by. Isaiah hid a belt in a cleft in a rock. David was familiar with finding refuge in the clefts of rocks as the King Saul’s armies pursued him. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians is still studied by our current day warriors for his ability to elude his pursuers using the clefts of the rocks. We want only to live in the palace of God. Who in their right mind would ever desire to live where the cleft of a rock was their best refuge? That is a desperate situation. Given time, all of us would find a better place of safety. And if we knew ahead of time at least we’d wear wetsuits, not rotting leather. Yet we sing "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee."
So our friendly travelers are less than ten miles from their finish line and yet they are pinned against the cliffs by the forces of nature.
Great adventure! In our dreams we want it. In reality, are we ready for the hardships that are the prerequisite to making it great? If we are, let us find refuge from every desperate situation in the cleft of the Rock of Ages.
Cleft of the Rock
“A hard rain all the last night, dureing the last tide the logs on which we lay was all on float Sent out Jo Fields to hunt, he Soon returned and informed us that the hills was So high & Steep, & thick with undergroth and fallen Timber that he could not get out any distance; about 12 oClock 5 Indians came down in a canoe, the wind verry high from the S. W. with most tremendious waves brakeing with great violence against the Shores, rain falling in torrents, we are all wet as usial and our Situation is truly a disagreeable one; the great quantites of rain which has loosened the Stones on the hill Sides, and the Small Stones fall down upon us, our canoes at one place at the mercy of the waves, our baggage in another and our Selves and party Scattered on floating logs and Such dry Spots as can be found on the hill Sides, and Crivices of the rocks.”
Buckskin clothes rotting away as the men wore them, camped on driftwood logs “on the float”, and men seeking some respite from the raging storms in the “Crivices of the rocks.” Sounds like a recipe for disaster rather than great adventure.
Every time I drive from Vancouver or Portland westward to the Pacific I find I’ve forgetten just how remote this area of our great land still is. Abandoned docks, ghost towns of dashed dreams and still very few people carving out a living along this rugged stretch of land. The hills always more rugged than remembered and expected. A mile and half from the riverbank the hills reach 1,500 feet!
Yesterday the men broke camp and made ten miles around the point in the process retreating two miles to the only place that held any hope of surviving the night. Captain Clark described it above. Only in the most desperate of situations would we ever consider a camp like the one they stayed in.
Respite, refuge, relief from the onslaught of the storm is found in the clefts, or cracks, of the rocks. When we speak of the clefts of the rocks I usually think of hiding or being hidden away. Moses was protected from the power of the Glory of God in the cleft of a rock as God passed by. Isaiah hid a belt in a cleft in a rock. David was familiar with finding refuge in the clefts of rocks as the King Saul’s armies pursued him. Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians is still studied by our current day warriors for his ability to elude his pursuers using the clefts of the rocks. We want only to live in the palace of God. Who in their right mind would ever desire to live where the cleft of a rock was their best refuge? That is a desperate situation. Given time, all of us would find a better place of safety. And if we knew ahead of time at least we’d wear wetsuits, not rotting leather. Yet we sing "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee."
So our friendly travelers are less than ten miles from their finish line and yet they are pinned against the cliffs by the forces of nature.
Great adventure! In our dreams we want it. In reality, are we ready for the hardships that are the prerequisite to making it great? If we are, let us find refuge from every desperate situation in the cleft of the Rock of Ages.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Fullness of Senses
Journal 2005 11 09
Fullness of Senses
“our camp entirely under water dureing the hight of the tide, every man as wet as water could make them all the last night and to day all day as the rain Continued all day, at 4 oClock P M the wind Shifted about to the S. W. and blew with great violence imediately from the Ocian for about two hours, notwithstanding the disagreeable Situation of our party all wet and Cold (and one which they have experienced for Several days past) they are chearfull and anxious to See further into the Ocian, The water of the river being too Salt to use we are obliged to make use of rain water— Some of the party not accustomed to Salt water has made too free a use of it on them it acts as pergitive.
at this dismal point we must Spend another night as the wind & waves are too high to proceed.”
I am going to be on a recurring theme for a while. Finishing strong and strong resistance to finishing.
The party can no longer drink the river water because it is being mixed with sea water and for those who tempted nature it is acting as a “pergutive.” They are anxious to see the ocean in its fullness. They are so close they can smell it. The object of their expedition is so close they can literally taste it. And now they want to see it, touch it and hear it.
I have hunted elk on the first little hill above Long Beach, WA. Our intrepid explorers will venture that far north later in the winter. What I remember most is hearing the waves crashing on the seashore as I snuck quietly through the thick underbrush under a dense canopy of trees. My wandering mind formed pictures that made me want to put on buckskins and carry a Harper’s Ferry flintlock in .54 caliber like the great hunter Drouillard would have done two hundred years before.
Our travelers are so close to the object of their desire that all their senses are alive to its nearness. For those who are married reading this, you know the true delight when the object of your desire is so close all your senses are filled with the essence of their being. The expeditioners want nothing more than to press to the finish line and swim in the waters of the Pacific as they celebrate their great victory.
But anything great requires great obstacles to its achievement. The Great Falls of the Missouri. The Rocky Mountains. Great obstacles. Now the power of the Pacific Ocean stands at the finish line.
Captain Clark records their perilous predicament in a matter of fact tone that belies the danger they are in. For the past two days winds, rain, a raging tide with the waves that accompany it are unleashing everything in their power to wash every trace of this small party off the rocky river bank where they have retreated for refuge.
And yet they are “chearful and anxious” to see the Ocean! What would we be like if our perilous camp had been pounded by wind and rain, submerged all night and we were “as wet as water could make us”? Fearful? Anxious to retreat, not advance? Complaining? Ready to quit? Not the Corps. They were ready to proceed on and complete that which they had labored so hard to attain.
Have you labored hard? Are you laboring hard now? Have you advanced toward your goal? Can you “smell” victory? (When you smell elk, which smell like a barnyard, you know they are near and all the rest of your senses jump to a higher level of alertness.) Let your senses increase and drive you past the obstacles that stand in your way of achieving that which you have labored so hard to achieve. Great achievement requires great effort, otherwise it would not be great.
The Apostle Paul gave us another record of persevering through any and all hardship because of the greatness of the reward. In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul urges them to follow his example as he has followed Christ’s of considering hardship and suffering as nothing but dog poop in the quest to achieve the high calling of life in the Kingdom of God both now and into eternity. We have many examples throughout history of the hardships endured to achieve remarkable feats. All pale in comparison to the work of Jesus on the Cross bringing redemption from sin and eternal life.
Allow today’s example to bring “chearfulness” to the press to finish no matter the obstacles attempting to submerge your efforts.
Let’s proceed on and finish strong!
Fullness of Senses
“our camp entirely under water dureing the hight of the tide, every man as wet as water could make them all the last night and to day all day as the rain Continued all day, at 4 oClock P M the wind Shifted about to the S. W. and blew with great violence imediately from the Ocian for about two hours, notwithstanding the disagreeable Situation of our party all wet and Cold (and one which they have experienced for Several days past) they are chearfull and anxious to See further into the Ocian, The water of the river being too Salt to use we are obliged to make use of rain water— Some of the party not accustomed to Salt water has made too free a use of it on them it acts as pergitive.
at this dismal point we must Spend another night as the wind & waves are too high to proceed.”
I am going to be on a recurring theme for a while. Finishing strong and strong resistance to finishing.
The party can no longer drink the river water because it is being mixed with sea water and for those who tempted nature it is acting as a “pergutive.” They are anxious to see the ocean in its fullness. They are so close they can smell it. The object of their expedition is so close they can literally taste it. And now they want to see it, touch it and hear it.
I have hunted elk on the first little hill above Long Beach, WA. Our intrepid explorers will venture that far north later in the winter. What I remember most is hearing the waves crashing on the seashore as I snuck quietly through the thick underbrush under a dense canopy of trees. My wandering mind formed pictures that made me want to put on buckskins and carry a Harper’s Ferry flintlock in .54 caliber like the great hunter Drouillard would have done two hundred years before.
Our travelers are so close to the object of their desire that all their senses are alive to its nearness. For those who are married reading this, you know the true delight when the object of your desire is so close all your senses are filled with the essence of their being. The expeditioners want nothing more than to press to the finish line and swim in the waters of the Pacific as they celebrate their great victory.
But anything great requires great obstacles to its achievement. The Great Falls of the Missouri. The Rocky Mountains. Great obstacles. Now the power of the Pacific Ocean stands at the finish line.
Captain Clark records their perilous predicament in a matter of fact tone that belies the danger they are in. For the past two days winds, rain, a raging tide with the waves that accompany it are unleashing everything in their power to wash every trace of this small party off the rocky river bank where they have retreated for refuge.
And yet they are “chearful and anxious” to see the Ocean! What would we be like if our perilous camp had been pounded by wind and rain, submerged all night and we were “as wet as water could make us”? Fearful? Anxious to retreat, not advance? Complaining? Ready to quit? Not the Corps. They were ready to proceed on and complete that which they had labored so hard to attain.
Have you labored hard? Are you laboring hard now? Have you advanced toward your goal? Can you “smell” victory? (When you smell elk, which smell like a barnyard, you know they are near and all the rest of your senses jump to a higher level of alertness.) Let your senses increase and drive you past the obstacles that stand in your way of achieving that which you have labored so hard to achieve. Great achievement requires great effort, otherwise it would not be great.
The Apostle Paul gave us another record of persevering through any and all hardship because of the greatness of the reward. In his letter to the church at Philippi, Paul urges them to follow his example as he has followed Christ’s of considering hardship and suffering as nothing but dog poop in the quest to achieve the high calling of life in the Kingdom of God both now and into eternity. We have many examples throughout history of the hardships endured to achieve remarkable feats. All pale in comparison to the work of Jesus on the Cross bringing redemption from sin and eternal life.
Allow today’s example to bring “chearfulness” to the press to finish no matter the obstacles attempting to submerge your efforts.
Let’s proceed on and finish strong!
Monday, November 07, 2005
Great Joy, But Not Quite Yet
Journal 2005 11 07
Great Joy, But Not Quite Yet
“we made 34 miles to day as Computed. Great joy in camp we are in View of the Ocian, [NB: in the morning when fog cleared off just below last village just on leaving the village of Warkiacum], this great Pacific Octean which we been So long anxious to See. and the roreing or noise made by the waves brakeing on the rockey Shores (as I Suppose) may be heard distictly”
Finally the Corps of Discovery thinks they have reached the mighty Pacific Ocean! However, we know they have not. As they will find out soon enough, they have yet to reach the Pacific.
They met the Wahkiakum tribe and found them to be friendly. Fish hooks are of great value to this tribe and used by the Corps as trade for fish, roots and three dogs.
How many times in my life have I thought I’d arrived, or finished, only to find out there was more to do? The men were close but not quite done. In fact, more than a week will pass before they complete the push west started over a year ago outside St. Louis, Missouri.
And we must do the same. When we think we are done, we may not be. It is then when we must push to the finish line. The work is not over until the one who sets the course in place declares it done.
Great joy? Yes. A completed journey? No.
They, and we, must continue to “proceed on.”
Great Joy, But Not Quite Yet
“we made 34 miles to day as Computed. Great joy in camp we are in View of the Ocian, [NB: in the morning when fog cleared off just below last village just on leaving the village of Warkiacum], this great Pacific Octean which we been So long anxious to See. and the roreing or noise made by the waves brakeing on the rockey Shores (as I Suppose) may be heard distictly”
Finally the Corps of Discovery thinks they have reached the mighty Pacific Ocean! However, we know they have not. As they will find out soon enough, they have yet to reach the Pacific.
They met the Wahkiakum tribe and found them to be friendly. Fish hooks are of great value to this tribe and used by the Corps as trade for fish, roots and three dogs.
How many times in my life have I thought I’d arrived, or finished, only to find out there was more to do? The men were close but not quite done. In fact, more than a week will pass before they complete the push west started over a year ago outside St. Louis, Missouri.
And we must do the same. When we think we are done, we may not be. It is then when we must push to the finish line. The work is not over until the one who sets the course in place declares it done.
Great joy? Yes. A completed journey? No.
They, and we, must continue to “proceed on.”
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Subdue and Rule
Journal 2005 11 06
Subdue and Rule
“we came too to Dine on the long narrow Island found the woods So thick with under groth that the hunters could not get any distance into the Isld. the red wood, and Green bryors interwoven, and mixed with pine, alder, a Specis of Beech [Berch?], ash &c. we killed nothing to day The Indians leave us in the evening, river about one mile wide hills high and Steep on the Std. no place for several Miles suffcently large and leavil for our camp we at length Landed at a place which by moveing the Stones we made a place Sufficently large for the party to lie leavil on the Smaller Stones Clear of the Tide
Cloudy with rain all day we are all wet and disagreeable, had large fires made on the Stone and dried our bedding and Kill the flees, which collected in our blankets at every old village we encamped near”
William Clark’s is still the primary recorder for history. We won’t hear from Meriwether Lewis until New Year’s Day 1806. Several of the enlisted men kept journals. Theirs typically include almost abbreviated versions of the Captains. Today Clark records much more detail than any of the other men.
I’m struck by several things in today’s record. Clark finds, as he did yesterday, the weather “wet and disagreeable.” They did overcome several Indians traveling downriver hoping to trade with a Mr. Haley. (The best historical records show that Captain Samuel Hill had sailed the Lydia up the Columbia in April of this year and would return again in April or July after the men had departed for home.) The Indians are not nearly as enamored with the white men as they were earlier on the journey and the Corps part company and camp just downstream from the mouth of the Cowlitz River near Longview, WA.
They were unable to kill any meat and ate more of the roots and salmon obtained earlier via trade. Have you ever tried to negotiate the jungle-like tangle of nasty brush and vines that grow on low wet ground in the Northwest? These great wilderness travelers could not penetrate it with any greater degree of success than we can today. I like D8’s, track-hoes, chain saws and brush hooks if you must attack these jungles. I believe these men would see the natural barriers much differently than we would today. If they had access to the big bulldozers, power tools and even hand tools we’ve developed they would never hesitate to conquer the world around them and “civilize it.”
I thought I might talk about camping on a rocky place with fleas like they did this night. But conquering the natural world is not one we understand well today. Our cultural mindset is to preserve nature. Yesterday I spoke of turning from worshipping the Creator to worshipping the creation. Jehovah God, the Creator, gave a command to rule and subdue. Sounds like conquering to me. None of us purposefully lives on land that is overcome by blackberry bushes and uncontrolled growth. Good stewardship requires us to cut back and restrict uncontrolled growth. Many times we must remove the natural dangers that threaten our living on the land. If a tree could fall and damage our home we are prudent if we remove it. Insurance companies would claim negligence if we were to knowingly leave a rotten dangerous tree in a position to damage our dwelling.
Are we ruling and subduing, with good stewardship, as commanded by God when he created man? It is easy to check your home. Look around for ivy and vines trying to overwhelm it. Cut them off and remove them. The same holds for your spiritual life. Are you being overwhelmed by circumstances and happenings? It is a sign that the enemies of God are attempting to overwhelm you. Cut them off and remove them.
“And God created the man in His own image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female. And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the seas, and over birds of the heavens, and over all beasts creeping on the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every plant seeding seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree seeding seed; it shall be food for you. And to every beast of the earth, and to all birds of the heavens, and to every creeper on the earth which has in it a living soul, every green plant is for food. And it was so.” (Genesis 1:27-30)
His first command is to bear fruit, multiply, fill the earth and subdue and rule over it. Not popular today, but still true. Cut off anything that is attempting to entangle you and keep you from your God-given destiny.
Subdue and Rule
“we came too to Dine on the long narrow Island found the woods So thick with under groth that the hunters could not get any distance into the Isld. the red wood, and Green bryors interwoven, and mixed with pine, alder, a Specis of Beech [Berch?], ash &c. we killed nothing to day The Indians leave us in the evening, river about one mile wide hills high and Steep on the Std. no place for several Miles suffcently large and leavil for our camp we at length Landed at a place which by moveing the Stones we made a place Sufficently large for the party to lie leavil on the Smaller Stones Clear of the Tide
Cloudy with rain all day we are all wet and disagreeable, had large fires made on the Stone and dried our bedding and Kill the flees, which collected in our blankets at every old village we encamped near”
William Clark’s is still the primary recorder for history. We won’t hear from Meriwether Lewis until New Year’s Day 1806. Several of the enlisted men kept journals. Theirs typically include almost abbreviated versions of the Captains. Today Clark records much more detail than any of the other men.
I’m struck by several things in today’s record. Clark finds, as he did yesterday, the weather “wet and disagreeable.” They did overcome several Indians traveling downriver hoping to trade with a Mr. Haley. (The best historical records show that Captain Samuel Hill had sailed the Lydia up the Columbia in April of this year and would return again in April or July after the men had departed for home.) The Indians are not nearly as enamored with the white men as they were earlier on the journey and the Corps part company and camp just downstream from the mouth of the Cowlitz River near Longview, WA.
They were unable to kill any meat and ate more of the roots and salmon obtained earlier via trade. Have you ever tried to negotiate the jungle-like tangle of nasty brush and vines that grow on low wet ground in the Northwest? These great wilderness travelers could not penetrate it with any greater degree of success than we can today. I like D8’s, track-hoes, chain saws and brush hooks if you must attack these jungles. I believe these men would see the natural barriers much differently than we would today. If they had access to the big bulldozers, power tools and even hand tools we’ve developed they would never hesitate to conquer the world around them and “civilize it.”
I thought I might talk about camping on a rocky place with fleas like they did this night. But conquering the natural world is not one we understand well today. Our cultural mindset is to preserve nature. Yesterday I spoke of turning from worshipping the Creator to worshipping the creation. Jehovah God, the Creator, gave a command to rule and subdue. Sounds like conquering to me. None of us purposefully lives on land that is overcome by blackberry bushes and uncontrolled growth. Good stewardship requires us to cut back and restrict uncontrolled growth. Many times we must remove the natural dangers that threaten our living on the land. If a tree could fall and damage our home we are prudent if we remove it. Insurance companies would claim negligence if we were to knowingly leave a rotten dangerous tree in a position to damage our dwelling.
Are we ruling and subduing, with good stewardship, as commanded by God when he created man? It is easy to check your home. Look around for ivy and vines trying to overwhelm it. Cut them off and remove them. The same holds for your spiritual life. Are you being overwhelmed by circumstances and happenings? It is a sign that the enemies of God are attempting to overwhelm you. Cut them off and remove them.
“And God created the man in His own image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female. And God blessed them; and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over the fish of the seas, and over birds of the heavens, and over all beasts creeping on the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every plant seeding seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree seeding seed; it shall be food for you. And to every beast of the earth, and to all birds of the heavens, and to every creeper on the earth which has in it a living soul, every green plant is for food. And it was so.” (Genesis 1:27-30)
His first command is to bear fruit, multiply, fill the earth and subdue and rule over it. Not popular today, but still true. Cut off anything that is attempting to entangle you and keep you from your God-given destiny.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Cloudy, Rainy and Disagreeable
Journal 2005 11 05
Cloudy, Rainy and Disagreeable
“Rained all the after part of last night, rain continues this morning, I [s]lept but verry little last night for the noise Kept dureing the whole of the night by the Swans, Geese, white & Grey Brant Ducks &c. on a Small Sand Island close under the Lard. Side; they were emensely noumerous, and their noise horid—…The day proved Cloudy with rain the greater part of it, we are all wet cold and disagreeable— I saw but little appearance of frost in this valley which we call <Wap-pa-too Columbia>”
A cold, wet November morning just above freezing. Typical of life along the Columbia River still today and throughout western Washington and Oregon. Many people I know who come to the Great Northwest from other parts of the country experience this common reaction to the cold wet weather. They, like William Clark, find it disagreeable. Many times it makes us disagreeable. Then somehow, somewhere we either move away or overcome the impact of the weather on our dispositions.
And that simply put is the application of today’s post. Have you overcome the impact of the natural world on your disposition or has it overcome you?
Many in our modern world have relegated the Creator as non-existent or irrelevant to their lives. Ironically, most who turn from the Creator trend towards seeking fulfillment from His creation. Nowhere is this truer than in the northwestern United States.
"I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33)
Jesus tells us to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. He has taken back His own Creation and redeemed the decaying effects of sin and death.
I have to constantly ask myself, “Do I have His peace in the middle of tribulation (like rainy disagreeable weather and no sleep) manifested in good cheer? Or have I taken my cues from the ever changing wind and weather letting my response reflect natures mood and not God’s?”
I pray I’m choosing God’s good cheer and not nature’s wet and miserable one!
Cloudy, Rainy and Disagreeable
“Rained all the after part of last night, rain continues this morning, I [s]lept but verry little last night for the noise Kept dureing the whole of the night by the Swans, Geese, white & Grey Brant Ducks &c. on a Small Sand Island close under the Lard. Side; they were emensely noumerous, and their noise horid—…The day proved Cloudy with rain the greater part of it, we are all wet cold and disagreeable— I saw but little appearance of frost in this valley which we call <Wap-pa-too Columbia>”
A cold, wet November morning just above freezing. Typical of life along the Columbia River still today and throughout western Washington and Oregon. Many people I know who come to the Great Northwest from other parts of the country experience this common reaction to the cold wet weather. They, like William Clark, find it disagreeable. Many times it makes us disagreeable. Then somehow, somewhere we either move away or overcome the impact of the weather on our dispositions.
And that simply put is the application of today’s post. Have you overcome the impact of the natural world on your disposition or has it overcome you?
Many in our modern world have relegated the Creator as non-existent or irrelevant to their lives. Ironically, most who turn from the Creator trend towards seeking fulfillment from His creation. Nowhere is this truer than in the northwestern United States.
"I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world."
(John 16:33)
Jesus tells us to be of good cheer for He has overcome the world. He has taken back His own Creation and redeemed the decaying effects of sin and death.
I have to constantly ask myself, “Do I have His peace in the middle of tribulation (like rainy disagreeable weather and no sleep) manifested in good cheer? Or have I taken my cues from the ever changing wind and weather letting my response reflect natures mood and not God’s?”
I pray I’m choosing God’s good cheer and not nature’s wet and miserable one!
Friday, November 04, 2005
Winds of Discord
Journal 2005 11 04
Winds of Discord
Yesterday, after seven months in lands unknown to western civilization, the Corps of Discovery enters territory previously visited by white men. Captain Robert Gray sailing the Columbia Rediviva first entered the Columbia River in 1792, thirteen years earlier. Already the influence of trade and trading goods is disjointing the culture of the Indians inhabiting the lower Columbia River.
William Clark records the theft of his tomahawk pipe that he used across the continent to “smoke” with the great chiefs along the journey. He turns the place upside down, searching every man and canoe and comes away empty handed. A “cappote,” or greatcoat, is also missing and found hidden under a nearby tree root. These simple acts of stealing set a barrier between the Corps of Discovery and these Indians that will never really be overcome until the Corp departs next spring. Clark uses the word “thieving.”
Distrust now inhabits the center of their interactions with this Indian nation. Disdain and disgust will constantly nibble at the edges of their interactions as the months of fall and winter pass later this year. The seeds of this discord were sown by the Indians newfound desire and sense of entitlement to western trade goods. The Indians culture of communal living and the explorers desire to give gifts as tokens of peace and future promises of “business” combine to form the foundation of good intentions gone awry. The Indian nations never really recover from the “false promises” of the white man and the white man never sees the “thieving” of the Indian as part of their communal life. Hard to believe we could set something in place and still have the roots of bitterness in place two hundred years later.
I had intentions of writing of the thick fog that delayed their departure these past mornings just like it interferes with ours today. Of the Sand River emptying into the Columbia with such “compression” that the Sand River impacts the opposite bank of the Columbia with great force. How Clark notes and confirms from Captain Gray’s maps that indeed it is Mt. Hood 47 miles distant and 85 degrees south of his present heading on his compass. My intention was to relate how life on the river is dictated by the obvious influence of nature in the meeting of ocean, river, land and mountains orchestrated by the life of wind. Reflective of the work of the Wind of the Spirit of God.
We get “winds of discord” instead of the “Wind of the Spirit” this morning. Suspicion. Distrust. Entitlement. Familiarity. Lack of respect and honor. Foundations to futility.
For those married among our readership, do you ever say, do or give something to your spouse that would please you but is displeasing to your mate? I have. Too many times. Because I gave out of my view, not out of my understanding of what pleases and blesses my beautiful bride. Your gift can sow discord and misunderstanding or you can learn and change. Give gifts that please, minister to and bless the receiver. No electronic devices, game calls, hunting gear, camo, computer anything, car accessories, tools, flashlights, knives or anything else out of the Cabela’s catalog will pass from my hand to my wife. Chanel 22 perfume, jewelry, clothes, dinner dates, trips and flowers will always be well received with a personal note in the card. Anything else falls short. I pray I’ve learned. I hope you have, too.
Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ, was a Jew. The foundation of the Christian church rests on the testimony of Peter, a Jewish fisherman, that there is no one else other than Christ. Persecution drove the Jewish Christian church outside Jerusalem into Gentile lands. Jews and Gentiles were like dogs and cats. Didn’t get along too well. Jews were made “unclean” by their interactions with Gentiles. Gentiles were put off by the haughtiness and religious arrogance of the Jews that made the Gentiles feel like dogs.
As the persecuted Jews, who had become followers of Jesus Christ, were living in the foreign lands of the Gentiles two cultures clashed. They clashed for our sake today as we clash with the cultures around us. As the Corps clashed with the Chinooks. In the discord, the Good News that Jesus Christ died as the sacrifice for our sin, rose from the grave and returned to Heaven leaving His Holy Spirit until the time of fulfillment of His promise to return was received by multitudes of Gentiles. Now Jews and Gentiles had been reconciled to the Jewish God by the Jewish Messiah! The Jews thought all followers of Christ must become like them in many of the foundational practices of the Jewish traditions.
Without extending today’s record into a book suitable for religious training, God offered the resolution for all cultural conflict. HIMSELF. In the person of His Son. And if both cultures focus on Him, both are changed. Changed because they move from their culture into the Kingdom of God. A better place.
“If God gave to them the same gift as to us, they having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to prevent God?” (Acts 11:17)
Lewis and Clark traveled with a message from a man, the President of the United States. That message was not able to reconcile nations. We travel with a message from God the Father, verified by Christ the Son and delivered by the work of the Spirit of God. This message is able to reconcile all men and nations. As great a journey as the Corp of Discovery was, it was secular by nature. The great missionary journeys of Paul the Apostle still stand alone because they carried the power to reconcile all nations and peoples to God and one another.
Winds of Discord
Yesterday, after seven months in lands unknown to western civilization, the Corps of Discovery enters territory previously visited by white men. Captain Robert Gray sailing the Columbia Rediviva first entered the Columbia River in 1792, thirteen years earlier. Already the influence of trade and trading goods is disjointing the culture of the Indians inhabiting the lower Columbia River.
William Clark records the theft of his tomahawk pipe that he used across the continent to “smoke” with the great chiefs along the journey. He turns the place upside down, searching every man and canoe and comes away empty handed. A “cappote,” or greatcoat, is also missing and found hidden under a nearby tree root. These simple acts of stealing set a barrier between the Corps of Discovery and these Indians that will never really be overcome until the Corp departs next spring. Clark uses the word “thieving.”
Distrust now inhabits the center of their interactions with this Indian nation. Disdain and disgust will constantly nibble at the edges of their interactions as the months of fall and winter pass later this year. The seeds of this discord were sown by the Indians newfound desire and sense of entitlement to western trade goods. The Indians culture of communal living and the explorers desire to give gifts as tokens of peace and future promises of “business” combine to form the foundation of good intentions gone awry. The Indian nations never really recover from the “false promises” of the white man and the white man never sees the “thieving” of the Indian as part of their communal life. Hard to believe we could set something in place and still have the roots of bitterness in place two hundred years later.
I had intentions of writing of the thick fog that delayed their departure these past mornings just like it interferes with ours today. Of the Sand River emptying into the Columbia with such “compression” that the Sand River impacts the opposite bank of the Columbia with great force. How Clark notes and confirms from Captain Gray’s maps that indeed it is Mt. Hood 47 miles distant and 85 degrees south of his present heading on his compass. My intention was to relate how life on the river is dictated by the obvious influence of nature in the meeting of ocean, river, land and mountains orchestrated by the life of wind. Reflective of the work of the Wind of the Spirit of God.
We get “winds of discord” instead of the “Wind of the Spirit” this morning. Suspicion. Distrust. Entitlement. Familiarity. Lack of respect and honor. Foundations to futility.
For those married among our readership, do you ever say, do or give something to your spouse that would please you but is displeasing to your mate? I have. Too many times. Because I gave out of my view, not out of my understanding of what pleases and blesses my beautiful bride. Your gift can sow discord and misunderstanding or you can learn and change. Give gifts that please, minister to and bless the receiver. No electronic devices, game calls, hunting gear, camo, computer anything, car accessories, tools, flashlights, knives or anything else out of the Cabela’s catalog will pass from my hand to my wife. Chanel 22 perfume, jewelry, clothes, dinner dates, trips and flowers will always be well received with a personal note in the card. Anything else falls short. I pray I’ve learned. I hope you have, too.
Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ, was a Jew. The foundation of the Christian church rests on the testimony of Peter, a Jewish fisherman, that there is no one else other than Christ. Persecution drove the Jewish Christian church outside Jerusalem into Gentile lands. Jews and Gentiles were like dogs and cats. Didn’t get along too well. Jews were made “unclean” by their interactions with Gentiles. Gentiles were put off by the haughtiness and religious arrogance of the Jews that made the Gentiles feel like dogs.
As the persecuted Jews, who had become followers of Jesus Christ, were living in the foreign lands of the Gentiles two cultures clashed. They clashed for our sake today as we clash with the cultures around us. As the Corps clashed with the Chinooks. In the discord, the Good News that Jesus Christ died as the sacrifice for our sin, rose from the grave and returned to Heaven leaving His Holy Spirit until the time of fulfillment of His promise to return was received by multitudes of Gentiles. Now Jews and Gentiles had been reconciled to the Jewish God by the Jewish Messiah! The Jews thought all followers of Christ must become like them in many of the foundational practices of the Jewish traditions.
Without extending today’s record into a book suitable for religious training, God offered the resolution for all cultural conflict. HIMSELF. In the person of His Son. And if both cultures focus on Him, both are changed. Changed because they move from their culture into the Kingdom of God. A better place.
“If God gave to them the same gift as to us, they having believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to prevent God?” (Acts 11:17)
Lewis and Clark traveled with a message from a man, the President of the United States. That message was not able to reconcile nations. We travel with a message from God the Father, verified by Christ the Son and delivered by the work of the Spirit of God. This message is able to reconcile all men and nations. As great a journey as the Corp of Discovery was, it was secular by nature. The great missionary journeys of Paul the Apostle still stand alone because they carried the power to reconcile all nations and peoples to God and one another.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Rising Waters
Journal 2005 11 01
Rising Waters
“The ebb tide rose here about 9 Inches, the flood tide must rise here much higher— we made 29 miles to day from the Great Shute-”
Once again the Corps of Discovery enters “new ground.” Tidal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Having passed the last great Cascades of the Columbia the expedition makes twenty-nine miles on the river, passes Beacon Rock and camps at what is today Oregon’s Rooster Rock State Park about twenty-five miles east of Portland.
As has long been their pattern, the men rise, travel and then eat. Before breakfast this morning the non-swimmers carry much of the gear around the cascades while the rivermen guide the lightly loaded canoes through the rocks. Three canoes are damaged in the process and repaired later in the day.
Bonneville Dam has submerged this long stretch of white water and we can only imagine and examine old pictures to capture a sense of the wildness of the Columbia River. We see the Columbia as a wide, slow moving river suitable for deep water navigation up to the Port of Pasco. That is right, Pasco, WA home of sagebrush, rattlesnakes and nuclear powerplants is a port city because of the damming of the Columbia River. The water was raised far beyond the nine inches of tidal action observed by William Clark as the flow of Pacific Ocean forced its influence miles upriver.
Have you ever thought of that concept before? The Columbia Bar is not a strict separation between the fresh flowing water of the Columbia River and the salt sea of the Pacific Ocean. As powerful as the flow of the tamed Columbia River still is the power of the Pacific Ocean is multiple times more powerful. The ocean tide flows ashore against the beaches and cliffs forcing their destruction. This same tide pushes into the rivers adding water to their channels and resisting the massive gravitational push of the full volume of water a river holds. Because this collision is liquid we see it as a mild mixing of water rather than the massive collision of power that it is. Because it is liquid it is measured by its rising and falling.
Do you have problems colliding, flooding your daily flow of life today? Do you need massive power to come to bear on your behalf to stop the seemingly endless push of power attempting to submerge your pursuit of life? “Do not let the flood of waters overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut its mouth on me.” (Psalms 69:15) “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water like a flood after the woman, so that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.” (Revelation 12:15) Floods bring fear. They overwhelm, overpower and carry away everything in their path. Facing a flood we need power. Power far beyond the ability of man to marshal against its push.
Maybe the water is only rising nine inches in your life every day and it recedes to a tolerable level before day’s end. The crush, the power, the absolute overwhelming power generated by the tide will retard your movement. We need something, someone, more powerful than the ebb and flow of the tide. We need someone, something, more powerful than any flood to push back on our behalf. “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19)
The Spirit of God. Invisible to the human eye. Compared to the blowing of the wind and the washing of the waters. Can you see the water rising? You need His power to push it back. Call on His name today and He will raise a standard, His battleflag, over you today against your enemy who, unimpeded, will overwhelm you like a flood.
Rising Waters
“The ebb tide rose here about 9 Inches, the flood tide must rise here much higher— we made 29 miles to day from the Great Shute-”
Once again the Corps of Discovery enters “new ground.” Tidal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Having passed the last great Cascades of the Columbia the expedition makes twenty-nine miles on the river, passes Beacon Rock and camps at what is today Oregon’s Rooster Rock State Park about twenty-five miles east of Portland.
As has long been their pattern, the men rise, travel and then eat. Before breakfast this morning the non-swimmers carry much of the gear around the cascades while the rivermen guide the lightly loaded canoes through the rocks. Three canoes are damaged in the process and repaired later in the day.
Bonneville Dam has submerged this long stretch of white water and we can only imagine and examine old pictures to capture a sense of the wildness of the Columbia River. We see the Columbia as a wide, slow moving river suitable for deep water navigation up to the Port of Pasco. That is right, Pasco, WA home of sagebrush, rattlesnakes and nuclear powerplants is a port city because of the damming of the Columbia River. The water was raised far beyond the nine inches of tidal action observed by William Clark as the flow of Pacific Ocean forced its influence miles upriver.
Have you ever thought of that concept before? The Columbia Bar is not a strict separation between the fresh flowing water of the Columbia River and the salt sea of the Pacific Ocean. As powerful as the flow of the tamed Columbia River still is the power of the Pacific Ocean is multiple times more powerful. The ocean tide flows ashore against the beaches and cliffs forcing their destruction. This same tide pushes into the rivers adding water to their channels and resisting the massive gravitational push of the full volume of water a river holds. Because this collision is liquid we see it as a mild mixing of water rather than the massive collision of power that it is. Because it is liquid it is measured by its rising and falling.
Do you have problems colliding, flooding your daily flow of life today? Do you need massive power to come to bear on your behalf to stop the seemingly endless push of power attempting to submerge your pursuit of life? “Do not let the flood of waters overflow me, nor let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut its mouth on me.” (Psalms 69:15) “And the serpent cast out of his mouth water like a flood after the woman, so that he might cause her to be carried away by the river.” (Revelation 12:15) Floods bring fear. They overwhelm, overpower and carry away everything in their path. Facing a flood we need power. Power far beyond the ability of man to marshal against its push.
Maybe the water is only rising nine inches in your life every day and it recedes to a tolerable level before day’s end. The crush, the power, the absolute overwhelming power generated by the tide will retard your movement. We need something, someone, more powerful than the ebb and flow of the tide. We need someone, something, more powerful than any flood to push back on our behalf. “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19)
The Spirit of God. Invisible to the human eye. Compared to the blowing of the wind and the washing of the waters. Can you see the water rising? You need His power to push it back. Call on His name today and He will raise a standard, His battleflag, over you today against your enemy who, unimpeded, will overwhelm you like a flood.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Discovery and Naming
Journal 2005 10 31
Discovery and Naming
“A Cloudy rainey disagreeable morning.” “Welcome to Washington!” would be our modern day response to Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. Sounds like a day mirrored on October 31, 2005.
The Corps is carefully working its way downriver. Captain Clark describes the many large rocks that appear to have fallen into the river making travel dangerous. Several portages have been made over the past two days to circumvent some of the rapids. At one point Clark describes a section of the river as having the appearance of a half-drained pond with stumps exposed.
Today, Captain Clark takes Joseph Fields and Pierre Cruzatte downriver to investigate what the river holds for them. He sends Cruzatte back upriver to take a closer look at the river and determine where they can safely navigate the river and when they must make portages. Cruzatte is his best riverman. William Clark obviously has complete confidence in Cruzatte’s abilities as he is singly sent to observe the conditions of the river.
At their furthest point downriver today Clark and Fields see and name Beacon Rock. If you’ve ever stopped and climbed the iron walkway bolted into its sides you know the wonder surrounding this volcanic monolith. Geologists believe it to be the remnants of an ancient volcano. A plug of magma with the mountain eroded away. Could be. I’m an amateur geologist and generally subscribe to much more current views of natural occurrences put forth by creationists rather than timelines favored by secular scientists.
Somewhere in history Beacon Rock was called Castle Rock until 1916 when the name William Clark bestowed upon it was restored. I’ve said it before, but I am astounded that so many names Lewis and Clark assigned to geographic features are not in use today. It is seems somehow wrong that so many names they assigned have been relegated to historical obscurity noted only by those who examine their journals.
Although the Corps of Discovery was not a Christian mission like those of the great Spanish and Portuguese explorers who planted a “cross of discovery” upon arrival in the New World marking the expansion of their monarchies and the Kingdom of God represented by the Catholic Church there is a basic Biblical principle at work in assigning names. “And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every animal of the field and every fowl of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. And Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field…” (Genesis 2:19-20)
God called for man, beginning with Adam, to have dominion over creation. It started with observation and naming. That principle continues today. Most great discoveries are named after the scientist who made the observation. Even at the sub-microscopic level, all discoveries are still merely observations of creation. All creation is designed with a baseline purpose. “Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all!” (Romans 1:20)
So, whether Beacon Rock or some nano discovery invisible to the unaided human eye all things are designed with a revelation of God’s divine nature and eternal power. Both visible, like Beacon Rock, and invisible, like the most repugnant of human hearts, working in the spiritual realm that changes the vilest of sinners into saints. Eternal power, visible and invisible. Can you see it? I look back on my life and as a young boy spent many hours in silent wonder questioning the how and why of Mt. Rainier. I look back now and add to that how and why the awe and wonder of my changed heart that required more power than was ever needed to create Mt. Rainier. Can you see His work in the natural world? Have you found His eternal power in the depth of your heart?
“For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth. But it is not just creation alone which groans; we who have the Spirit as the first of God's gifts also groan within ourselves as we wait for God to make us his children and set our whole being free.” (Romans 8:22-23)
Discovery and Naming
“A Cloudy rainey disagreeable morning.” “Welcome to Washington!” would be our modern day response to Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. Sounds like a day mirrored on October 31, 2005.
The Corps is carefully working its way downriver. Captain Clark describes the many large rocks that appear to have fallen into the river making travel dangerous. Several portages have been made over the past two days to circumvent some of the rapids. At one point Clark describes a section of the river as having the appearance of a half-drained pond with stumps exposed.
Today, Captain Clark takes Joseph Fields and Pierre Cruzatte downriver to investigate what the river holds for them. He sends Cruzatte back upriver to take a closer look at the river and determine where they can safely navigate the river and when they must make portages. Cruzatte is his best riverman. William Clark obviously has complete confidence in Cruzatte’s abilities as he is singly sent to observe the conditions of the river.
At their furthest point downriver today Clark and Fields see and name Beacon Rock. If you’ve ever stopped and climbed the iron walkway bolted into its sides you know the wonder surrounding this volcanic monolith. Geologists believe it to be the remnants of an ancient volcano. A plug of magma with the mountain eroded away. Could be. I’m an amateur geologist and generally subscribe to much more current views of natural occurrences put forth by creationists rather than timelines favored by secular scientists.
Somewhere in history Beacon Rock was called Castle Rock until 1916 when the name William Clark bestowed upon it was restored. I’ve said it before, but I am astounded that so many names Lewis and Clark assigned to geographic features are not in use today. It is seems somehow wrong that so many names they assigned have been relegated to historical obscurity noted only by those who examine their journals.
Although the Corps of Discovery was not a Christian mission like those of the great Spanish and Portuguese explorers who planted a “cross of discovery” upon arrival in the New World marking the expansion of their monarchies and the Kingdom of God represented by the Catholic Church there is a basic Biblical principle at work in assigning names. “And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every animal of the field and every fowl of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. And Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field…” (Genesis 2:19-20)
God called for man, beginning with Adam, to have dominion over creation. It started with observation and naming. That principle continues today. Most great discoveries are named after the scientist who made the observation. Even at the sub-microscopic level, all discoveries are still merely observations of creation. All creation is designed with a baseline purpose. “Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all!” (Romans 1:20)
So, whether Beacon Rock or some nano discovery invisible to the unaided human eye all things are designed with a revelation of God’s divine nature and eternal power. Both visible, like Beacon Rock, and invisible, like the most repugnant of human hearts, working in the spiritual realm that changes the vilest of sinners into saints. Eternal power, visible and invisible. Can you see it? I look back on my life and as a young boy spent many hours in silent wonder questioning the how and why of Mt. Rainier. I look back now and add to that how and why the awe and wonder of my changed heart that required more power than was ever needed to create Mt. Rainier. Can you see His work in the natural world? Have you found His eternal power in the depth of your heart?
“For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth. But it is not just creation alone which groans; we who have the Spirit as the first of God's gifts also groan within ourselves as we wait for God to make us his children and set our whole being free.” (Romans 8:22-23)
Friday, October 28, 2005
A Channel Through the Mountains
Journal 2005 10 28
A Channel Through the Mountains
“…wind blew hard accompanied with rain all the evening, our Situation not a verry good one for an encampment, but Such as it is we are obliged to put up with, the harbor is a Safe one, we encamped on the Sand wet and disagreeable.”
Strong winds coming up the gorge of the Columbia blew so hard it impeded the progress of the Corps and the men retreated to a safe harbor to wait out calmer weather. Rains came and brought the brand of weather we are all too familiar with in the Great Northwest.
The geology of the Columbia begs explanation as the Corps of Discovery is about to leave the basaltic plains of Eastern Washington and pass through the Columbia River Gorge to the Pacific. Most rivers originate in the heights of the mountains and run to the sea. The Columbia originates in the Canadian Rockies, runs south through the high basalt plains of Eastern Washington, is fed by the Snake River and makes a big round turn west at the Oregon border where it empties into the Pacific Ocean completing its one thousand two hundred forty three mile journey. What sets the Columbia apart from most rivers is what happens when it reaches the Cascade Mountain range. It cuts through the Cascade Mountains on its tumble to the sea.
Geologists call it an antecedent river, meaning that it existed before the mountains began to be pushed up as the Pacific Plate passed under the Continental Plate. Biblical creationists contend, and I agree, that all of the canyons, coulees and the channel the Columbia flows through are best attributed to the receding waters of the Great Flood of Noah in the Bible. Most geologists now agree that the Grand Canyon must have been the work of a great catastrophic flow of water and not the incremental work of millions of years of minute erosion. Lewis and Clark did not see Dry Falls, which is near Ephrata, WA. Nor did they see the great coulees that we drive through between Wenatchee and Waterville. I can picture Meriwether Lewis’ description of this massive empty river channel. The speculations of the amount of water are really mind bending.
We see here again an example of the natural proving the spiritual. Secular geologists date the rush of water across the plateau at ten to fifteen thousand years ago. More consistent with the time of the Great Flood than any other historical record. (Although Biblical historians would date the great flood at five to six thousand years ago.) I’ll take the biblical account.
So the Columbia followed a course through the mountains set in place millennia before by God. Lewis and Clark were simply discovering what God has already put in place. And that is our record for today. Are you looking at your Christian life as a series of self-centered lessons for your fulfillment, or are you seeing him lead and teach you as you are walking out your destiny in lifelong “proceeding on” to Mt. Zion? He has set adventure before each of us for the fullness of joy and the praise of His Glory as we build His Kingdom here on earth. Look for what God has set before you. Today, it was a hindering wind that restrained river travel and caused the men to seek safe harbor. Is a strong wind blowing, hindering your progress? Seek safe harbor even if it means a miserable camp on a sandy beach. He may have laid down the sand for that beach thousands of years before just for your benefit and His glory on this day. Proceed on!
A Channel Through the Mountains
“…wind blew hard accompanied with rain all the evening, our Situation not a verry good one for an encampment, but Such as it is we are obliged to put up with, the harbor is a Safe one, we encamped on the Sand wet and disagreeable.”
Strong winds coming up the gorge of the Columbia blew so hard it impeded the progress of the Corps and the men retreated to a safe harbor to wait out calmer weather. Rains came and brought the brand of weather we are all too familiar with in the Great Northwest.
The geology of the Columbia begs explanation as the Corps of Discovery is about to leave the basaltic plains of Eastern Washington and pass through the Columbia River Gorge to the Pacific. Most rivers originate in the heights of the mountains and run to the sea. The Columbia originates in the Canadian Rockies, runs south through the high basalt plains of Eastern Washington, is fed by the Snake River and makes a big round turn west at the Oregon border where it empties into the Pacific Ocean completing its one thousand two hundred forty three mile journey. What sets the Columbia apart from most rivers is what happens when it reaches the Cascade Mountain range. It cuts through the Cascade Mountains on its tumble to the sea.
Geologists call it an antecedent river, meaning that it existed before the mountains began to be pushed up as the Pacific Plate passed under the Continental Plate. Biblical creationists contend, and I agree, that all of the canyons, coulees and the channel the Columbia flows through are best attributed to the receding waters of the Great Flood of Noah in the Bible. Most geologists now agree that the Grand Canyon must have been the work of a great catastrophic flow of water and not the incremental work of millions of years of minute erosion. Lewis and Clark did not see Dry Falls, which is near Ephrata, WA. Nor did they see the great coulees that we drive through between Wenatchee and Waterville. I can picture Meriwether Lewis’ description of this massive empty river channel. The speculations of the amount of water are really mind bending.
We see here again an example of the natural proving the spiritual. Secular geologists date the rush of water across the plateau at ten to fifteen thousand years ago. More consistent with the time of the Great Flood than any other historical record. (Although Biblical historians would date the great flood at five to six thousand years ago.) I’ll take the biblical account.
So the Columbia followed a course through the mountains set in place millennia before by God. Lewis and Clark were simply discovering what God has already put in place. And that is our record for today. Are you looking at your Christian life as a series of self-centered lessons for your fulfillment, or are you seeing him lead and teach you as you are walking out your destiny in lifelong “proceeding on” to Mt. Zion? He has set adventure before each of us for the fullness of joy and the praise of His Glory as we build His Kingdom here on earth. Look for what God has set before you. Today, it was a hindering wind that restrained river travel and caused the men to seek safe harbor. Is a strong wind blowing, hindering your progress? Seek safe harbor even if it means a miserable camp on a sandy beach. He may have laid down the sand for that beach thousands of years before just for your benefit and His glory on this day. Proceed on!
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Journal 2005 10 26
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
“…as we thought it necessary at this time to treat those people verry friendly & ingratiate our Selves with them, to insure us a kind & friendly reception on our return, we gave Small presents to Several, and half a Deer to them to eate. we had also a fire made for those people to Sit around in the middle of our Camp, and Peter Crusat played on the violin, which pleased those nativs exceedingly.”
Once again we see that the Captains and the men are acting as emissaries of President Jefferson. I always liked the title of John le Carre’s spy novel, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.” It reminds me of the roles that must be played out for the mission to be completed successfully. Soldier, Sailor, Diplomat, Explorer, Boatbuilder, Spy, Cartographer, Astronomer, Biologist, Scientist, Tailor, Hunter, Author and the list goes on. Today, they see clearly the need to be diplomats.
The people the Captains were entertaining today are two chiefs who were hunting earlier and have since returned anxious to meet the men who came from the east by land. Not from the west, by sea, as expected.
Have you ever thought about the many titles that might describe you as you walk through life? Your earliest ones are simple. Son or daughter. As we all grow and find our way the knitting together that took place in our mother’s womb begins to unfold. Our personalities take shape and the desires of our heart begin to lead our steps. Physical strengths and weaknesses propel and limit who we become.
Somewhere along our timeline of life, we all have a choice to make. That choice is our response to God and His offer of redemption through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Dependant on our response, our desires and disappointments combine with our strengths and human frailties to shape our adult lives and carry us into darkness and its hidden trapdoors or into the Kingdom of Heaven and “it’s marvelous light.”
God has set a great expedition before each of us. Many Hebrew names describe the different attributes of God by name. Many titles describe the roles of Son and Holy Spirit. You probably have had descriptive names attached to you by others that identify traits unique to you. Make a decision today to let God redeem those traits for His purposes in this world. Then they will bear good fruit and be a source of joy for you.
If John le Carre wrote a novel with you as the primary character what words would he use to describe your life in the title of that book?
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
“…as we thought it necessary at this time to treat those people verry friendly & ingratiate our Selves with them, to insure us a kind & friendly reception on our return, we gave Small presents to Several, and half a Deer to them to eate. we had also a fire made for those people to Sit around in the middle of our Camp, and Peter Crusat played on the violin, which pleased those nativs exceedingly.”
Once again we see that the Captains and the men are acting as emissaries of President Jefferson. I always liked the title of John le Carre’s spy novel, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.” It reminds me of the roles that must be played out for the mission to be completed successfully. Soldier, Sailor, Diplomat, Explorer, Boatbuilder, Spy, Cartographer, Astronomer, Biologist, Scientist, Tailor, Hunter, Author and the list goes on. Today, they see clearly the need to be diplomats.
The people the Captains were entertaining today are two chiefs who were hunting earlier and have since returned anxious to meet the men who came from the east by land. Not from the west, by sea, as expected.
Have you ever thought about the many titles that might describe you as you walk through life? Your earliest ones are simple. Son or daughter. As we all grow and find our way the knitting together that took place in our mother’s womb begins to unfold. Our personalities take shape and the desires of our heart begin to lead our steps. Physical strengths and weaknesses propel and limit who we become.
Somewhere along our timeline of life, we all have a choice to make. That choice is our response to God and His offer of redemption through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Dependant on our response, our desires and disappointments combine with our strengths and human frailties to shape our adult lives and carry us into darkness and its hidden trapdoors or into the Kingdom of Heaven and “it’s marvelous light.”
God has set a great expedition before each of us. Many Hebrew names describe the different attributes of God by name. Many titles describe the roles of Son and Holy Spirit. You probably have had descriptive names attached to you by others that identify traits unique to you. Make a decision today to let God redeem those traits for His purposes in this world. Then they will bear good fruit and be a source of joy for you.
If John le Carre wrote a novel with you as the primary character what words would he use to describe your life in the title of that book?
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Passing Through the Gut
Journal 2005 10 25
Passing Through the Gut
Yesterday the Captains had to determine how to best pass through the “gut” of the river. Portage or shoot the rapids? Portage was impractical because of the terrain. Captain Clark again sent the non-swimmers by land and determined that water passage was possible. His single hope was that the canoes would not suffer too much damage in the process.
Men are stationed on the rocks above with ropes to aid the rivermen piloting the canoes should they run into trouble. The first canoe passes with no trouble. A signal is given for the next canoe to proceed. It, too, passes with success. Do you think the men manning the ropes were stoic in their observation of their comrade’s work? I can see hands raised in cheers as the gut is cleared cleanly. Canoe number three gets hung up on a rock and begins to take water. Aid is rendered and the watercraft is successfully brought to shore. The final canoe squeezes through the gut safely.
The Corps crossed a natural boundary and a national boundary in their passage through this gut. They moved from the lands of the Nez Perce nation into the Chinook nation. These tribes are “at war”. The men are on alert. Camp is made on the highest rock promontory they can find. It makes a fine fortress should defense be necessary. Were the men pleased about camping in the rocks? I doubt it. To secure their mission they did the hard thing. Pun intended.
Hunters set out and return with a small deer. Much animal sign is observed giving hope of sustenance for the coming winter. Timber is seen on the mountains again and another large, snow-topped mountain is observed to the southwest. Mt. Hood. The Captains are simply calling it Falls Mountain because of the falls they have just passed.
“Passing through the gut.” We are more “civilized” than our troop of men who had proven themselves able to survive in the wilderness. Do we understand why William Clark describes the long narrow passage of water as a “gut”? In the simplest of illustrations, things enter our wide-open mouths are processed through our digestive systems where they are squeezed through our large and small intestines before passing out of our bodies.
Remember the typical harvest of food required to sustain the Corps on the prairie where food was abundant? One bison, one elk and one deer, or four deer. The result of hunting, killing, cleaning and skinning these animals left lots of guts. How many in our modern world have ever seen an animal’s entrails except maybe in a Thanksgiving turkey? Most of us are more familiar with someone “passing” a kidney stone. Painful as a small object squeezes it’s way through a small passage.
Have you “passed through the gut” in your life? My bet is that you have. Life requires us to be squeezed, pressed and changed. This process of squeezing, pressing and refining transforms us. The process always requires constraint and darkness to complete. Food enters in one form and come out entirely different. How we respond to the process determines how we “come out.” Without sounding too indelicate, do we come out stinky, repugnant and suitable only for fertilizer because the result of our passage required elimination? Or, like meat and fat mixed with spices in a sausage grinder do we pass through the gut and exit fit for consumption, not elimination?
“And He said to them, Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the waste-bowl, purifying all food? And He said, That which comes out of the man is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things pass out from inside and defile the man.” (Mark 7:18-23)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My Word and believes on Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.”
(John 5:24) “So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) “Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” (Hebrews 4:14) “We know that we have passed from death to life, …” (1 John 3:14)
The brave rivermen pass through the gut of the river. We are called to have courage and pass from the world as we know it into the Kingdom of God as He declares it to be. Are we willing to attempt it? What is common to this passage? Death and a changed heart. Christ died to create the “gut” that must be traversed by all to cross over the natural boundary of death into the new nation of the Kingdom of God. Are you willing to step into the canoe and let His current carry you? Will the passage find you with new life and a new heart or fit only for fertilizer?
Passing Through the Gut
Yesterday the Captains had to determine how to best pass through the “gut” of the river. Portage or shoot the rapids? Portage was impractical because of the terrain. Captain Clark again sent the non-swimmers by land and determined that water passage was possible. His single hope was that the canoes would not suffer too much damage in the process.
Men are stationed on the rocks above with ropes to aid the rivermen piloting the canoes should they run into trouble. The first canoe passes with no trouble. A signal is given for the next canoe to proceed. It, too, passes with success. Do you think the men manning the ropes were stoic in their observation of their comrade’s work? I can see hands raised in cheers as the gut is cleared cleanly. Canoe number three gets hung up on a rock and begins to take water. Aid is rendered and the watercraft is successfully brought to shore. The final canoe squeezes through the gut safely.
The Corps crossed a natural boundary and a national boundary in their passage through this gut. They moved from the lands of the Nez Perce nation into the Chinook nation. These tribes are “at war”. The men are on alert. Camp is made on the highest rock promontory they can find. It makes a fine fortress should defense be necessary. Were the men pleased about camping in the rocks? I doubt it. To secure their mission they did the hard thing. Pun intended.
Hunters set out and return with a small deer. Much animal sign is observed giving hope of sustenance for the coming winter. Timber is seen on the mountains again and another large, snow-topped mountain is observed to the southwest. Mt. Hood. The Captains are simply calling it Falls Mountain because of the falls they have just passed.
“Passing through the gut.” We are more “civilized” than our troop of men who had proven themselves able to survive in the wilderness. Do we understand why William Clark describes the long narrow passage of water as a “gut”? In the simplest of illustrations, things enter our wide-open mouths are processed through our digestive systems where they are squeezed through our large and small intestines before passing out of our bodies.
Remember the typical harvest of food required to sustain the Corps on the prairie where food was abundant? One bison, one elk and one deer, or four deer. The result of hunting, killing, cleaning and skinning these animals left lots of guts. How many in our modern world have ever seen an animal’s entrails except maybe in a Thanksgiving turkey? Most of us are more familiar with someone “passing” a kidney stone. Painful as a small object squeezes it’s way through a small passage.
Have you “passed through the gut” in your life? My bet is that you have. Life requires us to be squeezed, pressed and changed. This process of squeezing, pressing and refining transforms us. The process always requires constraint and darkness to complete. Food enters in one form and come out entirely different. How we respond to the process determines how we “come out.” Without sounding too indelicate, do we come out stinky, repugnant and suitable only for fertilizer because the result of our passage required elimination? Or, like meat and fat mixed with spices in a sausage grinder do we pass through the gut and exit fit for consumption, not elimination?
“And He said to them, Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the waste-bowl, purifying all food? And He said, That which comes out of the man is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things pass out from inside and defile the man.” (Mark 7:18-23)
“Truly, truly, I say to you, He who hears My Word and believes on Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death to life.”
(John 5:24) “So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) “Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” (Hebrews 4:14) “We know that we have passed from death to life, …” (1 John 3:14)
The brave rivermen pass through the gut of the river. We are called to have courage and pass from the world as we know it into the Kingdom of God as He declares it to be. Are we willing to attempt it? What is common to this passage? Death and a changed heart. Christ died to create the “gut” that must be traversed by all to cross over the natural boundary of death into the new nation of the Kingdom of God. Are you willing to step into the canoe and let His current carry you? Will the passage find you with new life and a new heart or fit only for fertilizer?
Monday, October 24, 2005
A Big Black Rock
Journal 2005 10 24
A Big Black Rock
“here a tremendious <heigh> black rock Presented itself high and Steep appearing to choke up the river nor could I See where the water passed further than the Current was drawn with great velocity to the Lard Side of this rock at which place I heard a great roreing. I landed at the Lodges and the natives went with me to the top of this rock which makes from the Stard. Side; from the top of which I could See the dificuelties we had to pass for Several miles below; at this place the water of this great river is compressed into a Chanel between two rocks not exceeding forty five yards wide and continues for a ¼ of a mile when it again widens to 200 yards and continues this width for about 2 miles when it is again intersepted by rocks.”
The Columbia River squeezed into a forty-five yard channel? That must have a been a sight! Our modern Columbia is stunning in its volume of water and its width. It’s wildness lies hidden under the lakes created by dams. The dams harness the power inherent in the flow of the river and create electricity which allows us to live differently than the Indians who made houses very much like what these wilderness men were used to living in. They found neat stacks of tens of thousands of dried salmon in the partially sunken homes of cedar posts and roofs than lined the Columbia.
If you’ve ever driven over I-205, the bridge that spans the Columbia River between Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR is almost two miles in length. The river below channels around Governor’s Island and is almost nine hundred yards wide on the Washington side and around seven hundred yards wide on the Oregon side. The volume of water was the same two hundred years ago as it is today. Channel all that through less than fifty yards several miles upstream and you’ve got a wild ride in a canoe! Here’s how the calm and steady William Clark describes it, “the only danger in passing thro those narrows was the whorls and Swills arriseing from the Compression of the water, and which I thought (as also our principal watermen Peter Crusat) by good Stearing we could pass down Safe, accordingly I deturmined to pass through this place notwithstanding the horrid appearance of this agitated gut Swelling, boiling & whorling in every direction (which from the top of the rock did not appear as bad as when I was in it;[)] however we passed Safe to the astonishment of all the Inds.” I’ve mentioned speed before, but this may have been the fastest point of the journey. If it was, it had to be the thrill of a lifetime for these men. And don’t you long for the more descriptive Meriwether Lewis in this place? Where Clark implies excitement by understatement Lewis would have waxed in raw emotion of the thrill and danger. Yet history renders him silent.
Do you have a big black rock in your river? Will it obstruct your journey? Will it appear to block the flow of your life, damming your course? Will the narrowing of the passage bottleneck you? It doesn’t have to. The squeezing of the water through the rocks creates the Venturi effect and catapults you to the wildest ride of your life. Is there a big black rock looming in the middle of your passage? Stop, and like William Clark, get a look from above. If you ask, God will give you wisdom about passing through the supercharged channel the restriction creates. William Clark’s remarks indicate that the ride was a lot more exciting than he anticipated. And I believe yours will be too.
A Big Black Rock
“here a tremendious <heigh> black rock Presented itself high and Steep appearing to choke up the river nor could I See where the water passed further than the Current was drawn with great velocity to the Lard Side of this rock at which place I heard a great roreing. I landed at the Lodges and the natives went with me to the top of this rock which makes from the Stard. Side; from the top of which I could See the dificuelties we had to pass for Several miles below; at this place the water of this great river is compressed into a Chanel between two rocks not exceeding forty five yards wide and continues for a ¼ of a mile when it again widens to 200 yards and continues this width for about 2 miles when it is again intersepted by rocks.”
The Columbia River squeezed into a forty-five yard channel? That must have a been a sight! Our modern Columbia is stunning in its volume of water and its width. It’s wildness lies hidden under the lakes created by dams. The dams harness the power inherent in the flow of the river and create electricity which allows us to live differently than the Indians who made houses very much like what these wilderness men were used to living in. They found neat stacks of tens of thousands of dried salmon in the partially sunken homes of cedar posts and roofs than lined the Columbia.
If you’ve ever driven over I-205, the bridge that spans the Columbia River between Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR is almost two miles in length. The river below channels around Governor’s Island and is almost nine hundred yards wide on the Washington side and around seven hundred yards wide on the Oregon side. The volume of water was the same two hundred years ago as it is today. Channel all that through less than fifty yards several miles upstream and you’ve got a wild ride in a canoe! Here’s how the calm and steady William Clark describes it, “the only danger in passing thro those narrows was the whorls and Swills arriseing from the Compression of the water, and which I thought (as also our principal watermen Peter Crusat) by good Stearing we could pass down Safe, accordingly I deturmined to pass through this place notwithstanding the horrid appearance of this agitated gut Swelling, boiling & whorling in every direction (which from the top of the rock did not appear as bad as when I was in it;[)] however we passed Safe to the astonishment of all the Inds.” I’ve mentioned speed before, but this may have been the fastest point of the journey. If it was, it had to be the thrill of a lifetime for these men. And don’t you long for the more descriptive Meriwether Lewis in this place? Where Clark implies excitement by understatement Lewis would have waxed in raw emotion of the thrill and danger. Yet history renders him silent.
Do you have a big black rock in your river? Will it obstruct your journey? Will it appear to block the flow of your life, damming your course? Will the narrowing of the passage bottleneck you? It doesn’t have to. The squeezing of the water through the rocks creates the Venturi effect and catapults you to the wildest ride of your life. Is there a big black rock looming in the middle of your passage? Stop, and like William Clark, get a look from above. If you ask, God will give you wisdom about passing through the supercharged channel the restriction creates. William Clark’s remarks indicate that the ride was a lot more exciting than he anticipated. And I believe yours will be too.
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Common Apprehension
Journal 2005 10 23
Common Apprehension
I’m struck once more this morning by the careful navigation that governs the speed of these brave travelers. They are aggressive but exercise wisdom. Confident in their skills, bold, yet humble in attitude. As Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” Callahan observed, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” These rivermen knew theirs well.
The chiefs of the Nez Perce who have accompanied the Corps as guides and emissaries express their desire to bid the Captains a fond farewell and return home. The chiefs hear a rumor that tribes downriver who are considered to be at war with the Nez Perce plan to kill the men of the Corps of Discovery. The chiefs wish to exercise that age old adage that discretion is the better part of valor. Wisdom told them they had reached their limitations to safe travel and it was time to retreat to safety. Clark records that as “a Shadow of Confirmation” of their fears the natives left the campfire earlier than usual. All arms were examined for readiness. One hundred rounds of ammunition are readied. Captain Clark notes that “as we are at all times & places on our guard, are under no greater apprehention than is common.”
Cautious? Yes. Fearful? No. This continues to be a military mission and we can forget that proper military order was assumed. Proper military order required regular guard duty and many long hours on watch as the rest of the party rested. A few soldiers were ever-vigilant for the benefit of the resting. Guard duty is typically rotated in regular shifts to keep the sentries from being lulled into dullness. This security practice is so basic that dereliction of duty while on “watch” is punishable by death in most armies. This small Corps surely developed a routine that was so common it became one more rhythm of their daily schedule.
Captain Clark’s judgment that the common practices they had always employed would be adequate for this threat meant that the practice was correct. If Clark had felt the need to increase the watch then it would indicate that the practice had been inadequate to secure the safety of those resting in camp.
Have you examined the “common apprehention” of your daily routine? Are you overly fearful? Do you have five locks on each door? Are your windows so secure that even light can’t penetrate the barrier? Is your electronic security system monitored and provided with a backup? Have you attended Gunsite, the great school that teaches practical firearms skills should all your other systems break down under an attempt to breach the secured perimeter of your home? Or have you fatalistically reduce your security to chance and leave all your vehicles and doors unlocked at all times?
Acknowledged or ignored, all men have a common enemy. We are told, “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) A level of vigilance to meet this threat must be common.
Today, examine your arms, prepare your ammunition and set your security to adequately protect you. And then, just like these intrepid travelers, “Proceed On!” Capture the spirit illustrated in this westward exploration and exercise wisdom, knowledge and common apprehension as you confidently advance to and through uncharted lands and people. “Rise up and walk through the land, in the length of it and in the breadth of it, for I will give it to you.”(Genesis 13:17) Proceed On!
Common Apprehension
I’m struck once more this morning by the careful navigation that governs the speed of these brave travelers. They are aggressive but exercise wisdom. Confident in their skills, bold, yet humble in attitude. As Clint Eastwood’s “Dirty Harry” Callahan observed, “A man’s got to know his limitations.” These rivermen knew theirs well.
The chiefs of the Nez Perce who have accompanied the Corps as guides and emissaries express their desire to bid the Captains a fond farewell and return home. The chiefs hear a rumor that tribes downriver who are considered to be at war with the Nez Perce plan to kill the men of the Corps of Discovery. The chiefs wish to exercise that age old adage that discretion is the better part of valor. Wisdom told them they had reached their limitations to safe travel and it was time to retreat to safety. Clark records that as “a Shadow of Confirmation” of their fears the natives left the campfire earlier than usual. All arms were examined for readiness. One hundred rounds of ammunition are readied. Captain Clark notes that “as we are at all times & places on our guard, are under no greater apprehention than is common.”
Cautious? Yes. Fearful? No. This continues to be a military mission and we can forget that proper military order was assumed. Proper military order required regular guard duty and many long hours on watch as the rest of the party rested. A few soldiers were ever-vigilant for the benefit of the resting. Guard duty is typically rotated in regular shifts to keep the sentries from being lulled into dullness. This security practice is so basic that dereliction of duty while on “watch” is punishable by death in most armies. This small Corps surely developed a routine that was so common it became one more rhythm of their daily schedule.
Captain Clark’s judgment that the common practices they had always employed would be adequate for this threat meant that the practice was correct. If Clark had felt the need to increase the watch then it would indicate that the practice had been inadequate to secure the safety of those resting in camp.
Have you examined the “common apprehention” of your daily routine? Are you overly fearful? Do you have five locks on each door? Are your windows so secure that even light can’t penetrate the barrier? Is your electronic security system monitored and provided with a backup? Have you attended Gunsite, the great school that teaches practical firearms skills should all your other systems break down under an attempt to breach the secured perimeter of your home? Or have you fatalistically reduce your security to chance and leave all your vehicles and doors unlocked at all times?
Acknowledged or ignored, all men have a common enemy. We are told, “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) A level of vigilance to meet this threat must be common.
Today, examine your arms, prepare your ammunition and set your security to adequately protect you. And then, just like these intrepid travelers, “Proceed On!” Capture the spirit illustrated in this westward exploration and exercise wisdom, knowledge and common apprehension as you confidently advance to and through uncharted lands and people. “Rise up and walk through the land, in the length of it and in the breadth of it, for I will give it to you.”(Genesis 13:17) Proceed On!
Friday, October 21, 2005
Received with Great Kindness, Examined with Much Attention
Journal 2005 10 21
Received with Great Kindness, Examined with Much Attention
“Those people recived us with great kindness, and examined us with much attention, their employments custom Dress and appearance Similar to those above; Speak the same language, here we Saw two Scarlet and a blue cloth blanket, also a Salors Jacket …”
For the last couple of days the men begin to see evidence of the tribes trading with sailors who have explored the Columbia. Today scarlet and blue blankets and a sailor’s jacket. Many pictures you’ll see following this period (as photographs displaced paintings) show these same tribes with a mix of traditional animal skins and western jackets, hats and other adornments. Clark and the other men keeping journals all record with embarrassment the dress of the women who have a traditional buck or goatskin blouse over a very short and revealing wrap that barely hides their private areas.
Again, no comment is made regarding the reaction of the Corps to the increasing evidence that they are, like two train rails started at opposite compass ends, about to join the easternmost explorations of British ships with the westernmost exploration of American troops. Great satisfaction and increasing pride must have filled them as they saw the fulfillment of their mission just over the western horizon at the mouth of the very river they are sailing. Tonight they camp a few miles west of the mouth of the John Day River at Celilo, OR or Wishram, WA after covering forty-two miles each of the past two days. They don’t know this, but they are about one hundred fifty miles from the Pacific as the crow flies, less than two hundred miles via the circuitous route of the river.
This final push down the Columbia almost has the ring of a victory parade more commonly seen in the streets of Paris, Rome and Berlin as troops victoriously entered ground once claimed by another nation. The fear of the last few days is replaced by curiosity as the white men with red, brown, blonde and black hair are “checked out” by those who may have heard about them downriver but have yet to see one.
We heard about those who had ears to hear what the Captains declared to them (in sign language and by whatever Indian languages could be chained together). Today we see a great example of curiosity fulfilled. We also see great kindness extended toward the visitors as the Indians desire to know more about them.
How do we receive visitors? Do we extend “great kindness” and “much attention” as we find out who they are and how far they’ve journeyed to get to where we live and worship? We should. Many times I am suspicious and slow to open to visitors. I hope you are not quite so circumspect as I have become. I set my mind to extend greater kindness and be more hospitable. Hospitality is a spiritual gift that must be evidenced in our daily living and in our receiving of visitors.
“And the foreigners showed us not the common kindness. For they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us, …” (Act 28:2)
“Do not be forgetful of hospitality, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)
Received with Great Kindness, Examined with Much Attention
“Those people recived us with great kindness, and examined us with much attention, their employments custom Dress and appearance Similar to those above; Speak the same language, here we Saw two Scarlet and a blue cloth blanket, also a Salors Jacket …”
For the last couple of days the men begin to see evidence of the tribes trading with sailors who have explored the Columbia. Today scarlet and blue blankets and a sailor’s jacket. Many pictures you’ll see following this period (as photographs displaced paintings) show these same tribes with a mix of traditional animal skins and western jackets, hats and other adornments. Clark and the other men keeping journals all record with embarrassment the dress of the women who have a traditional buck or goatskin blouse over a very short and revealing wrap that barely hides their private areas.
Again, no comment is made regarding the reaction of the Corps to the increasing evidence that they are, like two train rails started at opposite compass ends, about to join the easternmost explorations of British ships with the westernmost exploration of American troops. Great satisfaction and increasing pride must have filled them as they saw the fulfillment of their mission just over the western horizon at the mouth of the very river they are sailing. Tonight they camp a few miles west of the mouth of the John Day River at Celilo, OR or Wishram, WA after covering forty-two miles each of the past two days. They don’t know this, but they are about one hundred fifty miles from the Pacific as the crow flies, less than two hundred miles via the circuitous route of the river.
This final push down the Columbia almost has the ring of a victory parade more commonly seen in the streets of Paris, Rome and Berlin as troops victoriously entered ground once claimed by another nation. The fear of the last few days is replaced by curiosity as the white men with red, brown, blonde and black hair are “checked out” by those who may have heard about them downriver but have yet to see one.
We heard about those who had ears to hear what the Captains declared to them (in sign language and by whatever Indian languages could be chained together). Today we see a great example of curiosity fulfilled. We also see great kindness extended toward the visitors as the Indians desire to know more about them.
How do we receive visitors? Do we extend “great kindness” and “much attention” as we find out who they are and how far they’ve journeyed to get to where we live and worship? We should. Many times I am suspicious and slow to open to visitors. I hope you are not quite so circumspect as I have become. I set my mind to extend greater kindness and be more hospitable. Hospitality is a spiritual gift that must be evidenced in our daily living and in our receiving of visitors.
“And the foreigners showed us not the common kindness. For they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us, …” (Act 28:2)
“Do not be forgetful of hospitality, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2)
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Those Who Opened Their Ears
Journal 2005 10 19
Those Who Opened Their Ears
“The great chief Yel-lep-pet two other chiefs, and a Chief of Band below presented themselves to us verry early this morning. we Smoked with them, enformed them as we had all others above as well as we Could by Signs of our friendly intentions towards our red children Perticular those who opened their ears to our Councils.”
After this meeting the party proceeds on at 9am and Captain Clark while walking above and around a long stretch of rapids records, “from this place I descovered a high mountain of emence hight covered with Snow” which he takes to be Mt. St. Helens. Historians think it was probably Mt. Adams. Expecting to hunt elk between these two great mountains in two weeks I believe it would be an easy error to make. They are close neighbors. Clark must have taken comfort knowing he was approaching the eastern extent of Captain Vancouver’s explorations.
Setting off down the Columbia River yesterday the men spend many hours traversing long rapids. Then Clark, while waiting for the group to pass the rapids, decides to calm the fears of a new tribe. “I was fearfull that those people might not be informed of us, I deturmined to take the little Canoe which was with me and proceed with the three men in it to the Lodges, on my aproach not one person was to be Seen except three men off in the plains, and they Sheared off as I aproached near the Shore, I landed in front of five Lodges which was at no great distance from each other, Saw no person the enteranc or Dores of the Lodges wer Shut with the Same materials of which they were built a mat, I approached one with a pipe in my hand entered a lodge which was the nearest to me found 32 persons men, women and a few children Setting permiscuesly in the Lodg, <Some> in the greatest agutation, Some crying and ringing there hands, others hanging their heads. I gave my hand to them all and made Signs of my friendly dispotion and offered the men my pipe to Smok and distributed a fiew Small articles which I had in my pockets,—this measure passified those distressed people verry much, I then Sent one man into each lodge and entered a Second myself the inhabitants of which I found more fritened than those of the first lodge I destributed Sundrey Small articles amongst them, and Smoked with the men, I then entered the third 4h & fifth Lodge which I found Somewhat passified, the three men Drewer Jo. & R. Fields, haveing useed everey means in their power to convince them of our friendly disposition to them, I then <formd> Set my Self on a rock and made Signs to the men to come and Smoke with me not one Come out untill the Canoes arrived with <Some five Came out of each Lodge and Set by me and Smoked Capt Lewis at> the 2 Chiefs, one of whom spoke aloud, and as was their Custom to all we had passed the Indians came out & Set by me and Smoked They said we came from the clouds &c &c <which the> and were not men &c. &c. this time Capt. Lewis came down with the Canoes rear in which the Indians, as Soon as they Saw the Squar wife of the interperters <wife> they pointed to her and informed those who continued yet in the Same position I first found them, they imediately all came out and appeared to assume new life the sight of This Indian woman, wife to one of our interprs. confirmed those people of our friendly intentions, as no woman ever accompanies a war party of Indians in this quarter—“
How do we convey peace to those who fear us? Do we let them believe that we came from the clouds and are not men?
In today’s context many people are extremely fearful of anyone who declares Jesus Christ to be Lord. They think we come to condemn, coerce and control. Our message of hope, redemption and a new life of grace is lost in the fearful assumptions of the listener.
Clark offers the Indian symbol of peace, the pipe, and gives many small gifts pacifying some, certainly not all. When Sacagawea arrives with baby in arms the people believe the peaceful intentions of William Clark and finally drop their guard. She was visible.
Gifts? Yes. “A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16
Someone that is trusted is even better. Sacagawea was the visible representation of peace. What is our visible representation of peace to those who fear us? It is the very person we are trying to introduce them to. We must communicate Christ. Immanuel, God with us.
“Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!”(2 Corinthians 5:20)
We are called to be the visible representation of Christ’s body. No magic wand. No woman with a baby. A life presented in service and humility carrying the message of eternal peace held in God’s presentation of peace, His very visible Son, Jesus Christ.
Don’t fear entering a camp of those who would fear you. Offer gifts and symbols of peace. Tell God’s story as though He were telling it through you and look in “perticular for those who open their ears to your councils.”
Those Who Opened Their Ears
“The great chief Yel-lep-pet two other chiefs, and a Chief of Band below presented themselves to us verry early this morning. we Smoked with them, enformed them as we had all others above as well as we Could by Signs of our friendly intentions towards our red children Perticular those who opened their ears to our Councils.”
After this meeting the party proceeds on at 9am and Captain Clark while walking above and around a long stretch of rapids records, “from this place I descovered a high mountain of emence hight covered with Snow” which he takes to be Mt. St. Helens. Historians think it was probably Mt. Adams. Expecting to hunt elk between these two great mountains in two weeks I believe it would be an easy error to make. They are close neighbors. Clark must have taken comfort knowing he was approaching the eastern extent of Captain Vancouver’s explorations.
Setting off down the Columbia River yesterday the men spend many hours traversing long rapids. Then Clark, while waiting for the group to pass the rapids, decides to calm the fears of a new tribe. “I was fearfull that those people might not be informed of us, I deturmined to take the little Canoe which was with me and proceed with the three men in it to the Lodges, on my aproach not one person was to be Seen except three men off in the plains, and they Sheared off as I aproached near the Shore, I landed in front of five Lodges which was at no great distance from each other, Saw no person the enteranc or Dores of the Lodges wer Shut with the Same materials of which they were built a mat, I approached one with a pipe in my hand entered a lodge which was the nearest to me found 32 persons men, women and a few children Setting permiscuesly in the Lodg, <Some> in the greatest agutation, Some crying and ringing there hands, others hanging their heads. I gave my hand to them all and made Signs of my friendly dispotion and offered the men my pipe to Smok and distributed a fiew Small articles which I had in my pockets,—this measure passified those distressed people verry much, I then Sent one man into each lodge and entered a Second myself the inhabitants of which I found more fritened than those of the first lodge I destributed Sundrey Small articles amongst them, and Smoked with the men, I then entered the third 4h & fifth Lodge which I found Somewhat passified, the three men Drewer Jo. & R. Fields, haveing useed everey means in their power to convince them of our friendly disposition to them, I then <formd> Set my Self on a rock and made Signs to the men to come and Smoke with me not one Come out untill the Canoes arrived with <Some five Came out of each Lodge and Set by me and Smoked Capt Lewis at> the 2 Chiefs, one of whom spoke aloud, and as was their Custom to all we had passed the Indians came out & Set by me and Smoked They said we came from the clouds &c &c <which the> and were not men &c. &c. this time Capt. Lewis came down with the Canoes rear in which the Indians, as Soon as they Saw the Squar wife of the interperters <wife> they pointed to her and informed those who continued yet in the Same position I first found them, they imediately all came out and appeared to assume new life the sight of This Indian woman, wife to one of our interprs. confirmed those people of our friendly intentions, as no woman ever accompanies a war party of Indians in this quarter—“
How do we convey peace to those who fear us? Do we let them believe that we came from the clouds and are not men?
In today’s context many people are extremely fearful of anyone who declares Jesus Christ to be Lord. They think we come to condemn, coerce and control. Our message of hope, redemption and a new life of grace is lost in the fearful assumptions of the listener.
Clark offers the Indian symbol of peace, the pipe, and gives many small gifts pacifying some, certainly not all. When Sacagawea arrives with baby in arms the people believe the peaceful intentions of William Clark and finally drop their guard. She was visible.
Gifts? Yes. “A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16
Someone that is trusted is even better. Sacagawea was the visible representation of peace. What is our visible representation of peace to those who fear us? It is the very person we are trying to introduce them to. We must communicate Christ. Immanuel, God with us.
“Here we are, then, speaking for Christ, as though God himself were making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ's behalf: let God change you from enemies into his friends!”(2 Corinthians 5:20)
We are called to be the visible representation of Christ’s body. No magic wand. No woman with a baby. A life presented in service and humility carrying the message of eternal peace held in God’s presentation of peace, His very visible Son, Jesus Christ.
Don’t fear entering a camp of those who would fear you. Offer gifts and symbols of peace. Tell God’s story as though He were telling it through you and look in “perticular for those who open their ears to your councils.”
Monday, October 17, 2005
Announcement: Celebration, Not War
Journal 2005 10 17
Announcement: Celebration, Not War
“We halted above the point on the (Columbia) river … to Smoke with the Indians who had collected there in great numbers to view us, here we met our 2 Chiefs who left us two days ago and proceeded on to this place to inform those bands of our approach and friendly intentions towards all nations”
How often does someone go ahead of you and announce to those you don’t know of your “friendly intentions towards all?” In current day America we are basically independent and probably wouldn’t trust what most people would say about us anyway. So we show up unannounced and count on our own wits to “win friends and influence people.” Wouldn’t it be better to have an advance team that preceded your arrival and conveyed your friendly intentions?
We don’t really ever hear what the 2 Chiefs said to the Indians gathered above the point where the Snake River flows into the Columbia River near today’s Sacagawea State Park. But it must have been good because Captain Clark records that as his men were gathered around their evening fires cooking when “a Chief came from their Camp which was about ¼ of a mile up the Columbia river at the head of about 200 men Singing and beeting on their drums Stick and keeping time to the musik, they formed a half circle around us and Sung for Some time, we gave them all Smoke, and Spoke to their Chiefs as well as we could by Signs informing them of our friendly disposition to all nations, and our joy in Seeing those of our Children around us,…”
Once again, open armed hospitality was extended to the men of the Corps of Discovery. Imagine if these two hundred men who accompanied the Chief made war rather than music! My memory and imagination run back to the day of August 13th when Meriwether Lewis was attempting to show his peaceful intentions to a Shoshone while his two men with him appeared to be stalking the Indian brave. Lewis, in restrained anger, quickly gave his men a lesson in diplomacy. Based on the continued friendly receptions this band of travelers receives the lesson must have been learned!
Soldiers, explorers, scientists, emissaries and ambassadors are titles that can be ascribed to the Corps of Discovery. Emissary and ambassador are the subject of today’s musing. Minster and envoy are titles that may also describe these young men. While not on permanent station like an ambassador they are sent to represent President Jefferson and the United States of America. Although an emissary is usually associated with clandestine activities the word is descriptive of one emanating from another source to accomplish a specific intelligence gathering mission. An envoy accurately describes the work of the Corps of Discovery in their directive to deliver a specific message to the people they encounter on their journey.
Two hundred years ago today on the little changed basaltic plateau of Eastern Washington our young forefathers received a reception fit for any ambassador posted to a friendly nation. Suspicion and fear of their military might was set aside because of the announcement that preceded their arrival.
Pastor Norm spoke months ago regarding how God announced that which He was about to bring forth. He announced to Mary that she would be “overshadowed” by the Spirit of God and give birth to the Savior. He then announced to shepherds in the fields by angelic choirs that the baby had been born. He will announce by trumpet the return of that same Son.
He announces His intentions so we will be prepared to properly receive the object announced. The Yakima Indians and neighboring tribes heard an announcement regarding peaceful visitors and prepared to receive them. Their friendly reception is recorded on elkskin for us to learn from two centuries later.
What has God announced to you and your church? Are you prepared to receive it in a manner that reflects the hospitality you would extend to a foreign ambassador? Are you prepared to celebrate those you are about to receive? The Yakima’s were. May we be as willing to meet those announced to us with great honor and celebration worthy of the Kingdom of God.
Announcement: Celebration, Not War
“We halted above the point on the (Columbia) river … to Smoke with the Indians who had collected there in great numbers to view us, here we met our 2 Chiefs who left us two days ago and proceeded on to this place to inform those bands of our approach and friendly intentions towards all nations”
How often does someone go ahead of you and announce to those you don’t know of your “friendly intentions towards all?” In current day America we are basically independent and probably wouldn’t trust what most people would say about us anyway. So we show up unannounced and count on our own wits to “win friends and influence people.” Wouldn’t it be better to have an advance team that preceded your arrival and conveyed your friendly intentions?
We don’t really ever hear what the 2 Chiefs said to the Indians gathered above the point where the Snake River flows into the Columbia River near today’s Sacagawea State Park. But it must have been good because Captain Clark records that as his men were gathered around their evening fires cooking when “a Chief came from their Camp which was about ¼ of a mile up the Columbia river at the head of about 200 men Singing and beeting on their drums Stick and keeping time to the musik, they formed a half circle around us and Sung for Some time, we gave them all Smoke, and Spoke to their Chiefs as well as we could by Signs informing them of our friendly disposition to all nations, and our joy in Seeing those of our Children around us,…”
Once again, open armed hospitality was extended to the men of the Corps of Discovery. Imagine if these two hundred men who accompanied the Chief made war rather than music! My memory and imagination run back to the day of August 13th when Meriwether Lewis was attempting to show his peaceful intentions to a Shoshone while his two men with him appeared to be stalking the Indian brave. Lewis, in restrained anger, quickly gave his men a lesson in diplomacy. Based on the continued friendly receptions this band of travelers receives the lesson must have been learned!
Soldiers, explorers, scientists, emissaries and ambassadors are titles that can be ascribed to the Corps of Discovery. Emissary and ambassador are the subject of today’s musing. Minster and envoy are titles that may also describe these young men. While not on permanent station like an ambassador they are sent to represent President Jefferson and the United States of America. Although an emissary is usually associated with clandestine activities the word is descriptive of one emanating from another source to accomplish a specific intelligence gathering mission. An envoy accurately describes the work of the Corps of Discovery in their directive to deliver a specific message to the people they encounter on their journey.
Two hundred years ago today on the little changed basaltic plateau of Eastern Washington our young forefathers received a reception fit for any ambassador posted to a friendly nation. Suspicion and fear of their military might was set aside because of the announcement that preceded their arrival.
Pastor Norm spoke months ago regarding how God announced that which He was about to bring forth. He announced to Mary that she would be “overshadowed” by the Spirit of God and give birth to the Savior. He then announced to shepherds in the fields by angelic choirs that the baby had been born. He will announce by trumpet the return of that same Son.
He announces His intentions so we will be prepared to properly receive the object announced. The Yakima Indians and neighboring tribes heard an announcement regarding peaceful visitors and prepared to receive them. Their friendly reception is recorded on elkskin for us to learn from two centuries later.
What has God announced to you and your church? Are you prepared to receive it in a manner that reflects the hospitality you would extend to a foreign ambassador? Are you prepared to celebrate those you are about to receive? The Yakima’s were. May we be as willing to meet those announced to us with great honor and celebration worthy of the Kingdom of God.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Proceeding On, Downriver!
Journal 2005 10 15
Proceeding On, Downriver!
“…for the first time for three weeks past I had a good dinner of Blue wing Teel…” Captain Clark remarks on his dinner of the night before. Have you noticed the honking in the sky as flocks of geese take flight south in their V formations? It was no different two-hundred years ago. The Captains must have loosened their restriction against shooting fowl for meals in light of no game, a distrust of dried salmon and the increasing fare of dog.
The Corps sets out this morning to a cool wind coming upriver from the SW and frost on the ground. Overall, Clark notes the morning as “far” as in fair. They travel twenty miles through many rapids. Lewis walked, as is his preference, on the prairie and sees more mountains about sixty miles west. Today’s Blue Mountains of SE Washington and NE Oregon. On many of the difficult rapids the non-swimmers carry rifles and powder on land while the rivermen guide the canoes through the difficult rapids. Captain Clark noted two days ago that “We should make more portages if the Season was not So far advanced and time precious with us.” He also noted that the rapids would be even more dangerous if the water were higher as it would have been earlier in the season.
Much of the gear is wet from several swampings during today’s work. The men recognize they are near the confluence of the Snake River into the Columbia. The Captains realize that they will spend whatever time needed to take celestial readings to mark the spot accurately on the map. Their wet goods will dry during that time.
Once again these rivermen show their absolute bravery and toughness when a canoe comes to rest on a rock in the middle of the river. The men get out of the canoe, stand on the rock and hold it for an hour as the load is transferred to two other canoes. Can you imagine a modern day river guide instructing you to get out of the boat and stand on the rock in the middle of the rapid? We’d all want a refund if we made it safely to shore! This maneuver must have required skills similar to today’s air tankers topping off the fuel tanks of other aircraft in flight. These guys were good.
Proceeding on. Downriver. Downriver continues to present a different challenge. Have you ever had the brakes fail on your car while you were going downhill? I have. I’m grateful for an emergency brake that allowed me to bring the car back under control and stop. Otherwise, I might not be here to recount this lesson in gravity and momentum.
Gravity and the river current provided momentum that propelled the men faster than was safe. Restraining and harnessing that power was more difficult that grinding against the current up the Mighty Missouri. I would always rather travel uphill than down. Errors are magnified going down because everything goes faster as you fall.
We all sing and pray that “the Holy Spirit would come and move in power” and that God would “let the river flow.” I bet that these experienced rivermen would not be so anxious to sing this song. They knew the power of the river. Do we? Do we, really? It is right that we should petition the Lord of the River of Life to “let it flow.” It is even more right that when He answers our entreaties and looses a flood that we not be fearful of the momentum created by the speed the gravity of His blessing produces all around us.
When He looses the floodgates as we frequently cry out for Him to, will we then look for the first thing to grab hold of and pull ourselves to the safety of dry land? Or will we get in the vessel of His design and run the rapids confident that He sent the flood to speed us along to the place He desires for us to proceed on to?
Proceeding On, Downriver!
“…for the first time for three weeks past I had a good dinner of Blue wing Teel…” Captain Clark remarks on his dinner of the night before. Have you noticed the honking in the sky as flocks of geese take flight south in their V formations? It was no different two-hundred years ago. The Captains must have loosened their restriction against shooting fowl for meals in light of no game, a distrust of dried salmon and the increasing fare of dog.
The Corps sets out this morning to a cool wind coming upriver from the SW and frost on the ground. Overall, Clark notes the morning as “far” as in fair. They travel twenty miles through many rapids. Lewis walked, as is his preference, on the prairie and sees more mountains about sixty miles west. Today’s Blue Mountains of SE Washington and NE Oregon. On many of the difficult rapids the non-swimmers carry rifles and powder on land while the rivermen guide the canoes through the difficult rapids. Captain Clark noted two days ago that “We should make more portages if the Season was not So far advanced and time precious with us.” He also noted that the rapids would be even more dangerous if the water were higher as it would have been earlier in the season.
Much of the gear is wet from several swampings during today’s work. The men recognize they are near the confluence of the Snake River into the Columbia. The Captains realize that they will spend whatever time needed to take celestial readings to mark the spot accurately on the map. Their wet goods will dry during that time.
Once again these rivermen show their absolute bravery and toughness when a canoe comes to rest on a rock in the middle of the river. The men get out of the canoe, stand on the rock and hold it for an hour as the load is transferred to two other canoes. Can you imagine a modern day river guide instructing you to get out of the boat and stand on the rock in the middle of the rapid? We’d all want a refund if we made it safely to shore! This maneuver must have required skills similar to today’s air tankers topping off the fuel tanks of other aircraft in flight. These guys were good.
Proceeding on. Downriver. Downriver continues to present a different challenge. Have you ever had the brakes fail on your car while you were going downhill? I have. I’m grateful for an emergency brake that allowed me to bring the car back under control and stop. Otherwise, I might not be here to recount this lesson in gravity and momentum.
Gravity and the river current provided momentum that propelled the men faster than was safe. Restraining and harnessing that power was more difficult that grinding against the current up the Mighty Missouri. I would always rather travel uphill than down. Errors are magnified going down because everything goes faster as you fall.
We all sing and pray that “the Holy Spirit would come and move in power” and that God would “let the river flow.” I bet that these experienced rivermen would not be so anxious to sing this song. They knew the power of the river. Do we? Do we, really? It is right that we should petition the Lord of the River of Life to “let it flow.” It is even more right that when He answers our entreaties and looses a flood that we not be fearful of the momentum created by the speed the gravity of His blessing produces all around us.
When He looses the floodgates as we frequently cry out for Him to, will we then look for the first thing to grab hold of and pull ourselves to the safety of dry land? Or will we get in the vessel of His design and run the rapids confident that He sent the flood to speed us along to the place He desires for us to proceed on to?
Friday, October 14, 2005
A Token of Peace
Journal 2005 10 14
A Token of Peace
“The wife of Shabono our interpetr we find reconsiles all the Indians, as to our friendly intentions a woman with a party of men is a token of peace.”
Ever get lucky? Many would ask the same question this way, “Ever get blessed?” And I’m going to ask, “Do you believe in miracles?” When you consider the extent of this mission Divine Providence manifested itself in the safe passage of the party. Today’s equivalent would be sending a small party of American soldiers armed with only small arms driving HUMVEES down the main thoroughfare of a foreign city all the while playing a CD over the loudspeakers proclaiming, “We are sent by the President of the United States and we are here to help you children!”
Much has been written of the young Shoshone girl, Sacagawea. The Captains refer to her mostly as “the wife of Shabono (Charboneau).” Her contribution to the success of the Expedition is already significant. From her ability to identify and gather food, to her bravery in recovering cargo from an overturned boat to her successful reunion with her brother, now chief of the Shoshone.
I’ve spoken several times before regarding the improbable nature of a young mother and infant on this mission. Today Captain Clark records what I believe is by far her most important contribution to the success of the Corps of Discovery. Clark notices that as they pass down the Snake River observed by the many Nez Perce who live on the banks of the river that the presence of a woman and child properly present the peaceful intentions of the white soldiers.
For perspective, how possible is it that thirty-one armed soldiers could defeat the thousands of Indian braves that the party has passed through since last May? The Nez Perce women alone could have killed them all weeks ago had they so desired when the party was debilitated from the new diet.
How many of us would even allow such a situation to develop if we were leading this type of mission? We would find a different interpreter, wouldn’t we? Could the Captains have had the foresight to know the peaceful response to Sacagawea’s presence would have on the success of their mission? Could they have known that she would have more knowledge of food sources than these experienced wilderness proven men? Could they have imagined she would prove pivotal to their securing horses and hospitality from the very suspicious Shoshones?
Do we understand the principle at work regarding the presence of “a token of peace?” A token defined by Webster as, “something intended to represent or indicate another thing.” Do you ever find your intentions misinterpreted? Are you frustrated by misunderstanding? Find yourself always having to “prove yourself?”
Maybe you need the presence of a token of your peaceful intentions. If you are a follower of Christ your mission will always have some element of proclaiming a “new Father.” This new Father sent His Son as the Prince of Peace who completed His work and then sent The Comforter, Counselor and Teacher as a deposit guaranteeing our redemption at a future date. And it is the presence of this deposit, the Holy Spirit of God, that is the token of peace to be seen in our missions today. We are to have fellowship with the Holy Spirit so His presence is real and His work is visible in us. Our changed lives lived in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit is our “token of peace” that allows safe passage. I’m looking in my canoe for that Heaven sent companion and pray those observing my actions can see Him in me. Is He riding with you in your canoe?
A Token of Peace
“The wife of Shabono our interpetr we find reconsiles all the Indians, as to our friendly intentions a woman with a party of men is a token of peace.”
Ever get lucky? Many would ask the same question this way, “Ever get blessed?” And I’m going to ask, “Do you believe in miracles?” When you consider the extent of this mission Divine Providence manifested itself in the safe passage of the party. Today’s equivalent would be sending a small party of American soldiers armed with only small arms driving HUMVEES down the main thoroughfare of a foreign city all the while playing a CD over the loudspeakers proclaiming, “We are sent by the President of the United States and we are here to help you children!”
Much has been written of the young Shoshone girl, Sacagawea. The Captains refer to her mostly as “the wife of Shabono (Charboneau).” Her contribution to the success of the Expedition is already significant. From her ability to identify and gather food, to her bravery in recovering cargo from an overturned boat to her successful reunion with her brother, now chief of the Shoshone.
I’ve spoken several times before regarding the improbable nature of a young mother and infant on this mission. Today Captain Clark records what I believe is by far her most important contribution to the success of the Corps of Discovery. Clark notices that as they pass down the Snake River observed by the many Nez Perce who live on the banks of the river that the presence of a woman and child properly present the peaceful intentions of the white soldiers.
For perspective, how possible is it that thirty-one armed soldiers could defeat the thousands of Indian braves that the party has passed through since last May? The Nez Perce women alone could have killed them all weeks ago had they so desired when the party was debilitated from the new diet.
How many of us would even allow such a situation to develop if we were leading this type of mission? We would find a different interpreter, wouldn’t we? Could the Captains have had the foresight to know the peaceful response to Sacagawea’s presence would have on the success of their mission? Could they have known that she would have more knowledge of food sources than these experienced wilderness proven men? Could they have imagined she would prove pivotal to their securing horses and hospitality from the very suspicious Shoshones?
Do we understand the principle at work regarding the presence of “a token of peace?” A token defined by Webster as, “something intended to represent or indicate another thing.” Do you ever find your intentions misinterpreted? Are you frustrated by misunderstanding? Find yourself always having to “prove yourself?”
Maybe you need the presence of a token of your peaceful intentions. If you are a follower of Christ your mission will always have some element of proclaiming a “new Father.” This new Father sent His Son as the Prince of Peace who completed His work and then sent The Comforter, Counselor and Teacher as a deposit guaranteeing our redemption at a future date. And it is the presence of this deposit, the Holy Spirit of God, that is the token of peace to be seen in our missions today. We are to have fellowship with the Holy Spirit so His presence is real and His work is visible in us. Our changed lives lived in constant fellowship with the Holy Spirit is our “token of peace” that allows safe passage. I’m looking in my canoe for that Heaven sent companion and pray those observing my actions can see Him in me. Is He riding with you in your canoe?
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Captain's Log
Journal 2005 10 12
Captain’s Log
Above is a portion of today's entry in the log kept by William Clark daily as they traveled. How you take a compass bearing and make a note in a log when you are in a canoe with several other people and a load of gear always astounds me? Recordkeeping. This is something often overlooked by those of us living civilian lives or lives that don’t require a detailed record of our work. Military men and sea captains understand it well.
My mother’s dad, George Washington Bennett, spent twenty-eight years in the Coast Guard. Many of his early years aboard wind-driven ice breakers in the Arctic Ocean. He spoke many times of the legal responsibility to record all events in the Captain’s Log. Even the bad ones! He loved to tell a story of making an entry in the log one night after he was at the helm and the ship ran aground on a sandbar! He recalls that he understood the bad ramifications of not entering the incident into the Captain’s Log. His delight was in recounting that the handwritten entry was so small he hoped no one could ever decipher it!
I complain about having to keep track of business mileage driven to satisfy the standards of the IRS. In comparison to Clark’s records they are nothing. Today a GPS could access the artificial constellations that encircle the earth and provide a record accurate to within a few feet of my travels. What would William Clark think of technology that allowed him to push a button on a waterproof electronic device, push “record track,” and give his attention to other activities until travel ended for that day?
We may revisit this idea of the Captain’s Log and the reasons for keeping accurate records of your journey. We are most familiar with the voice of William Shatner as Captain Kirk opening every episode of the vintage TV Series “Star Trek” with the words, “Captain’s Log…..” There is One much Greater who keeps a “log.” It is the one we need to consider. It’s entries are complete. They are forever.
Are we willing to look at a log of our day? Our week? Our month? Year? Life? Any entries you would like altered, removed or added? There are logs spoken of in Heaven, one of them the Book of Life where it is said an entry is made of all the acts of every person that has ever lived. There is only one way that an entry is altered in that book. The Book of Life will be used for judgment at the end of the ages. If you have come to faith in Jesus Christ through the shed blood of the Lamb of God then the entry is a red, blood soaked smear with a note directing the reader that the record is now transferred to the Lamb’s Book of Life. And in the Lamb’s Book of Life all the “bad” stuff is placed “under the blood of the Lamb,” blotted out and later burned away “as chaff.” What remains are the works deserving of eternal reward. Where is your name, your life, recorded? In the Captain’s Log awaiting judgment or in the Log of the only One able to blot out a record of sin and enter your name in His Book of Mercy and Life?
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Living River of Life
Journal 2005 10 11
The party camped at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers last night. Historians haven’t been able to determine if they were in present Lewiston, Idaho or Clarkston, Washington. No matter, they were a long way from home and near to their destination. As is their pattern, the party “set out early and proceeded on.” Downriver!
At six miles they stopped for breakfast at some Indian lodges and purchased more provisions for their “stores” of fish and dog. Think of what it must have been like traveling in these crowded canoes with dried salmon and dead dogs loaded on them. Normal to men of the early nineteenth century. Repulsive to “modern” man.
If you’ve traveled in SE Washington along the Idaho and Oregon borders you’ve seen how stark the landscape is. It was the same way two hundred years ago. The lack of trees is most noticeable. What we don’t see, but the concept is still the same, is that the Indian life was lived along the river. Clark notes an underground sweat lodge and houses of slabs and split timber. Residences during fishing season. Even in a dry, desolate land life can be sustained by the river. And this is our jump off point for today.
God intends for us to live by the river. His river. The River of Life. We are to be planted like trees whose roots go deep and receive water from the river in all seasons. Living water suitable for quenching our thirst forever.
The river brings more water than one person needs. In that abundance it is used for drinking, bathing, watering crops and more. God provides abundant water for all our needs. Living water.
Jesus told a woman seeking water at a well that if she asked Him for living water that she would never thirst again. Are you thirsty? Do you drink water and leave unsatisfied? Then you are drinking the wrong kind of water. Jesus wants to ladle living water for you now that you may never thirst again because of the kind of drink He gives.
If you are living in a dry desert place, move to the river and find life.
The party camped at the confluence of the Clearwater and Snake Rivers last night. Historians haven’t been able to determine if they were in present Lewiston, Idaho or Clarkston, Washington. No matter, they were a long way from home and near to their destination. As is their pattern, the party “set out early and proceeded on.” Downriver!
At six miles they stopped for breakfast at some Indian lodges and purchased more provisions for their “stores” of fish and dog. Think of what it must have been like traveling in these crowded canoes with dried salmon and dead dogs loaded on them. Normal to men of the early nineteenth century. Repulsive to “modern” man.
If you’ve traveled in SE Washington along the Idaho and Oregon borders you’ve seen how stark the landscape is. It was the same way two hundred years ago. The lack of trees is most noticeable. What we don’t see, but the concept is still the same, is that the Indian life was lived along the river. Clark notes an underground sweat lodge and houses of slabs and split timber. Residences during fishing season. Even in a dry, desolate land life can be sustained by the river. And this is our jump off point for today.
God intends for us to live by the river. His river. The River of Life. We are to be planted like trees whose roots go deep and receive water from the river in all seasons. Living water suitable for quenching our thirst forever.
The river brings more water than one person needs. In that abundance it is used for drinking, bathing, watering crops and more. God provides abundant water for all our needs. Living water.
Jesus told a woman seeking water at a well that if she asked Him for living water that she would never thirst again. Are you thirsty? Do you drink water and leave unsatisfied? Then you are drinking the wrong kind of water. Jesus wants to ladle living water for you now that you may never thirst again because of the kind of drink He gives.
If you are living in a dry desert place, move to the river and find life.
Monday, October 10, 2005
Bitter or Sweet? Buffalo or Fido?
Journal 2005 10 10
Bitter or Sweet? Buffalo or Fido?
Tom Berenger and Barbara Hershey star in a little known but family favorite movie at our home titled “Last of the Dogmen.” It is a modern day cowboy and indian movie set in the mountains of Montana and makes for great story-telling. Highly recommended and it provides an introduction into the record of the Corp of Discovery as entered by Captain Clark.
At the end of his journal entry for today in which he recounts the running of many rapids to the amusement of watching tribes, ancient “hot tubs” formed by dropping hot rocks in pools of water and lodges (tipis) and fish camps along the river Clark makes detailed anthropologic notes regarding the dress of the men and women. After recording what the mission requires Clark notes that, “our diet extremely bad having nothing but roots and dried fish to eate…” These men must be anxious to get away from the dried salmon and roots which cause them so much distress. Two days ago three of the intrepid travelers acquired and ate dogs. That’s right, dogs! Fido and Spot and Rover became dinner fare for Labiche, Cruzatte and La Page. Now, given the choice of more dried salmon and roots or dog flesh, all but Clark chose dog. Captain Clark records his reaction to the new menu item. “all the party have greatly the advantage of me, in as much as they all relish the flesh of dogs, Several of which we purchased of the nativs for to add to our Store of fish and roots &c. &c. In the fictional account of “Last of the Dogmen,” Indian soldiers were called Dogmen partially because they ate dogs. The Nez Perce made fun of the soldiers of the Corps of Discovery for this practice calling them “dog eaters.”
Hunger is a driving force in our lives and satiating it can be a blessing or curse depending on our responses. I had to change my diet a few years back. My then teen-age daughter looked at whatever was on my plate and inquired, “Dad, do you like that?” My response was Biblical and one I was learning firsthand, “When you are full, you will refuse honey, but when you are hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7) Compared to more dysentery and distress, dog must have looked pretty good.
Have you ever been really hungry? Have you ever been really broke and eaten only what was in the house? Have you had to eat the same thing over and over again? Then you understand the sweetness of food. It is affected by hunger.
What do we hunger for? Do we hunger for food that brings us strength or do we desire that which brings us pleasure? Do we desire the Bread of Life, or the latest designer loaf from the latest designer bakery? Do we gather the Bread of Heaven? Do we hunger and thirst for righteousness or do we hunger and thirst for wine and cheese?
Digging in deeper, eating dog brings flesh to the statement, “…even the bitter tastes sweet to the hungry.” Are you bored with life? Has the Bible lost its flavor to you? Is life in the church a chore rather than a river of life? Then you need to get hungry. And you get hungry two ways. One is by not eating as much or even forsaking all food in a fast. The other way is by working hard, burning up what you’ve eaten and needing food to proceed. Proceed on. Doing the work appointed by the One who commissioned us to complete the assigned mission. Then food becomes fuel to the mission. Can we think of food as fueling up for the day? Too little work and too much eating causes us to get fat, physically and spiritually. Exercise is good to build an appetite. Hard work is better. Let’s go burn some fuel today so no matter what our menu, it is flavored by our hunger to taste sweet.
Bitter or Sweet? Buffalo or Fido?
Tom Berenger and Barbara Hershey star in a little known but family favorite movie at our home titled “Last of the Dogmen.” It is a modern day cowboy and indian movie set in the mountains of Montana and makes for great story-telling. Highly recommended and it provides an introduction into the record of the Corp of Discovery as entered by Captain Clark.
At the end of his journal entry for today in which he recounts the running of many rapids to the amusement of watching tribes, ancient “hot tubs” formed by dropping hot rocks in pools of water and lodges (tipis) and fish camps along the river Clark makes detailed anthropologic notes regarding the dress of the men and women. After recording what the mission requires Clark notes that, “our diet extremely bad having nothing but roots and dried fish to eate…” These men must be anxious to get away from the dried salmon and roots which cause them so much distress. Two days ago three of the intrepid travelers acquired and ate dogs. That’s right, dogs! Fido and Spot and Rover became dinner fare for Labiche, Cruzatte and La Page. Now, given the choice of more dried salmon and roots or dog flesh, all but Clark chose dog. Captain Clark records his reaction to the new menu item. “all the party have greatly the advantage of me, in as much as they all relish the flesh of dogs, Several of which we purchased of the nativs for to add to our Store of fish and roots &c. &c. In the fictional account of “Last of the Dogmen,” Indian soldiers were called Dogmen partially because they ate dogs. The Nez Perce made fun of the soldiers of the Corps of Discovery for this practice calling them “dog eaters.”
Hunger is a driving force in our lives and satiating it can be a blessing or curse depending on our responses. I had to change my diet a few years back. My then teen-age daughter looked at whatever was on my plate and inquired, “Dad, do you like that?” My response was Biblical and one I was learning firsthand, “When you are full, you will refuse honey, but when you are hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7) Compared to more dysentery and distress, dog must have looked pretty good.
Have you ever been really hungry? Have you ever been really broke and eaten only what was in the house? Have you had to eat the same thing over and over again? Then you understand the sweetness of food. It is affected by hunger.
What do we hunger for? Do we hunger for food that brings us strength or do we desire that which brings us pleasure? Do we desire the Bread of Life, or the latest designer loaf from the latest designer bakery? Do we gather the Bread of Heaven? Do we hunger and thirst for righteousness or do we hunger and thirst for wine and cheese?
Digging in deeper, eating dog brings flesh to the statement, “…even the bitter tastes sweet to the hungry.” Are you bored with life? Has the Bible lost its flavor to you? Is life in the church a chore rather than a river of life? Then you need to get hungry. And you get hungry two ways. One is by not eating as much or even forsaking all food in a fast. The other way is by working hard, burning up what you’ve eaten and needing food to proceed. Proceed on. Doing the work appointed by the One who commissioned us to complete the assigned mission. Then food becomes fuel to the mission. Can we think of food as fueling up for the day? Too little work and too much eating causes us to get fat, physically and spiritually. Exercise is good to build an appetite. Hard work is better. Let’s go burn some fuel today so no matter what our menu, it is flavored by our hunger to taste sweet.
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Courage or Skill?
Journal 2005 10 08
The leaky canoe from yesterday is repaired. All canoes are reloaded and the men are under way again at nine am. Sixteen rapids are run and the last one causes one of the canoes side to split open and sink. This is at sixteen miles. Some of the men cannot swim and hang on to the sunken canoe for life until rescued by those in the small canoe. The sunken canoe is towed to shore and all its cargo is spread out to dry.
The weather is cloudy and cool making drying the goods a longer process than normal. No mention is made of the type of food eaten today. And no mention is made of the condition of the men’s intestines. I don’t imagine that any game was added to the diet. Seems like they would still be eating what they procured in trade from the Nez Perce.
I am continually dumbfounded that there are men on this expedition that cannot swim! How can you spend most of a year in and on the water and not be able to swim? In the extensive interviews and screening that the Captains required for recruitment into the Corps of Discovery you would think swimming would be required.
Today’s record reminds me that success does not require perfection.
Success rests on heart. Heart to succeed at all costs. Lewis recorded the heart of the men of the Corp of Discovery after observing their uncomplaining work in suffering the long portage around the Great Falls of the Missouri as “all appear perfectly to have made up their minds to succeed in the expedition or purish in the attempt.” Heart. You can teach it, but at some point it must be tried and tested. I believe heart is demonstrated and caught as much as it is taught. Somehow, the Captains had an ability to recognize heart in the men that were selected for this most dangerous of missions. History proves their judgments to be filled with wisdom.
I’ve written about courage outside this body of writing and will attempt that topic under the banner of this chronicle, but not at length today. The short version is that the word courage is derived from “cor,” Latin for heart. We get our word coronary from this word. So courage is not about strength or skill or knowledge. It is about something found only in the deepest center of our being, the heart. Stephen Ambrose used a quote from Thomas Jefferson describing the unique qualifications of Meriwether Lewis to lead this expedition to title his book about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. President Jefferson wrote that Lewis was among many things a man “of courage undaunted.” Ambrose and his family spent most of their summers retracing the path of these brave voyagers. The Ambrose family was captivated by the heart of these great Americans and several have written books. I highly recommend all of their writing and believed they have captured the heart provided by the example of the Corps of Discovery. Dad Stephen wrote my favorite account of this journey and titled it “Undaunted Courage.” It is the book that started me on this trek.
Moses had an aide appointed by God who would become a “general” and lead Israel into the Promised Land upon his death. He was called Joshua, the deliverer, savior, because he would live to lead a nation into new freedom representative of the freedom Jesus, the Deliverer, the Savior, leads each of us into as we call on His Name for salvation and become citizens in the Kingdom of God.
God is giving Joshua instructions for his new position. His strength, intellect, knowledge and skills were already known. God’s list of qualifications was concise, “For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro in all the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.” His direction for leading the nation out of bondage and into the land of Promise is always, “Be strong and of good courage.” Heart.
Jehovah God taught Moses with these words, Moses taught Joshua and Joshua commanded the nation of Israel with this same command. And I say to myself and all who read this, “Skill, yes. Knowledge, yes. Health, yes. Wisdom, of course! But above all else be strong and of good courage for the Lord your God is with You!”
The leaky canoe from yesterday is repaired. All canoes are reloaded and the men are under way again at nine am. Sixteen rapids are run and the last one causes one of the canoes side to split open and sink. This is at sixteen miles. Some of the men cannot swim and hang on to the sunken canoe for life until rescued by those in the small canoe. The sunken canoe is towed to shore and all its cargo is spread out to dry.
The weather is cloudy and cool making drying the goods a longer process than normal. No mention is made of the type of food eaten today. And no mention is made of the condition of the men’s intestines. I don’t imagine that any game was added to the diet. Seems like they would still be eating what they procured in trade from the Nez Perce.
I am continually dumbfounded that there are men on this expedition that cannot swim! How can you spend most of a year in and on the water and not be able to swim? In the extensive interviews and screening that the Captains required for recruitment into the Corps of Discovery you would think swimming would be required.
Today’s record reminds me that success does not require perfection.
Success rests on heart. Heart to succeed at all costs. Lewis recorded the heart of the men of the Corp of Discovery after observing their uncomplaining work in suffering the long portage around the Great Falls of the Missouri as “all appear perfectly to have made up their minds to succeed in the expedition or purish in the attempt.” Heart. You can teach it, but at some point it must be tried and tested. I believe heart is demonstrated and caught as much as it is taught. Somehow, the Captains had an ability to recognize heart in the men that were selected for this most dangerous of missions. History proves their judgments to be filled with wisdom.
I’ve written about courage outside this body of writing and will attempt that topic under the banner of this chronicle, but not at length today. The short version is that the word courage is derived from “cor,” Latin for heart. We get our word coronary from this word. So courage is not about strength or skill or knowledge. It is about something found only in the deepest center of our being, the heart. Stephen Ambrose used a quote from Thomas Jefferson describing the unique qualifications of Meriwether Lewis to lead this expedition to title his book about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. President Jefferson wrote that Lewis was among many things a man “of courage undaunted.” Ambrose and his family spent most of their summers retracing the path of these brave voyagers. The Ambrose family was captivated by the heart of these great Americans and several have written books. I highly recommend all of their writing and believed they have captured the heart provided by the example of the Corps of Discovery. Dad Stephen wrote my favorite account of this journey and titled it “Undaunted Courage.” It is the book that started me on this trek.
Moses had an aide appointed by God who would become a “general” and lead Israel into the Promised Land upon his death. He was called Joshua, the deliverer, savior, because he would live to lead a nation into new freedom representative of the freedom Jesus, the Deliverer, the Savior, leads each of us into as we call on His Name for salvation and become citizens in the Kingdom of God.
God is giving Joshua instructions for his new position. His strength, intellect, knowledge and skills were already known. God’s list of qualifications was concise, “For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro in all the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.” His direction for leading the nation out of bondage and into the land of Promise is always, “Be strong and of good courage.” Heart.
Jehovah God taught Moses with these words, Moses taught Joshua and Joshua commanded the nation of Israel with this same command. And I say to myself and all who read this, “Skill, yes. Knowledge, yes. Health, yes. Wisdom, of course! But above all else be strong and of good courage for the Lord your God is with You!”
Friday, October 07, 2005
Endings are Better than Beginnings
Journal 2005 10 07
“OK honey, we are leaving at six AM, that’s six AM, not PM. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and need to get an early start. Can you do it? Can you be ready to go?” I’ve asked this accusing, condescending form of a question to my wife many times over the past two decades. In an illustration of her grace, her answer is ever more gracious than my question. Maybe a similar line of questioning is familiar in your home when packing for a trip. If you are someone who actually gets out of the driveway by six am I tip my hat to you and envy your ability to rally all your troops without any bloodshed.
At our house there are usually acerbic words and short responses exchanged as six o’clock comes and goes and you realize that if you hit the trail by six pm you’ll be fortunate. I think the Corps of Discovery had one of those delayed departures today. Plans were to move west from Canoe Camp down the Clearwater River this day marking the first day of downstream travel since Meriwether Lewis and young George Shannon left the Ohio River and headed up the Missouri late last summer.
The habit and pattern of the expedition was to rise at first light and set out early. Breakfast would be made later in the morning after a couple of hours of progress had been made. This pattern would not shape the record of this day. In my house, I won’t assume you would press everyone to the point of frustration like I do, getting into the car and backing out the driveway to begin the journey can become the point where the pent up frustration of last second packing and loading is released. A short trade of accusations and off we go. Looks to me like William Clark released a bit of frustration in his record of this day. His friend Meriwether Lewis continued to be too sick to do any work. Clark does not feel much better than Lewis but proceeds anyway. “I continu verry unwell but obliged to attend every thing…” This is about as close to a rift as we’ll ever come with the Captains and it is far from that. Clark is sick and so is Lewis. Clark has been running the camp and Lewis has been incapacitated. Ever felt like you were doing all the work and not getting the help you should have? My guess is William Clark felt that way today.
Finally, camp was broken down, the canoes were loaded and the party set out. With the current! Going with the flow, not struggling against it. The men pass many rapids and make almost twenty miles before sunset. Twenty miles in two or three hours! Twenty miles was a good day of travel upstream against the current and required all day. The men must have felt a sense of exhilaration at the prospect of covering fifty or more miles per day. Optimists would conclude that sixty to one hundred miles could be covered in a day. “Ocean in view,” could be announced in less than two weeks if that were the case. At one hundred miles per day the trip takes less than a week. At fifty, a little more than a week. Ever plan a two-week road trip? How well does your itinerary pan out? God bless you if all goes as laid out on the kitchen table and computer maps.
Like me, Heaven forbid like you, William Clark can’t find his tomahawk peace pipe and the Nez Perce chief and his son who were to accompany the expedition. They left anyway. As I said yesterday, “It was time to go.” King Solomon, the pinnacle of wisdom, observes this process of setting out and records for posterity, “Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8)
“OK honey, we are leaving at six AM, that’s six AM, not PM. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and need to get an early start. Can you do it? Can you be ready to go?” I’ve asked this accusing, condescending form of a question to my wife many times over the past two decades. In an illustration of her grace, her answer is ever more gracious than my question. Maybe a similar line of questioning is familiar in your home when packing for a trip. If you are someone who actually gets out of the driveway by six am I tip my hat to you and envy your ability to rally all your troops without any bloodshed.
At our house there are usually acerbic words and short responses exchanged as six o’clock comes and goes and you realize that if you hit the trail by six pm you’ll be fortunate. I think the Corps of Discovery had one of those delayed departures today. Plans were to move west from Canoe Camp down the Clearwater River this day marking the first day of downstream travel since Meriwether Lewis and young George Shannon left the Ohio River and headed up the Missouri late last summer.
The habit and pattern of the expedition was to rise at first light and set out early. Breakfast would be made later in the morning after a couple of hours of progress had been made. This pattern would not shape the record of this day. In my house, I won’t assume you would press everyone to the point of frustration like I do, getting into the car and backing out the driveway to begin the journey can become the point where the pent up frustration of last second packing and loading is released. A short trade of accusations and off we go. Looks to me like William Clark released a bit of frustration in his record of this day. His friend Meriwether Lewis continued to be too sick to do any work. Clark does not feel much better than Lewis but proceeds anyway. “I continu verry unwell but obliged to attend every thing…” This is about as close to a rift as we’ll ever come with the Captains and it is far from that. Clark is sick and so is Lewis. Clark has been running the camp and Lewis has been incapacitated. Ever felt like you were doing all the work and not getting the help you should have? My guess is William Clark felt that way today.
Finally, camp was broken down, the canoes were loaded and the party set out. With the current! Going with the flow, not struggling against it. The men pass many rapids and make almost twenty miles before sunset. Twenty miles in two or three hours! Twenty miles was a good day of travel upstream against the current and required all day. The men must have felt a sense of exhilaration at the prospect of covering fifty or more miles per day. Optimists would conclude that sixty to one hundred miles could be covered in a day. “Ocean in view,” could be announced in less than two weeks if that were the case. At one hundred miles per day the trip takes less than a week. At fifty, a little more than a week. Ever plan a two-week road trip? How well does your itinerary pan out? God bless you if all goes as laid out on the kitchen table and computer maps.
Like me, Heaven forbid like you, William Clark can’t find his tomahawk peace pipe and the Nez Perce chief and his son who were to accompany the expedition. They left anyway. As I said yesterday, “It was time to go.” King Solomon, the pinnacle of wisdom, observes this process of setting out and records for posterity, “Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8)
Thursday, October 06, 2005
All Good Things Find an End
Journal 2005 10 06
A cool easterly wind blows this morning. Work on the canoes continues. Brands were burned into their horses yesterday. A cache for saddles, horse gear and lead and powder is dug, filled and sealed for retrieval upon their return.
The horses were entrusted to the care of tribal members who receive a knife and other items for their work and promise to care for the thirty-eight horses. All the canoes are completed by evening and will be tested in the morning. Five canoes to carry thirty-one members of the Corps of Discovery, two Nez Perce chiefs and Old Toby and his son. Thirty-five people and all their gear in five canoes. That is seven people per canoe! Without any gear aboard! Up the Missouri men would walk and pull the rivercraft slowly against the current. There would be little walking on this race to the Pacific. Downstream travel will move at a speed unrivaled by any other means of transportation except falling off a high cliff! Everyone would ride in a canoe built by men extremely hindered by the effects of the food they were eating.
Clark records that last night and this night the boiled roots “filled us so full of wind, that we were scercely able to Breathe all night felt the ill effects of it.” (Can’t help but picture this record as inspiring the famous campfire scene in the Mel Brooks movie “Blazing Saddles!”) The “we” mentioned is William Clark and Meriwether Lewis whose brief recovery of yesterday has slipped away. The other men cannot feel much better and yet in two days they brand all thirty-eight horses, dig and fill the cache and complete the canoes. Amazing!
Proceeding on, pressing on in spite of hardship and illness. Somewhere in their minds the men must realize by now that they need to move on and separate themselves from the food which is so readily available but so disagreeable. No mention is made of it, but the men must have anticipated arriving in a river valley where deer and elk once again abounded. It was time to go. Except the Captains are as sick as anyone and Lewis is pretty much unable to do anything.
A time exists in every journey when more preparation and rest will not result in more mission. In this example the result is more gas! There comes a time when we call something complete and need to move on. That time had arrived for the men of the Corps of Discovery. And begs the question of us today. Are we sick and full of wind, unable to perform our duties in spite of what appears to be adequate provision, supply and hospitality? The Kingdom of God requires advance. If you feel like you are wandering, unsure of where to go, you may just be in the “deserts of Egypt” marking off time. If you are wandering, stop. Call upon His Name and He will rescue you and bring You to the place you need to be. Then He will equip you and send you on a very specific mission that requires continual advance toward a goal and toward His eternal dwelling place, Zion in Heaven. God becomes your reference point and all your movement is measured against His eternal Rock, His eternal marker. Call out to Him today and find His benchmark.
A cool easterly wind blows this morning. Work on the canoes continues. Brands were burned into their horses yesterday. A cache for saddles, horse gear and lead and powder is dug, filled and sealed for retrieval upon their return.
The horses were entrusted to the care of tribal members who receive a knife and other items for their work and promise to care for the thirty-eight horses. All the canoes are completed by evening and will be tested in the morning. Five canoes to carry thirty-one members of the Corps of Discovery, two Nez Perce chiefs and Old Toby and his son. Thirty-five people and all their gear in five canoes. That is seven people per canoe! Without any gear aboard! Up the Missouri men would walk and pull the rivercraft slowly against the current. There would be little walking on this race to the Pacific. Downstream travel will move at a speed unrivaled by any other means of transportation except falling off a high cliff! Everyone would ride in a canoe built by men extremely hindered by the effects of the food they were eating.
Clark records that last night and this night the boiled roots “filled us so full of wind, that we were scercely able to Breathe all night felt the ill effects of it.” (Can’t help but picture this record as inspiring the famous campfire scene in the Mel Brooks movie “Blazing Saddles!”) The “we” mentioned is William Clark and Meriwether Lewis whose brief recovery of yesterday has slipped away. The other men cannot feel much better and yet in two days they brand all thirty-eight horses, dig and fill the cache and complete the canoes. Amazing!
Proceeding on, pressing on in spite of hardship and illness. Somewhere in their minds the men must realize by now that they need to move on and separate themselves from the food which is so readily available but so disagreeable. No mention is made of it, but the men must have anticipated arriving in a river valley where deer and elk once again abounded. It was time to go. Except the Captains are as sick as anyone and Lewis is pretty much unable to do anything.
A time exists in every journey when more preparation and rest will not result in more mission. In this example the result is more gas! There comes a time when we call something complete and need to move on. That time had arrived for the men of the Corps of Discovery. And begs the question of us today. Are we sick and full of wind, unable to perform our duties in spite of what appears to be adequate provision, supply and hospitality? The Kingdom of God requires advance. If you feel like you are wandering, unsure of where to go, you may just be in the “deserts of Egypt” marking off time. If you are wandering, stop. Call upon His Name and He will rescue you and bring You to the place you need to be. Then He will equip you and send you on a very specific mission that requires continual advance toward a goal and toward His eternal dwelling place, Zion in Heaven. God becomes your reference point and all your movement is measured against His eternal Rock, His eternal marker. Call out to Him today and find His benchmark.
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