Buffalo Burgers

Journal 2006 07 09
Buffalo Burgers

Captain Lewis and his party kill and eat their first buffalo since leaving the drainage of the Missouri last fall. They are cold from a thunderstorm that passed through and drenched them. “…the day continuing rainy and cold I concluded to remain all day.” Captain Lewis had the men stop and make camp for the day to have a feast.

On the way west last September the men pressed on despite the cold rains. How human we all are. Knowing the mission Lewis’ party is on is going to be but a footnote to the success of the Corps of Discovery it pains me to see the men choose to stop for the day and enjoy the long anticipated fat buffalo meal. Don’t most of us do this every day? I know I do. If I know I’m going to dinner at one of my favorite destinations to enjoy one of my favorite meals the meal becomes the focus of the day rather than the work and mission ruling the events of the day.

I wonder why we are loosing our focus as a nation and seem bent on self-gratification as our liberties erode away one by one. Could it be that securing the fuel intended to propel us forward to the goal has become the target of our endeavors robbing us of our God-ordained destiny in the process? Are we seeking shelter from the storm, mosquitoes and everything else unpleasant because we have believed the lie that happiness is our national right leaving the pursuit of life and liberty for third world countries?

Lewis and his party have the prize of traveling to the Pacific Ocean by land in their pocket. Human nature entered in today to stop them short of their normal goals when traveling because the press to “proceed on” wasn’t as pressing. Are we doing the same? I know I do. If I’m motivated things can really move. If I’m filling or killing time, shoot me. I’m worse than worthless.

We need the prize to call us to extraordinary action. And when we are blessed to win the prize we need to change our focus to one of stewarding the prize and delivering it to the place it is to reside with the same focus and motivation that led to its capture. And then we need to ask for the next mission orders that He holds in His hands.

Even though I know the end of this story I am on pins and needles worrying over the splintering of this small force of soldiers who have successfully penetrated the unknown and now are more vulnerable than at any point in the journey to the hostile forces of nature and man derailing their success.

In my mind I’m screaming out, “Go home now. Fast and focused. Like a runner sensing the finish line and its magnetic pull to cross so you can receive your reward. Like a Labrador retriever with a duck in its mouth looking for the approval of the hunter as he drops the bird at his master’s feet. President Jefferson and the rest of the nation only wanted to know the Captains and their men were alive. No CNN reporters imbedded with satellite phones in 1806. “Get home! Get out of harm’s way and go home!” I find myself crying out to these two hundred year old pages today.

They don’t hear me and continue on. Clark and the men at Camp Fortunate have opened the caches and retrieved the canoes they sunk before they departed on horseback last year. The men dry and restore the canoes anticipating continuing their course downstream in the morning. Dividing the force once again as three of the men navigate the canoes downstream and the rest of the party continues over one more mountain ridge to the Yellowstone River before rejoining the rest of the party at the Missouri below the Great Falls.

I’ve diverted from the normal format today to bring home the point that like a bridegroom carrying his bride across the threshold of their new life, if your goal is to bring home that which you’ve pursued, waited for and now stand ready to complete by all means get home. You wouldn’t stop to tour a museum on your way to your honeymoon suite! I find myself wishing that our explorers were working together as one with all their strength aligned to finish strong that they may get home quickly and pronounce their grand victory and receive of crown of glory.

Proceed on.