What did I do before noon today?

Journal 2005 07 26
What Did I Do Before Noon Today?

Clark leaves two men with sore feet while he explores with the other two to a mountaintop twelve miles west of Three Forks. His goal is to gain a view of the rivers and their valleys in order to determine their courses. At 11:00am Clark reaches the peak “with great difcuelty & much fatigue”. From his elevated view he is able to observe the North Fork meander ten miles through a valley. No fresh signs of Indians. Clark satisfies himself regarding the courses of the Middle and South Forks and returns to the two famished and footsore men resting at Three Forks.

The stoic William Clark describes himself, “I was fatiqued my feet with Several blisters & stuck with prickley pears…determined to cross the Middle Fork and examine that…we crossed the Missouri…the first part was knee deep the other waste deep & very rapid, I felt myself very unwell & took up Camp on the little river 3 miles above its mouth…”

Captain Lewis and the main party continue upriver not yet at the confluence of the Three Rivers. The boats are pulled because of the speed of the mountain water in its channel. A new species of grass is discovered by the men and Lewis’ Newfoundland dog, Seaman. The seedhead on the grass is barbed and able to penetrate the men’s moccasins. No relief is available save stopping and pulling out the barbed seed. This grass causes Seaman great discomfort as he bites at the bearded barbs of grass that cling to his thick fur and poke his skin.

These guys are tough. What did I do before noon today? What did you do before noon today? Did you hike twelve miles to the closest peak to gain perspective for your future work? Did you then return the twelve miles, and set out again for at least three miles to cross a rapid, waist deep river while not feeling well? Finally camping and eating a venison meal from a “pore deer” taken earlier in the day.

Why would these men press on, proceed on, at the pace they do every day? I believe they know that the success of their mission depends upon them crossing the snow-capped mountains that rise to the west in a timely fashion. If they do not cross them in due season their mission is jeopardized and likely to fail.

Do we set out to cover as much ground in our work as these men do in theirs? I don’t. I hope you do. But I am working harder than I have in some time because of their example. Can you ask yourself at dawn, if you are up with the sun as these men were, where do I want to be at noon today? When I get there, will I learn anything helpful to the fulfillment of my mission?

“From the end of the earth I cry to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the Rock higher than I.” (Psalms 61:2)

What a great example to us! Seek the high ground. Work hard to get there and hold your decisions until you have gained the high ground.