Journal 2006 08 30
Ascending Eminence
“...I assended to the high Country and from an eminance, I had a view of the plains for a great distance. from this eminance I had a view of a greater number of buffalow than I had ever Seen before at one time. I must have Seen near 20,000 of those animals feeding on this plain. I have observed that in the country between the nations which are at war with each other the greatest numbers of wild animals are to be found.”
Huge herds of buffalo have been seen over the course of the past two years and yet today Clark records once again that he has seen twenty thousand buffalo! He observes that the land separating warring tribes the animals are found in abundance. One has to wonder if the animals were not a little like oil in our time. We see the animals in today's context, domesticated and constrained by fences and civilization. To the Indians, these herds were their lifeblood. Food, housing and most of what they ate and wore came from buffao, elk and deer. These huge herds represented great value to the native people who lived west of colonial America. In our modern world we fight over oil and we fight to protect our free way of life in America. Horses and big game were worth fighting over in 1806 on the plains of North America. Sgt. Ordway observe further value, “...we Save all the buffaloe horns we can find to take to the States as they would make excelent kife and fork handles &C &C.”
William Clark ascended to the high country and from an eminence he elevated his view and gain perspective. This viewpoint resulted in perspective not gained in the valley. Are we struggling for survival on the edge of our civilization holding on to that which is of great value to us? How about if we had a little perspective and could see the supreme abundance of supply before us? William Clark had that view today. It helped him place the tribal battles in better context. This larger view would serve him well later when he is appointed governor.
I've written the higher view earlier in this epic. It is worth covering briefly here. We find a pattern in the journey that we would still be well to emulate. Travel through the lowlands. Work is done in the lowlands. From time to time ascend the high country for the big view. It will make the work easier because the high view places the work in its proper place.
So if work has become just that instead of progress to complete the mission look for high country. Ascend to an “eminance” and regain the view that reminds you of your Creator's abundant supply and course of travel. It is the path and pattern to follow.
Proceed on.
Inspiration for today from America's Greatest Expedition, the Corps of Discovery!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Monday, August 28, 2006
Still Wild
Journal 2006 08 28
Still Wild
The Corps of Discovery traveled one hundred thirty seven miles closer to home these last three days. In the breadbasket of our nation their rations of meat are running thin. They find abundant evidence that the Sioux have been hunting buffalo ahead of them. The plains and river bottoms are pummeled with the hooves of thousands of bison. But only a few poor deer are brought in by the hunters. The men hear the buffalo “bellowing” in the night restoring their hope of a tasty meal.
“…as we were now in the Country where we were informed the Sceoux were assembled we were much on our guard deturmined to put up with no insults from those bands of Seioux, all the arms &. in perfect order.” Captain Clark orders the men to full alert. For those who have been reading these postings for a while or are familiar with the Expedition, the first tense moments and closest conflict for the Corps was in this spot in September 1804 when the Teton Sioux attempted to intercept the men on their upstream course. All weapons on both sides were aimed at someone of the other party. Lewis and Clark were resolved not to be intimidated and the Sioux were standing their ground. Only the action of lowering arms by one Chief averted conflict. The Captains expected worse on the return trip. They also knew if they could negotiate this stretch of the river safely they were home free.
Yesterday, as Clark was away from camp with the men, Lewis did what most of us do when recovering from injury. “My friend Capt Lewis hurt himself very much be takeing a longer walk on the Sand bar in my absence at the buffalow than he had Strength to undergo, which Caused him to remain very unwell all night.” He pushed it and is back on his belly. Ouch!
“Sent out Reubin & Joseph Feild to hunt for the Mule deer or the antilope neither of which we have either the Skins or Scellitens of, we derected those two men to proceed on down to the places we encamped the 16th & 17th of Septr. 1804 and which place the party had called pleasant Camp from the great abundance of Game Such as Buffalow Elk, antilopes, Blacktail or mule deer, fallow deer, common deer wolves barking Squirels, Turkies and a variety of other animals, aded to which there was a great abundance of the most delicious plumbs and grapes.” Don’t know about you, but I think my stomach leads much of my travel habits. Spokane, it’s the Onion with its Whisky Jack’s Steak or Spinach Salad. Seattle waterfront, gotta be Ivar’s Fish Bar. Walla Walla, the great deli in the middle of town. Yakima, its Santana’s for just about anything on the menu. Fairbanks, mud pie at the restaurant on the river. In hometown Auburn it’s a Big Cubby basket with chocolate shake! Now I’m drooling on the keyboard even talking about it! I could list a whole lot more! I bet most of us could.
These young men were no different. They remember this abundant camp of meat and fruit and look forward to returning to more of the same. And they do.
Captain Clark, and I assume his friend Captain Lewis, find a piece of their mission incomplete. The antelope and mule deer of the Great Plains still elude them. Clark sends out his hunters again. Not for meat but for skins and skeletons of these two ghosts of the prairie. Antelope and mule deer hunting has not changed much in two hundred years. They are still elusive and difficult to get close to. Custom gun makers craft weapons and cartridges designed to consistently make three to four hundred yard shots just for antelope hunters.
Somethings are still wild. Like antelope. Like mule deer. Like elk. Wild requires more than a chase. It requires wisdom and cunning and skill and a little good fortune. Maybe, just maybe, it requires a blessing from God. Game left wild that we may be blessed. And that is a good thing for all of us.
Proceed on.
Still Wild
The Corps of Discovery traveled one hundred thirty seven miles closer to home these last three days. In the breadbasket of our nation their rations of meat are running thin. They find abundant evidence that the Sioux have been hunting buffalo ahead of them. The plains and river bottoms are pummeled with the hooves of thousands of bison. But only a few poor deer are brought in by the hunters. The men hear the buffalo “bellowing” in the night restoring their hope of a tasty meal.
“…as we were now in the Country where we were informed the Sceoux were assembled we were much on our guard deturmined to put up with no insults from those bands of Seioux, all the arms &. in perfect order.” Captain Clark orders the men to full alert. For those who have been reading these postings for a while or are familiar with the Expedition, the first tense moments and closest conflict for the Corps was in this spot in September 1804 when the Teton Sioux attempted to intercept the men on their upstream course. All weapons on both sides were aimed at someone of the other party. Lewis and Clark were resolved not to be intimidated and the Sioux were standing their ground. Only the action of lowering arms by one Chief averted conflict. The Captains expected worse on the return trip. They also knew if they could negotiate this stretch of the river safely they were home free.
Yesterday, as Clark was away from camp with the men, Lewis did what most of us do when recovering from injury. “My friend Capt Lewis hurt himself very much be takeing a longer walk on the Sand bar in my absence at the buffalow than he had Strength to undergo, which Caused him to remain very unwell all night.” He pushed it and is back on his belly. Ouch!
“Sent out Reubin & Joseph Feild to hunt for the Mule deer or the antilope neither of which we have either the Skins or Scellitens of, we derected those two men to proceed on down to the places we encamped the 16th & 17th of Septr. 1804 and which place the party had called pleasant Camp from the great abundance of Game Such as Buffalow Elk, antilopes, Blacktail or mule deer, fallow deer, common deer wolves barking Squirels, Turkies and a variety of other animals, aded to which there was a great abundance of the most delicious plumbs and grapes.” Don’t know about you, but I think my stomach leads much of my travel habits. Spokane, it’s the Onion with its Whisky Jack’s Steak or Spinach Salad. Seattle waterfront, gotta be Ivar’s Fish Bar. Walla Walla, the great deli in the middle of town. Yakima, its Santana’s for just about anything on the menu. Fairbanks, mud pie at the restaurant on the river. In hometown Auburn it’s a Big Cubby basket with chocolate shake! Now I’m drooling on the keyboard even talking about it! I could list a whole lot more! I bet most of us could.
These young men were no different. They remember this abundant camp of meat and fruit and look forward to returning to more of the same. And they do.
Captain Clark, and I assume his friend Captain Lewis, find a piece of their mission incomplete. The antelope and mule deer of the Great Plains still elude them. Clark sends out his hunters again. Not for meat but for skins and skeletons of these two ghosts of the prairie. Antelope and mule deer hunting has not changed much in two hundred years. They are still elusive and difficult to get close to. Custom gun makers craft weapons and cartridges designed to consistently make three to four hundred yard shots just for antelope hunters.
Somethings are still wild. Like antelope. Like mule deer. Like elk. Wild requires more than a chase. It requires wisdom and cunning and skill and a little good fortune. Maybe, just maybe, it requires a blessing from God. Game left wild that we may be blessed. And that is a good thing for all of us.
Proceed on.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Sun, Moon and Stars
Journal 2006 08 25
Sun, Moon and Stars
For the past two days the men have been slowly making their way downriver. They have been hindered by the storms that bring the high winds that make river travel difficult. Each day the Corps has had to put to shore and wait for the winds to pass. Severe storms and even tornados pass through the plains. I don’t know if any of these storms were of that genre, but they must have pretty extreme to hold up this determined cadre.
Two days ago Clark adds to his “chart” this update, “My Frend Capt Lewis is recoverig fast the hole in his thy where the Ball passed out is Closed and appears to be nearly well. the one where the ball entered discharges very well…”
The men make “ply the oars well” and make forty eight miles today. More than twice their upstream pace. They stop for the night near their camp of September 29th, 1804.
Game has been a little scarce and wary of men. They attribute this to the earlier passing of the Sioux hunting buffalo. They find “pore deer and Elk not so fat.” They also note the several camps or villages of the friendly tribes “interrupted” by the Sioux. The men are alert and their arms are prepared.
Today Clark’s goal is to be at the Cheyenne River before noon, or meridian, as the Captains call it. What they are calling meridian is the apex of the suns arcing path through the daytime sky. Two centuries later most of us have forgotten about those great celestial bodies of ancient travelers throughout time; Sun, Moon and Stars. We look to watch, calendar and GPS for time and place. Some watches now have all three! And that is good. We’ve created a man-made constellation of satellites that allow us precision unthought of only fifty years ago. My now outdated waterproof Magellan Tracker GPS that I found for $1.50 at my local thrift store will get me to within nine feet of my physical location from just about anywhere. Given enough satellites in the sky it will many times have a margin of error of zero!
No one loves modern technology more than me. I get jealous every time I watch an action thriller and some new device allows communication or live satellite video feeds that I want coming into my TV or some device attached to my wrist or belt. However, in putting our trust in the creations of men have we lost our ability to receive the natural guidance provided by sun, moon and stars? I have. I’m trying to learn celestial navigation. It is difficult. I am not a man who by habit spends most of my evenings outdoors looking up and noting the path of the constellations through the night sky. Nor do I rise and sleep by the rhythm of the sun’s rising and falling. I set my dual alarm clock to rouse me. I bet most of us do. I’m not suggesting we move back. I am suggesting we’ve let go of something that should be foundational to our advanced use of gadgets. It’s like enjoying a burger and shake yet not understanding that milk and hamburger come from cows. Time, place and seasons are measured by sun, moon and stars. Watches, calendars and maps simply make observing them simpler and more convenient.
Enjoy the precision and ease of technology. I do. Take the time to understand their underpinnings that you can still live should the gadget fail. Enjoy the cheeseburger and savor the shake. Just don’t get indignant about the meat packing plant killing cattle.
See the rhythm, learn how to find the way and trust in the One Who set it all in place that we might ultimately find Him.
Proceed on.
Sun, Moon and Stars
For the past two days the men have been slowly making their way downriver. They have been hindered by the storms that bring the high winds that make river travel difficult. Each day the Corps has had to put to shore and wait for the winds to pass. Severe storms and even tornados pass through the plains. I don’t know if any of these storms were of that genre, but they must have pretty extreme to hold up this determined cadre.
Two days ago Clark adds to his “chart” this update, “My Frend Capt Lewis is recoverig fast the hole in his thy where the Ball passed out is Closed and appears to be nearly well. the one where the ball entered discharges very well…”
The men make “ply the oars well” and make forty eight miles today. More than twice their upstream pace. They stop for the night near their camp of September 29th, 1804.
Game has been a little scarce and wary of men. They attribute this to the earlier passing of the Sioux hunting buffalo. They find “pore deer and Elk not so fat.” They also note the several camps or villages of the friendly tribes “interrupted” by the Sioux. The men are alert and their arms are prepared.
Today Clark’s goal is to be at the Cheyenne River before noon, or meridian, as the Captains call it. What they are calling meridian is the apex of the suns arcing path through the daytime sky. Two centuries later most of us have forgotten about those great celestial bodies of ancient travelers throughout time; Sun, Moon and Stars. We look to watch, calendar and GPS for time and place. Some watches now have all three! And that is good. We’ve created a man-made constellation of satellites that allow us precision unthought of only fifty years ago. My now outdated waterproof Magellan Tracker GPS that I found for $1.50 at my local thrift store will get me to within nine feet of my physical location from just about anywhere. Given enough satellites in the sky it will many times have a margin of error of zero!
No one loves modern technology more than me. I get jealous every time I watch an action thriller and some new device allows communication or live satellite video feeds that I want coming into my TV or some device attached to my wrist or belt. However, in putting our trust in the creations of men have we lost our ability to receive the natural guidance provided by sun, moon and stars? I have. I’m trying to learn celestial navigation. It is difficult. I am not a man who by habit spends most of my evenings outdoors looking up and noting the path of the constellations through the night sky. Nor do I rise and sleep by the rhythm of the sun’s rising and falling. I set my dual alarm clock to rouse me. I bet most of us do. I’m not suggesting we move back. I am suggesting we’ve let go of something that should be foundational to our advanced use of gadgets. It’s like enjoying a burger and shake yet not understanding that milk and hamburger come from cows. Time, place and seasons are measured by sun, moon and stars. Watches, calendars and maps simply make observing them simpler and more convenient.
Enjoy the precision and ease of technology. I do. Take the time to understand their underpinnings that you can still live should the gadget fail. Enjoy the cheeseburger and savor the shake. Just don’t get indignant about the meat packing plant killing cattle.
See the rhythm, learn how to find the way and trust in the One Who set it all in place that we might ultimately find Him.
Proceed on.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Sleeping with the Sugar Smacks
Journal 2006 08 22
Sleeping with the Sugar Smacks
A wet windy night for our homeward bound travelers. The chiefs confirm with Clark that they will stay and not accompany him to Washington D.C. They reiterate their desires to heed his words regarding their neighboring tribes. Part of their reluctance is the fact that the Chief who left to visit Jefferson two winters ago has yet to return.
So Clark smokes a pipe with the leaders of these nations and sets out down the Missouri once more. As he writes his journal later in camp he recounts the anthropology of the Cheyenne in detail. Clark recounts the following diplomatic gesture and inquiry for aid by a Cheyenne Chief, “…as I was about to leave the Cheifs of the Chyennes lodge he requested me to Send Some traders to them, that their country was full of beaver and they would then be encouraged to Kill beaver, but now they had no use for them as they could get nothing for their skins and did not know well, how to catch beaver. if the white people would come amongst them they would become acquainted <with them> and the white people would learn them how to take the beaver—. I promised the Nation that I would inform their Great father the President of the U States, and he would have them Supplied with goods, and mentioned in what manner they would be Supplied &c. &c….”
Clark has become something of a wilderness doctor during the journey and his “charts” regarding Lewis for today reads, “I am happy to have it in my power to Say that my worthy friend Capt Lewis is recovering fast, he walked a little to day for the first time. I have discontinud the tent in the hole the ball came out…” Nobody has mentioned it to date and I don’t remember if they do, but one of the biggest problems with a wound like Lewis’ two hundred years ago was the infection that might set in. I’m sure the lack of infection contributed to the happiness of the recovery.
And as almost a footnote to the anthropology report Clark makes sure he records something he must not have wanted to forget. “I have before mentioned that the Mandans Maharhas Menetarras & Ricarras, keep their horses in the Lodge with themselves at night.” I have asked the question many times in my own mind, “Why would you bring the barnyard animals in the house at night?” During the winter at Fort Mandan I assumed it was because of the bitter cold temperatures. But now, in late August? Protection from theft? Couldn’t have been for what they contributed to the décor and overall aura of the earthen huts the tribes mentioned use. I think it must have been for protecting them from theft.
I am famous in my family as a kid for sleeping with my favorite box of cereal. I know my motives. I didn’t want any of my brothers or sister eating my box of Cocoa Puffs or Sugar Pops before I got up! Seemed pretty reasonable to me at the time. Sure gets a good laugh even now whenever it is brought up. And that practice of gathering our precious possessions continues today and begs the question, “Are we bringing anything into our ‘houses’ for protection that would seem strange to most people?” More likely we are bringing things into our “spiritual houses” that we protect through allegiance and argument and an unwillingness to risk their loss. Got any mindsets or ideas that seem strange to others yet you’re hanging onto with all your might? What would a foreign observer record of those transactions?
Whatever we are holding onto so tightly that we bring it into our beds is almost universally a hindrance to our trust in God to preserve and protect us. Since most of us don’t have any horses in the bedroom (I’m not asking about dogs and cats!) what I’m really asking is, “Do any of us need to let go of the box of Sugar Smacks?”
Proceed on.
Sleeping with the Sugar Smacks
A wet windy night for our homeward bound travelers. The chiefs confirm with Clark that they will stay and not accompany him to Washington D.C. They reiterate their desires to heed his words regarding their neighboring tribes. Part of their reluctance is the fact that the Chief who left to visit Jefferson two winters ago has yet to return.
So Clark smokes a pipe with the leaders of these nations and sets out down the Missouri once more. As he writes his journal later in camp he recounts the anthropology of the Cheyenne in detail. Clark recounts the following diplomatic gesture and inquiry for aid by a Cheyenne Chief, “…as I was about to leave the Cheifs of the Chyennes lodge he requested me to Send Some traders to them, that their country was full of beaver and they would then be encouraged to Kill beaver, but now they had no use for them as they could get nothing for their skins and did not know well, how to catch beaver. if the white people would come amongst them they would become acquainted <with them> and the white people would learn them how to take the beaver—. I promised the Nation that I would inform their Great father the President of the U States, and he would have them Supplied with goods, and mentioned in what manner they would be Supplied &c. &c….”
Clark has become something of a wilderness doctor during the journey and his “charts” regarding Lewis for today reads, “I am happy to have it in my power to Say that my worthy friend Capt Lewis is recovering fast, he walked a little to day for the first time. I have discontinud the tent in the hole the ball came out…” Nobody has mentioned it to date and I don’t remember if they do, but one of the biggest problems with a wound like Lewis’ two hundred years ago was the infection that might set in. I’m sure the lack of infection contributed to the happiness of the recovery.
And as almost a footnote to the anthropology report Clark makes sure he records something he must not have wanted to forget. “I have before mentioned that the Mandans Maharhas Menetarras & Ricarras, keep their horses in the Lodge with themselves at night.” I have asked the question many times in my own mind, “Why would you bring the barnyard animals in the house at night?” During the winter at Fort Mandan I assumed it was because of the bitter cold temperatures. But now, in late August? Protection from theft? Couldn’t have been for what they contributed to the décor and overall aura of the earthen huts the tribes mentioned use. I think it must have been for protecting them from theft.
I am famous in my family as a kid for sleeping with my favorite box of cereal. I know my motives. I didn’t want any of my brothers or sister eating my box of Cocoa Puffs or Sugar Pops before I got up! Seemed pretty reasonable to me at the time. Sure gets a good laugh even now whenever it is brought up. And that practice of gathering our precious possessions continues today and begs the question, “Are we bringing anything into our ‘houses’ for protection that would seem strange to most people?” More likely we are bringing things into our “spiritual houses” that we protect through allegiance and argument and an unwillingness to risk their loss. Got any mindsets or ideas that seem strange to others yet you’re hanging onto with all your might? What would a foreign observer record of those transactions?
Whatever we are holding onto so tightly that we bring it into our beds is almost universally a hindrance to our trust in God to preserve and protect us. Since most of us don’t have any horses in the bedroom (I’m not asking about dogs and cats!) what I’m really asking is, “Do any of us need to let go of the box of Sugar Smacks?”
Proceed on.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Pow Wow
Journal 2006 08 21
Pow Wow
Two days ago Clark writes, “…the wind rose and become very Strong from the S. E. and a great appearance of rain. Jessomme the Interpreter let me have a piece of a lodge and the Squars pitched or Stretched it over Some Sticks, under this piece of leather I Slept <under> dry, it is the only covering which I have had Suffecient to keep off the rain Since I left the Columbia.” Shelter from the storm. Seems pretty standard to us. Notable to the wilderness Captain on August 19th, 1804.
Clark also notes how different the course of the Missouri is compared to when they ascended it. He also noted how the buffalo bulls had quit “running” and had become “poor.” Poor usually meant too lean to be palatable. I’m guessing that Clark means that the buffalo were in what we call “the rut.” Or mating season. The elk are just entering into it. Several times over the past few weeks the buffalo have kept the men awake with their loud bellowing. I’m guessing we’ll read something about elk bugling soon.
The winds continued to blow. This morning Clark commands all the men to “…put their arms in perfect order…” He didn’t know what today would bring. He did know that there could be trouble. As his boats approached the upper Ricara Villages the women and children working near the river must have run to tell the chief of their arrival. Clark delayed about an hour talking with fur trappers headed upriver. They had met these men in the Mandan villages over their winter here.
At about 11:00am the villages came into view. “…we Saluted the village with four guns <on St> and they returned the Salute by fireing Several guns in the village, I observed Several very white Lodges on the hill above the Town which the ricaras from the Shore informed me were Chyennes who had just arived—. we landed opposit to the 2d Village and were met by the most of the men women and children of each village as also the Chyennes they all appeared anxious to take us by the hand and much rejoiced to See us return. I Steped on Shore and was Saluted by the two great Chiefs, whome we had made or given Medals to as we assend this river in 1804, and also Saluted by a great number both of Ricaras & Chyennes, as they appeared anxious to here what we had done &c. as well as to here Something about the Mandans & Minetarras.”
In this simple welcome Clark is able to put to rest any fears of war. Isn’t a warm greeting far better than a cold shoulder? And in this extension of friendship by the Ricaras and even the Cheyennes William Clark turns from his military mission to his diplomatic mission. And he performs admirably. Big White supplies tobacco for the pipe and all chiefs express their great desire to live together in peace. All point to a few bad apples from their own tribes and the Sioux downstream as the inhibitors of peace. Clark continues in his gifts with the few small medals and things in his possession and in the process is able to dispel a threat to Big White. A chief of the Cheyenne who was not present when the Corps of Discovery came through in 1804 pulls a young man who had volunteered to go to Washington, DC and then “The Cheif then envited me & the Mandan Chief to his house to talk there.” And there he confesses that he has heard the words of the other chiefs and Clark. He declares that Big White will be as safe in this village as if he were in his own. And he pledges to not attack his neighbors. Only to defend himself.
While the Captain was conducting his diplomacy the men where trading for moccasins and robes “some of which are handsome.”
The work of the mission has now changed. The vision has not, but the daily work has. The unknown has been conquered. The report needs to be filed. The first Pow Wow is complete. Reason for hope of peace has been born.
He doesn’t record it, but Captain Clark must have been satisfied at day’s end with the accomplishments of today. He said, “I Set my self down on the Side of the Bank and the Chiefs & brave men of the Ricaras & Chyennes formed a Cercle around me.” Jehovah God said, "Come. Sit down. Let us reason.” And that is what William Clark did this day.
Proceed on.
Pow Wow
Two days ago Clark writes, “…the wind rose and become very Strong from the S. E. and a great appearance of rain. Jessomme the Interpreter let me have a piece of a lodge and the Squars pitched or Stretched it over Some Sticks, under this piece of leather I Slept <under> dry, it is the only covering which I have had Suffecient to keep off the rain Since I left the Columbia.” Shelter from the storm. Seems pretty standard to us. Notable to the wilderness Captain on August 19th, 1804.
Clark also notes how different the course of the Missouri is compared to when they ascended it. He also noted how the buffalo bulls had quit “running” and had become “poor.” Poor usually meant too lean to be palatable. I’m guessing that Clark means that the buffalo were in what we call “the rut.” Or mating season. The elk are just entering into it. Several times over the past few weeks the buffalo have kept the men awake with their loud bellowing. I’m guessing we’ll read something about elk bugling soon.
The winds continued to blow. This morning Clark commands all the men to “…put their arms in perfect order…” He didn’t know what today would bring. He did know that there could be trouble. As his boats approached the upper Ricara Villages the women and children working near the river must have run to tell the chief of their arrival. Clark delayed about an hour talking with fur trappers headed upriver. They had met these men in the Mandan villages over their winter here.
At about 11:00am the villages came into view. “…we Saluted the village with four guns <on St> and they returned the Salute by fireing Several guns in the village, I observed Several very white Lodges on the hill above the Town which the ricaras from the Shore informed me were Chyennes who had just arived—. we landed opposit to the 2d Village and were met by the most of the men women and children of each village as also the Chyennes they all appeared anxious to take us by the hand and much rejoiced to See us return. I Steped on Shore and was Saluted by the two great Chiefs, whome we had made or given Medals to as we assend this river in 1804, and also Saluted by a great number both of Ricaras & Chyennes, as they appeared anxious to here what we had done &c. as well as to here Something about the Mandans & Minetarras.”
In this simple welcome Clark is able to put to rest any fears of war. Isn’t a warm greeting far better than a cold shoulder? And in this extension of friendship by the Ricaras and even the Cheyennes William Clark turns from his military mission to his diplomatic mission. And he performs admirably. Big White supplies tobacco for the pipe and all chiefs express their great desire to live together in peace. All point to a few bad apples from their own tribes and the Sioux downstream as the inhibitors of peace. Clark continues in his gifts with the few small medals and things in his possession and in the process is able to dispel a threat to Big White. A chief of the Cheyenne who was not present when the Corps of Discovery came through in 1804 pulls a young man who had volunteered to go to Washington, DC and then “The Cheif then envited me & the Mandan Chief to his house to talk there.” And there he confesses that he has heard the words of the other chiefs and Clark. He declares that Big White will be as safe in this village as if he were in his own. And he pledges to not attack his neighbors. Only to defend himself.
While the Captain was conducting his diplomacy the men where trading for moccasins and robes “some of which are handsome.”
The work of the mission has now changed. The vision has not, but the daily work has. The unknown has been conquered. The report needs to be filed. The first Pow Wow is complete. Reason for hope of peace has been born.
He doesn’t record it, but Captain Clark must have been satisfied at day’s end with the accomplishments of today. He said, “I Set my self down on the Side of the Bank and the Chiefs & brave men of the Ricaras & Chyennes formed a Cercle around me.” Jehovah God said, "Come. Sit down. Let us reason.” And that is what William Clark did this day.
Proceed on.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Creation and Fall Mandan Style
Journal 2006 08 18
Creation and Fall Mandan Style
Chief Big White was now traveling with the Corps of Discovery. Captain Clark was enjoying Big White’s account of the history of his nation and others along the banks of the Missouri. He explained how large his nation had been until small pox and Sioux war parties had decimated his ranks to the two villages Lewis and Clark had grown so fond of. In his memory, and he estimates himself to be about forty years old, his people occupied villages seven times their current population.
The high winds from the previous day were still retarding travel. The waters were rough. After about forty miles the Corps put to shore, sent out hunters and made camp. William Clark sounds as though he was fascinated with Big White and retells the story of the Mandan people as told to him by the Big White Man Chief as Clark called him. “…after the fires were made I set my self down with the big white man Chiefe and made a number of enquiries into the tredition of his nation as well as the time of their inhabiting the number of Villages the remains of which we see on different parts of the river, as also the cause of their evacuation. he told me his nation first Came out of the ground where they had a great village. a grape vine grew down through the Earth to their village and they Saw light Some of their people assended by the grape vine upon the earth, and Saw Buffalow and every kind of animal also Grapes plumbs &c. they gathered Some grapes & took down the vine to the village, and they tasted and found them good, and deturmined to go up and live upon the earth, and great numbers climbed the vine and got upon earth men womin and children. at length a large big bellied woman in climbing broke the vine and fell and all that were left in the Village below has remained there ever Since (The Mandans beleive when they die that they return to this village) Those who were left on earth made a village on the river below and were very noumerous &c.”
For those Bible students reading this it just fuels the imagination doesn’t it? We don’t see Creation of the earth but we do see that his nation came out of the ground to occupy a great village. Adam was formed from the dust and placed in the Garden of Eden.
A grape vine was their connection between their origin, mortal life and after life. Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches.
When people ascended the vine to the earth they found buffalo and every kind of animal and fruit. “God spoke: “Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind: cattle and reptiles and wild animals--all kinds." And there it was: wild animals of every kind, Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug. God saw that it was good. God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth." Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth And every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food." And there it was. God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning-- Day Six. (Genesis 1:24-31 MSG)
And the “big bellied woman,” who I take to be pregnant, literally fell and stopped up the climb of the Mandan civilization. All who were yet to ascend by the vine where forever kept from the fruit of the earth. “The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. …So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden …. Then at the east side of the garden he put living creatures and a flaming sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the tree that gives life. (Genesis 3:6-24 GNB)
The Fall of Man. Quite literally the fall of a woman in the Mandan story.
Either way, there is something deep in the heart of man that understands the fall from the original plan of the Creator. Can we trust in the wisdom of the Spirit of God to allow us to use this Mandan story of origin as a scaffold to the Good News of the Living God? I bet the early missionaries to this tribe did. And we are to fulfill our Manifest Destiny, the Great Commission, in the same pattern. Like Paul in Athens, we are to use the local culture to springboard the Good News, the better news. “…Paul stood up in front of the city council and said, "I see that in every way you Athenians are very religious. For as I walked through your city and looked at the places where you worship, I found an altar on which is written, 'To an Unknown God.' That which you worship, then, even though you do not know it, is what I now proclaim to you. God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone. From one human being he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live. He did this so that they would look for him, and perhaps find him as they felt around for him. Yet God is actually not far from any one of us; as someone has said, 'In him we live and move and exist.' It is as some of your poets have said, 'We too are his children.' Since we are God's children, we should not suppose that his nature is anything like an image of gold or silver or stone, shaped by human art and skill. God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways. For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death!" When they heard Paul speak about a raising from death, some of them made fun of him, but others said, "We want to hear you speak about this again." And so Paul left the meeting. Some men joined him and believed, …”(Acts 17:21-34 GNB) It was the right answer then and continues to be the message of our Manifest Destiny today as His Kingdom advances.
Proceed on.
Creation and Fall Mandan Style
Chief Big White was now traveling with the Corps of Discovery. Captain Clark was enjoying Big White’s account of the history of his nation and others along the banks of the Missouri. He explained how large his nation had been until small pox and Sioux war parties had decimated his ranks to the two villages Lewis and Clark had grown so fond of. In his memory, and he estimates himself to be about forty years old, his people occupied villages seven times their current population.
The high winds from the previous day were still retarding travel. The waters were rough. After about forty miles the Corps put to shore, sent out hunters and made camp. William Clark sounds as though he was fascinated with Big White and retells the story of the Mandan people as told to him by the Big White Man Chief as Clark called him. “…after the fires were made I set my self down with the big white man Chiefe and made a number of enquiries into the tredition of his nation as well as the time of their inhabiting the number of Villages the remains of which we see on different parts of the river, as also the cause of their evacuation. he told me his nation first Came out of the ground where they had a great village. a grape vine grew down through the Earth to their village and they Saw light Some of their people assended by the grape vine upon the earth, and Saw Buffalow and every kind of animal also Grapes plumbs &c. they gathered Some grapes & took down the vine to the village, and they tasted and found them good, and deturmined to go up and live upon the earth, and great numbers climbed the vine and got upon earth men womin and children. at length a large big bellied woman in climbing broke the vine and fell and all that were left in the Village below has remained there ever Since (The Mandans beleive when they die that they return to this village) Those who were left on earth made a village on the river below and were very noumerous &c.”
For those Bible students reading this it just fuels the imagination doesn’t it? We don’t see Creation of the earth but we do see that his nation came out of the ground to occupy a great village. Adam was formed from the dust and placed in the Garden of Eden.
A grape vine was their connection between their origin, mortal life and after life. Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches.
When people ascended the vine to the earth they found buffalo and every kind of animal and fruit. “God spoke: “Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind: cattle and reptiles and wild animals--all kinds." And there it was: wild animals of every kind, Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug. God saw that it was good. God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth." Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth And every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food. To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes, I give whatever grows out of the ground for food." And there it was. God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good! It was evening, it was morning-- Day Six. (Genesis 1:24-31 MSG)
And the “big bellied woman,” who I take to be pregnant, literally fell and stopped up the climb of the Mandan civilization. All who were yet to ascend by the vine where forever kept from the fruit of the earth. “The woman saw how beautiful the tree was and how good its fruit would be to eat, and she thought how wonderful it would be to become wise. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, and he also ate it. …So the LORD God sent them out of the Garden of Eden …. Then at the east side of the garden he put living creatures and a flaming sword which turned in all directions. This was to keep anyone from coming near the tree that gives life. (Genesis 3:6-24 GNB)
The Fall of Man. Quite literally the fall of a woman in the Mandan story.
Either way, there is something deep in the heart of man that understands the fall from the original plan of the Creator. Can we trust in the wisdom of the Spirit of God to allow us to use this Mandan story of origin as a scaffold to the Good News of the Living God? I bet the early missionaries to this tribe did. And we are to fulfill our Manifest Destiny, the Great Commission, in the same pattern. Like Paul in Athens, we are to use the local culture to springboard the Good News, the better news. “…Paul stood up in front of the city council and said, "I see that in every way you Athenians are very religious. For as I walked through your city and looked at the places where you worship, I found an altar on which is written, 'To an Unknown God.' That which you worship, then, even though you do not know it, is what I now proclaim to you. God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. Nor does he need anything that we can supply by working for him, since it is he himself who gives life and breath and everything else to everyone. From one human being he created all races of people and made them live throughout the whole earth. He himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live. He did this so that they would look for him, and perhaps find him as they felt around for him. Yet God is actually not far from any one of us; as someone has said, 'In him we live and move and exist.' It is as some of your poets have said, 'We too are his children.' Since we are God's children, we should not suppose that his nature is anything like an image of gold or silver or stone, shaped by human art and skill. God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways. For he has fixed a day in which he will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man he has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death!" When they heard Paul speak about a raising from death, some of them made fun of him, but others said, "We want to hear you speak about this again." And so Paul left the meeting. Some men joined him and believed, …”(Acts 17:21-34 GNB) It was the right answer then and continues to be the message of our Manifest Destiny today as His Kingdom advances.
Proceed on.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Goodbye to Four
Journal 2006 08 17
Goodbye to Four
“Settled with Touisant Chabono for his Services as an enterpreter the pric of a horse and Lodge purchased of him for public Service in all amounting to 500$ 33⅓ cents…” My mind wanders back to a cold winter morning two winters and two hundred years ago when Toussaint Charbonneau informs the Captains that he wants to renegotiate his contract with them. They say no, give him one day to change his mind and later send him outside the walls of Fort Mandan. Charbonneau later repents of his foolishness to the Captains and asks for reinstatement. They agree. And here we are at this day in history with the end truly better than the beginning.
Their friend and comrade in arms John Colter leaves camp back up the Missouri for two years of fortune seeking in beaver pelts. The Chief says his goodbyes to all who are weeping never expecting to see him again. Clark smokes one last pipe with the Mandan leaders and sets out downstream. He records the following, “…we then Saluted them with a gun and Set out and proceeded on to Fort Mandan where I landed and went to view the old works the houses except one in the rear bastion was burnt by accident,” The winds picked up and blew so hard that the men were forced to shore and made camp at only twenty miles this day.
Of significance today is that four members of the expedition will continue no further. For the three members of the Charbonneau family their cycle is complete. They started here and end here. For John Colter who had hoped to visit civilization the journey continues.
To me, of greater importance today is what Clark records next. “we also took our leave of T. Chabono, his Snake Indian wife and their Son Child who had accompanied us on our rout to the pacific Ocean in the Capacity of interpreter and interpretes. T. Chabono wished much to accompany us in the Said Capacity if <he> we could have provailed the Menetarre Chiefs to dcend the river with us to the U. States, but as none of those chiefs of whoes <set out> language he was Conversent would accompany us, his Services were no longer of use to the U' States and he was therefore discharged and paid up. we offered to convey him down to the Illinois if he Chose to go, he declined proceeding on at present, observing that he had no acquaintance or prospects of makeing a liveing below, and must continue to live in the way that he had done. I offered to take his little Son a butifull promising Child who is 19 months old to which they both himself & wife wer willing provided the Child had been weened. they observed that in one year the boy would be Sufficiently old to leave his mother & he would then take him to me if I would be so freindly as to raise the Child for him in Such a manner as I thought proper, to which I agreeed &c…”
William Clark, the rock, offered to raise and care for little Jean Baptiste, or Pomp as they all liked to call him, as his own. Charbonneau and his wife, Sacagawea, agree. What must have transpired during the year and a half of travel across our great land that William Clark, an unmarried man, would even offer to take the boy as his own? How deep was the trust and respect of mother and father for Clark that they would agree? We don’t read a lot about the littlest member of the expedition in the journals. My mind races when I picture him through some of the stages of this epic. Who carried him most of the time? Who carried him through the dangerous places? When did he start walking? At nineteen months he most likely was. Did the men reserve their best food for his mother and later for him? How many would see him as part of their family, like a son or little brother? Where was he as they marched across the Rockies near starvation? Where was he when they shot the rapids of the Columbia intent on reaching the Pacific?
This young infant participated in something that marked him for the rest of his life. He did come to be raised by William Clark at age four. Clark had married by then. As a young man he went to Europe with a prince to be exposed to more of the world and receive more education. He returned to America where he led many parties through the wildernesses of the West where he died in the Oregon Country in his early sixties. Pompy’s story needs to be told.
In the story of nineteen month old Jean Baptiste Charbonneau we see a picture of the adoption completed by God the Father. We are told, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 MKJV)
“For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:15-17 MKJV)
Something happened along the trail to the Pacific and back that joined William Clark to young Pomp and his parents. Something happened in the Garden of Eden that joined Father God to every one of Adam and Eve’s children to follow. He loved us and desired that we would be led by the Spirit of God. He sent his own Son to complete a journey ending in a sacrificial death providing the method through which He could adopt us and raise us as His own.
That is a hard concept to swallow, isn’t it? That God would love us so much that He would send His Son on a sacrificial journey to capture the opportunity for all Adam and Eve’s children to become His by adoption. But He did. And He does. Will I let Him raise me as His own? Will you? Will we give Him our children to raise as His own?
If we believe He is the Creator and truly God, why wouldn’t we?
Proceed on.
Goodbye to Four
“Settled with Touisant Chabono for his Services as an enterpreter the pric of a horse and Lodge purchased of him for public Service in all amounting to 500$ 33⅓ cents…” My mind wanders back to a cold winter morning two winters and two hundred years ago when Toussaint Charbonneau informs the Captains that he wants to renegotiate his contract with them. They say no, give him one day to change his mind and later send him outside the walls of Fort Mandan. Charbonneau later repents of his foolishness to the Captains and asks for reinstatement. They agree. And here we are at this day in history with the end truly better than the beginning.
Their friend and comrade in arms John Colter leaves camp back up the Missouri for two years of fortune seeking in beaver pelts. The Chief says his goodbyes to all who are weeping never expecting to see him again. Clark smokes one last pipe with the Mandan leaders and sets out downstream. He records the following, “…we then Saluted them with a gun and Set out and proceeded on to Fort Mandan where I landed and went to view the old works the houses except one in the rear bastion was burnt by accident,” The winds picked up and blew so hard that the men were forced to shore and made camp at only twenty miles this day.
Of significance today is that four members of the expedition will continue no further. For the three members of the Charbonneau family their cycle is complete. They started here and end here. For John Colter who had hoped to visit civilization the journey continues.
To me, of greater importance today is what Clark records next. “we also took our leave of T. Chabono, his Snake Indian wife and their Son Child who had accompanied us on our rout to the pacific Ocean in the Capacity of interpreter and interpretes. T. Chabono wished much to accompany us in the Said Capacity if <he> we could have provailed the Menetarre Chiefs to dcend the river with us to the U. States, but as none of those chiefs of whoes <set out> language he was Conversent would accompany us, his Services were no longer of use to the U' States and he was therefore discharged and paid up. we offered to convey him down to the Illinois if he Chose to go, he declined proceeding on at present, observing that he had no acquaintance or prospects of makeing a liveing below, and must continue to live in the way that he had done. I offered to take his little Son a butifull promising Child who is 19 months old to which they both himself & wife wer willing provided the Child had been weened. they observed that in one year the boy would be Sufficiently old to leave his mother & he would then take him to me if I would be so freindly as to raise the Child for him in Such a manner as I thought proper, to which I agreeed &c…”
William Clark, the rock, offered to raise and care for little Jean Baptiste, or Pomp as they all liked to call him, as his own. Charbonneau and his wife, Sacagawea, agree. What must have transpired during the year and a half of travel across our great land that William Clark, an unmarried man, would even offer to take the boy as his own? How deep was the trust and respect of mother and father for Clark that they would agree? We don’t read a lot about the littlest member of the expedition in the journals. My mind races when I picture him through some of the stages of this epic. Who carried him most of the time? Who carried him through the dangerous places? When did he start walking? At nineteen months he most likely was. Did the men reserve their best food for his mother and later for him? How many would see him as part of their family, like a son or little brother? Where was he as they marched across the Rockies near starvation? Where was he when they shot the rapids of the Columbia intent on reaching the Pacific?
This young infant participated in something that marked him for the rest of his life. He did come to be raised by William Clark at age four. Clark had married by then. As a young man he went to Europe with a prince to be exposed to more of the world and receive more education. He returned to America where he led many parties through the wildernesses of the West where he died in the Oregon Country in his early sixties. Pompy’s story needs to be told.
In the story of nineteen month old Jean Baptiste Charbonneau we see a picture of the adoption completed by God the Father. We are told, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 MKJV)
“For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together.” (Romans 8:15-17 MKJV)
Something happened along the trail to the Pacific and back that joined William Clark to young Pomp and his parents. Something happened in the Garden of Eden that joined Father God to every one of Adam and Eve’s children to follow. He loved us and desired that we would be led by the Spirit of God. He sent his own Son to complete a journey ending in a sacrificial death providing the method through which He could adopt us and raise us as His own.
That is a hard concept to swallow, isn’t it? That God would love us so much that He would send His Son on a sacrificial journey to capture the opportunity for all Adam and Eve’s children to become His by adoption. But He did. And He does. Will I let Him raise me as His own? Will you? Will we give Him our children to raise as His own?
If we believe He is the Creator and truly God, why wouldn’t we?
Proceed on.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Nation Building
Journal 2006 08 16
Nation Building
“a cool morning. Sent up Sergt. Pryor to the mandan village, for Some Corn which they offered to give us. he informed that they had more Corn collected for us than our Canoes Could Carry Six loads of which he brought down. I thanked the Chief for his kindness and informed him that our Canoes would not Carry any more Corn than we had already brought down.” The friendship and goodwill the Corps of Discovery established over their winter of 1804 with the Mandans is illustrated here in the abundant blessing that Big Cat and his tribe poured out upon these men. This group of white men had traveled to “The Great Lake” of the sunset and returned. Big Cat was fearful of going east through Sioux lands. Isn’t that the difference between fear and faith? Faith moves out while fear sits still.
“at 10 A. M the Chiefs of the different villages came to See us and Smoke a pipe &c. as our Swivel Could no longer be Serveceabe to us as it could not be fireed on board the largest Perogue, we Concluded to make a present of it to the Great Chief of the Menetaras (the One Eye) with a view to ingratiate him more Strongly in our favour I had the Swivel Charged and Collected the Chiefs in a circle around it and adressed them with great ceremoney.” I believe what Captain Clark was saying here is that because they would be carrying so much cargo through mostly friendly lands they could do without the swivel gun mounted to the bow of the peroque. So he gives it, ball and powder to the Great Chief, One Eye as a demonstration of trust and goodwill forming an early military and national alliance.
One Eye responds, “We will attend to your word and not hurt any people all Shall be Welcom and we Shall do as you direct—.["] The One Eye Said his ears would always be open to the word of his great father and Shut against bad Council &c. I then a good deel of Ceremony made a preasent of the Swivel to the One Eye Chief and told him when he fired this gun to remember the words of his great father which we had given him. this gun had anounced the words of his great father to all the nations which we had Seen &c. &c. after the council was over the gun was fired & delivered, they Chief appeared to be much pelased and conveyed it immediately to his village &c. Chief Big White agrees to go if his wife and children can accompany him. The Captains agree to the terms.
Westward expansion was called many things. It was correctly identified as “Manifest Destiny” in my opinion. Can you see its early roots here? The western world brought much of what the tribal leaders desired; the ability to defend themselves and make war when necessary that their people may live better lives. Clark was admonishing them to peace. He chastised them for making war within days of his leaving.
If you identify yourself as a follower of Jesus Christ you have been given A Manifest Destiny. A destiny where your work brings blessing to individuals and nations. Your work will be rewarded. “Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, they shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure, it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38 MKJV)
You know, like William Clark, that you and your family will need corn on your trip in this world. Like Lewis and Clark you plan to bring horses to trade. Those are stolen. So you gather hides. But you cannot gather all you hoped for. You keep moving downstream anyway. And when you arrive you are blessed by the same measure you measured out with. You have more corn than you can carry. Abundant living through giving and receiving.
Westward expansion in the United States was called Manifest Destiny. Heavenward expansion in the Kingdom of God is called the Great Commission. Unlike Manifest Destiny the Great Commission continues.
Many books have been written regarding the Great Commission. I’m not writing one here today. What I’m hoping to do is point to a real world illustration that nations are intended to rule other nations. Most rule by strength. The strength and abundance of the United States was manifested in the journey of the Corps of Discovery. It was given generously throughout the journey and here we see the planting of those early seeds bearing fruit. I believe it was the strength, abundance and generosity that captured the attention of these tribal chiefs and the nations they ruled.
Can we present the Kingdom of God in a manner where its inherent strength, abundance and generosity bear fruit as light pushes out darkness and rules the day? The message of the Kingdom of God is the Manifest Destiny of our day. Are we willing to go in faith like the Corps of Discovery or will we sit in fear like the Mandan chiefs? As was God’s original intention through Adam to rule so it is our directive to so submit ourselves to Christ’s rule that we are able to govern nations as Christ Himself would. Eternal nation building that fulfills His Manifest Destiny for His Kingdom.
Proceed on.
Nation Building
“a cool morning. Sent up Sergt. Pryor to the mandan village, for Some Corn which they offered to give us. he informed that they had more Corn collected for us than our Canoes Could Carry Six loads of which he brought down. I thanked the Chief for his kindness and informed him that our Canoes would not Carry any more Corn than we had already brought down.” The friendship and goodwill the Corps of Discovery established over their winter of 1804 with the Mandans is illustrated here in the abundant blessing that Big Cat and his tribe poured out upon these men. This group of white men had traveled to “The Great Lake” of the sunset and returned. Big Cat was fearful of going east through Sioux lands. Isn’t that the difference between fear and faith? Faith moves out while fear sits still.
“at 10 A. M the Chiefs of the different villages came to See us and Smoke a pipe &c. as our Swivel Could no longer be Serveceabe to us as it could not be fireed on board the largest Perogue, we Concluded to make a present of it to the Great Chief of the Menetaras (the One Eye) with a view to ingratiate him more Strongly in our favour I had the Swivel Charged and Collected the Chiefs in a circle around it and adressed them with great ceremoney.” I believe what Captain Clark was saying here is that because they would be carrying so much cargo through mostly friendly lands they could do without the swivel gun mounted to the bow of the peroque. So he gives it, ball and powder to the Great Chief, One Eye as a demonstration of trust and goodwill forming an early military and national alliance.
One Eye responds, “We will attend to your word and not hurt any people all Shall be Welcom and we Shall do as you direct—.["] The One Eye Said his ears would always be open to the word of his great father and Shut against bad Council &c. I then a good deel of Ceremony made a preasent of the Swivel to the One Eye Chief and told him when he fired this gun to remember the words of his great father which we had given him. this gun had anounced the words of his great father to all the nations which we had Seen &c. &c. after the council was over the gun was fired & delivered, they Chief appeared to be much pelased and conveyed it immediately to his village &c. Chief Big White agrees to go if his wife and children can accompany him. The Captains agree to the terms.
Westward expansion was called many things. It was correctly identified as “Manifest Destiny” in my opinion. Can you see its early roots here? The western world brought much of what the tribal leaders desired; the ability to defend themselves and make war when necessary that their people may live better lives. Clark was admonishing them to peace. He chastised them for making war within days of his leaving.
If you identify yourself as a follower of Jesus Christ you have been given A Manifest Destiny. A destiny where your work brings blessing to individuals and nations. Your work will be rewarded. “Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, they shall give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you measure, it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38 MKJV)
You know, like William Clark, that you and your family will need corn on your trip in this world. Like Lewis and Clark you plan to bring horses to trade. Those are stolen. So you gather hides. But you cannot gather all you hoped for. You keep moving downstream anyway. And when you arrive you are blessed by the same measure you measured out with. You have more corn than you can carry. Abundant living through giving and receiving.
Westward expansion in the United States was called Manifest Destiny. Heavenward expansion in the Kingdom of God is called the Great Commission. Unlike Manifest Destiny the Great Commission continues.
Many books have been written regarding the Great Commission. I’m not writing one here today. What I’m hoping to do is point to a real world illustration that nations are intended to rule other nations. Most rule by strength. The strength and abundance of the United States was manifested in the journey of the Corps of Discovery. It was given generously throughout the journey and here we see the planting of those early seeds bearing fruit. I believe it was the strength, abundance and generosity that captured the attention of these tribal chiefs and the nations they ruled.
Can we present the Kingdom of God in a manner where its inherent strength, abundance and generosity bear fruit as light pushes out darkness and rules the day? The message of the Kingdom of God is the Manifest Destiny of our day. Are we willing to go in faith like the Corps of Discovery or will we sit in fear like the Mandan chiefs? As was God’s original intention through Adam to rule so it is our directive to so submit ourselves to Christ’s rule that we are able to govern nations as Christ Himself would. Eternal nation building that fulfills His Manifest Destiny for His Kingdom.
Proceed on.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Disposed to be of Service
Journal 2006 08 15
Disposed to be of Service
Two days ago the expedition makes eighty-six miles with hard work and the aid of the wind. The same wind, and the same current, that worked against them last fall was now their friend. It brought them into contact with their old friends the Minnatares and their Chief, Black Cat.
The Captains have been busy meeting with the chiefs attempting to persuade one or more to accompany them to meet with President Jefferson in Washington, DC. They are all hesitant only because of their fear of the Sioux tribes that stand between their villages and our nation’s capital.
The two trappers they met upriver have turned around and followed the men back to this camp where they ask John Colter to accompany them as a full partner to their business. As a signal that the Captains and crew realize that short of the work of taking the Expedition downstream to St. Louis their hard labor and the body of their work is done. Clark records this response. “Colter one of our men expressed a desire to join Some trappers [NB: the two Illinois Men we met, & who now came down to us] who offered to become Shearers with and furnish traps &c. the offer a very advantagious one, to him, his Services Could be dispenced with from this down and as we were disposed to be of Service to any one of our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done, we agreed to allow him the prvilage provided no one of the party would ask or expect a Similar permission to which they all agreeed that they wished Colter every Suckcess and that as we did not wish any of them to Seperate untill we Should arive at St. Louis they would not apply or expect it…”
“…we were disposed to be of Service to any one of our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done…” I don’t know if I will speak of Colter later as the expedition closes and my daily reading stops so I’ll take a moment here to tell a bit of Colter’s biography. Colter would become known by two names, “The Fastest Man in the West” and “The Biggest Liar in the West.” Colter was later captured by a band of Indian warriors who decided to make sport with him rather than just kill him. They stripped him and allowed him a headstart before setting braves after him. Colter outran the braves, killed one and escaped into the Yellowstone River where he then ran virtually naked for over one-hundred miles to a new fort on the Missouri and became known for his speed. Another exploit occurred later while in the employ of a fur trader. Colter was an original mountain man and as he traveled by himself he stumbled into the valley millions of Americans visit every year because of it natural mysteries. Chief among them Old Faithful. When John Colter reported finding a valley of steaming springs and exploding geysers his story was not believed and he picked up the tag as the West’s Biggest Liar. His life is a great story and would have more action than the movie “Jeremiah Johnson” as an account of the life of a mountain man.
Ever receive credit for something you did out of fear? Colter did. Ever told the truth and been called a liar? Colter was. “Let it not be! But let God be true, and every man a liar; even as it has been written, ‘That You should be justified in Your words, and will overcome in Your being judged.’” (Romans 3:4 LITV) Colter was a man of truth. His story was so grand as to seem unbelievable. This epic is so grand its true nature has yet to be captured two hundred years later.
And lastly, the Captains, the Sergeants and the rest of the Corps of Discovery recognized the call of the mountains upon John Colter and set aside their interests that he would fulfill his. To a man they bid him well and agreed to his early release. Clark records why he released Colter early and it rings of this ancient Proverb, “Do you see a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before unknown men.”
(Proverbs 22:29 MKJV) Wouldn’t we love to have our supervisors and co-workers record these words as our annual review? “…we were disposed to be of Service to any one of our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done…”
Proceed on.
Disposed to be of Service
Two days ago the expedition makes eighty-six miles with hard work and the aid of the wind. The same wind, and the same current, that worked against them last fall was now their friend. It brought them into contact with their old friends the Minnatares and their Chief, Black Cat.
The Captains have been busy meeting with the chiefs attempting to persuade one or more to accompany them to meet with President Jefferson in Washington, DC. They are all hesitant only because of their fear of the Sioux tribes that stand between their villages and our nation’s capital.
The two trappers they met upriver have turned around and followed the men back to this camp where they ask John Colter to accompany them as a full partner to their business. As a signal that the Captains and crew realize that short of the work of taking the Expedition downstream to St. Louis their hard labor and the body of their work is done. Clark records this response. “Colter one of our men expressed a desire to join Some trappers [NB: the two Illinois Men we met, & who now came down to us] who offered to become Shearers with and furnish traps &c. the offer a very advantagious one, to him, his Services Could be dispenced with from this down and as we were disposed to be of Service to any one of our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done, we agreed to allow him the prvilage provided no one of the party would ask or expect a Similar permission to which they all agreeed that they wished Colter every Suckcess and that as we did not wish any of them to Seperate untill we Should arive at St. Louis they would not apply or expect it…”
“…we were disposed to be of Service to any one of our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done…” I don’t know if I will speak of Colter later as the expedition closes and my daily reading stops so I’ll take a moment here to tell a bit of Colter’s biography. Colter would become known by two names, “The Fastest Man in the West” and “The Biggest Liar in the West.” Colter was later captured by a band of Indian warriors who decided to make sport with him rather than just kill him. They stripped him and allowed him a headstart before setting braves after him. Colter outran the braves, killed one and escaped into the Yellowstone River where he then ran virtually naked for over one-hundred miles to a new fort on the Missouri and became known for his speed. Another exploit occurred later while in the employ of a fur trader. Colter was an original mountain man and as he traveled by himself he stumbled into the valley millions of Americans visit every year because of it natural mysteries. Chief among them Old Faithful. When John Colter reported finding a valley of steaming springs and exploding geysers his story was not believed and he picked up the tag as the West’s Biggest Liar. His life is a great story and would have more action than the movie “Jeremiah Johnson” as an account of the life of a mountain man.
Ever receive credit for something you did out of fear? Colter did. Ever told the truth and been called a liar? Colter was. “Let it not be! But let God be true, and every man a liar; even as it has been written, ‘That You should be justified in Your words, and will overcome in Your being judged.’” (Romans 3:4 LITV) Colter was a man of truth. His story was so grand as to seem unbelievable. This epic is so grand its true nature has yet to be captured two hundred years later.
And lastly, the Captains, the Sergeants and the rest of the Corps of Discovery recognized the call of the mountains upon John Colter and set aside their interests that he would fulfill his. To a man they bid him well and agreed to his early release. Clark records why he released Colter early and it rings of this ancient Proverb, “Do you see a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before unknown men.”
(Proverbs 22:29 MKJV) Wouldn’t we love to have our supervisors and co-workers record these words as our annual review? “…we were disposed to be of Service to any one of our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done…”
Proceed on.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Reunited
Journal 2006 08 12
Reunited
“…my wounds felt very stiff and soar this morning but gave me no considerable pain. there was much less inflamation than I had reason to apprehend there would be. I had last evening applyed a poltice of peruvian barks” Meriwether Lewis acting as his own physician and medic reports the condition of his wound.
July 1, 1806 the Captains put in motion a decision thought out through their wet winter on the Pacific Coast. They asked for volunteers to go overland with Captain Lewis and the balance of the men would accompany Captain Clark down the Yellowstone River. Today, forty seven days later, Meriwether Lewis records his rejoining of the main force. “Being anxious to overtake Capt. Clark who from the appearance of his camps could be at no great distance before me, we set out early and proceeded with all possible expedition at 8 A. M. the bowsman informed me that there was a canoe and a camp he beleived of whitemen on the N. E. shore. I directed the perogue and canoes to come too at this place and found it to be the camp of two hunters from the Illinois by name Joseph Dickson and Forest Hancock. these men informed me that Capt. C. had passed them about noon the day before… I gave them a short discription of the Missouri, a list of distances to the most conspicuous streams and remarkable places on the river above and pointed out to them the places where the beaver most abounded. I also gave them a file and a couple of pounds of powder with some lead. these were articles which they assured me they were in great want of. I remained with these men an hour and a half when I took leave of them and proceeded. <at one OCK in the> while I halted with these men Colter and Collins who seperated from us on the 3rd ist. rejoined us. they were well no accedent having happened. they informed me that after proceeding the first day and not overtaking us that they had concluded that we were behind and had delayed several days in waiting for us and had thus been unable to join us untill the present momet. So the first joining is by Colter and Collins who were waiting for Lewis not knowing Lewis and party were anxiously awaiting them.
“…at 1 P. M. I overtook Capt. Clark and party and had the pleasure of finding them all well.” What relief there must have been in both camps! Captain Clark sent Private Shannon back to last nights camp to retrieve the tomahawk he left behind. It is no coincidence that Shannon and Gibson, who Clark sent with him, meet Lewis and his party in the process. Can you imagine the good natured conversation that must have occurred between these young soldiers after they realized every one was safely accounted for short of Lewis’ wound? “Hey Captain Clark, look what we found floating down the river like lost little kittens!?!” “Hoorah, Captain Lewis, why does the cavalry always have to come rescue these sailors who lose there tools?”
After checking out Lewis’ wound the parties find a good camp with fewer mosquitoes and get to trading the exploits of each camp over the past seven weeks. Regarding the accidental shooting Clark goes a step further in exonerating Cruzatte from any wrong-doing. “This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole route.—“
Before noting details about a type of cherry that caught his attention Lewis enters into his journal, “…as wrighting in my present situation is extreemly painfull to me I shall desist untill I recover and leave to my frind Capt. C. the continuation of our journal.”
Knowing the personality of Meriwether Lewis should it surprise us that he finds his friend, receives a report, recognizes his condition, breathes a sigh of relief and determines that his friend and co-leader will record their exploits over the balance of the journey?
The expedition’s activity will change greatly as the force is once again at full strength intent on completing their mission and informing their leaders and the nation of their discoveries and well being.
I can close my eyes and see in his wounded condition a relieved Meriwether Lewis expel all the air held in his lungs and with it all his worry and anxiety as he whispers the line penned by King Solomon centuries before, “Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.”
Proceed on.
Reunited
“…my wounds felt very stiff and soar this morning but gave me no considerable pain. there was much less inflamation than I had reason to apprehend there would be. I had last evening applyed a poltice of peruvian barks” Meriwether Lewis acting as his own physician and medic reports the condition of his wound.
July 1, 1806 the Captains put in motion a decision thought out through their wet winter on the Pacific Coast. They asked for volunteers to go overland with Captain Lewis and the balance of the men would accompany Captain Clark down the Yellowstone River. Today, forty seven days later, Meriwether Lewis records his rejoining of the main force. “Being anxious to overtake Capt. Clark who from the appearance of his camps could be at no great distance before me, we set out early and proceeded with all possible expedition at 8 A. M. the bowsman informed me that there was a canoe and a camp he beleived of whitemen on the N. E. shore. I directed the perogue and canoes to come too at this place and found it to be the camp of two hunters from the Illinois by name Joseph Dickson and Forest Hancock. these men informed me that Capt. C. had passed them about noon the day before… I gave them a short discription of the Missouri, a list of distances to the most conspicuous streams and remarkable places on the river above and pointed out to them the places where the beaver most abounded. I also gave them a file and a couple of pounds of powder with some lead. these were articles which they assured me they were in great want of. I remained with these men an hour and a half when I took leave of them and proceeded. <at one OCK in the> while I halted with these men Colter and Collins who seperated from us on the 3rd ist. rejoined us. they were well no accedent having happened. they informed me that after proceeding the first day and not overtaking us that they had concluded that we were behind and had delayed several days in waiting for us and had thus been unable to join us untill the present momet. So the first joining is by Colter and Collins who were waiting for Lewis not knowing Lewis and party were anxiously awaiting them.
“…at 1 P. M. I overtook Capt. Clark and party and had the pleasure of finding them all well.” What relief there must have been in both camps! Captain Clark sent Private Shannon back to last nights camp to retrieve the tomahawk he left behind. It is no coincidence that Shannon and Gibson, who Clark sent with him, meet Lewis and his party in the process. Can you imagine the good natured conversation that must have occurred between these young soldiers after they realized every one was safely accounted for short of Lewis’ wound? “Hey Captain Clark, look what we found floating down the river like lost little kittens!?!” “Hoorah, Captain Lewis, why does the cavalry always have to come rescue these sailors who lose there tools?”
After checking out Lewis’ wound the parties find a good camp with fewer mosquitoes and get to trading the exploits of each camp over the past seven weeks. Regarding the accidental shooting Clark goes a step further in exonerating Cruzatte from any wrong-doing. “This Crusat is near Sighted and has the use of but one eye, he is an attentive industerous man and one whome we both have placed the greatest Confidence in dureing the whole route.—“
Before noting details about a type of cherry that caught his attention Lewis enters into his journal, “…as wrighting in my present situation is extreemly painfull to me I shall desist untill I recover and leave to my frind Capt. C. the continuation of our journal.”
Knowing the personality of Meriwether Lewis should it surprise us that he finds his friend, receives a report, recognizes his condition, breathes a sigh of relief and determines that his friend and co-leader will record their exploits over the balance of the journey?
The expedition’s activity will change greatly as the force is once again at full strength intent on completing their mission and informing their leaders and the nation of their discoveries and well being.
I can close my eyes and see in his wounded condition a relieved Meriwether Lewis expel all the air held in his lungs and with it all his worry and anxiety as he whispers the line penned by King Solomon centuries before, “Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.”
Proceed on.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Wounded but I Hope not Mortally
Journal 2006 08 11
Wounded, but I Hope not Mortally
James Webb, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy and American patriot, has written a series of great books based on his life and lineage of military leadership and community service. ( www.jameswebb.com ) His family served our nation in battle since the Revolutionary War. In “Something to Die For” he describes a battle through the eyes of a Marine Expeditionary Unit officer fulfilling his command as his life is slowly ebbing from wounds sustained in the engagement. It is one of the most moving pieces I’ve read. And it puts duty, honor and self-sacrifice in their rightful place. Self sacrifice is the food of duty and honor.
Before the sun sets on this day two hundred years ago Meriwether Lewis will demonstrate this same self-sacrificial fulfillment of duty and honor. He however will not be required to die. This single act alone could mark Lewis as a great leader. Taken in the stream of the expedition it is but another rung on a ladder of great achievement. The spectacular has become familiar. Today is a spectacular day along the human frontier.
Lewis’ camp is completing their work on the perogue and their new buckskins these past two days. Clark’s camp is about similar activities as he describes geography, flora and fauna. Lewis and his men “…set out very early this morning. it being my wish to arrive at the birnt hills by noon in order to take the latitude of that place as it is the most northern point of the Missouri,…” Crossing some t’s and dotting some i’s on the return trip. The kind of thing you do on the way home if you have time.
Lewis’ party also needed fresh meat. A bison was found in the river and the small canoe was left to skin it and bring meat. At about 9AM the men caught up with Lewis and informed him that the meat was rancid. About 11:30AM Lewis saw a herd of elk and directed his men to take some. He headed downriver hoping to get to his goal before noon so he could complete his measurements and not lose a day. Unfortunately he arrived “…about 20 minutes after noon and of course the observation for the (image placeholder)'s meridian Altitude was lost;…””… jus opposite to the birnt hills there happened to be a herd of Elk on a thick willow bar and finding that my observation was lost for the present I determined to land and kill some of them accordingly we put too and I went out with Cruzatte only.”
The following events played out on the prarie. “I was in the act of firing on the Elk a second time when a ball struck my left thye about an inch below my hip joint, missing the bone it passed through the left thye and cut the thickness of the bullet across the hinder part of the right thye; the stroke was very severe; I instantly supposed that Cruzatte had shot me in mistake for an Elk as I was dressed in brown leather and he cannot see very well;…” I have a .54 caliber lead ball in my hand. It is the size of a small marble. Single .54 caliber lead balls still kill large animals when put into the vital zone. Mighty grizzly bears were been shot with single lead balls and killed by these same men.
“…under this impression I called out to him damn you, you have shot me,…” Getting no response from Cruzatte, who does take an elk himself, Lewis records, “I called Cruzatte several times as loud as I could but received no answer; I was now preswaded that it was an indian that had shot me as the report of the gun did not appear to be more than 40 paces from me and Cruzatte appeared to be out of hearing of me; in this situation not knowing how many indians there might be concealed in the bushes I thought best to make good my retreat to the perogue, calling out as I ran for the first hundred paces as loud as I could to Cruzatte to retreat that there were indians hoping to allarm him in time to make his escape also; I still retained the charge in my gun which I was about to discharge at the moment the ball struck me. when I arrived in sight of the perogue I called the men to their arms to which they flew in an instant, I told them that I was wounded but I hoped not mortally, by an indian I beleived and directed them to follow me that I would return & give them battle and releive Cruzatte if possible who I feared had fallen into their hands;…” He never says so, but Lewis must have been thinking that the Indians had somehow caught him after his battle with the young braves up the Maria’s River. Meriwether Lewis reveals the heart of his character as calls his men to arms to defend themselves and rescue Cruzatte from his attackers. Severely wounded yet he runs one hundred yards and attempts to lead the counterattack.
Unable to run any further, Lewis struggles back to the perogue where “my self with a pistol my rifle and air-gun being determined as a retreat was impracticable to sell my life as deerly as possible.” This is the second time in sixteen days Lewis has had to set his mind that if he is to be overtaken it will be at great price. How well armed would we feel with a muzzleloader with one lead ball, a pistol with a smaller, slower lead ball and a BB gun? He probably had a knife in his belt and his espontoon may have been near at hand.
After about twenty minutes of what he describes as anxiety “the party returned with Cruzatte and reported that there were no indians nor the appearance of any; Cruzatte seemed much allarmed and declared if he had shot me it was not his intention, that he had shot an Elk in the willows after he left or seperated from me. I asked him whether he did not hear me when I called to him so frequently which he absolutely denied. I do not beleive that the fellow did it intentionally but after finding that he had shot me was anxious to conceal his knowledge of having done so.” Which of us would have been so magnanimous? I’d like to think me, but I doubt it. Some less than complimentary adjectives would have been floating through my head towards Cruzatte.
“…the ball had lodged in my breeches which I knew to be the ball of the short rifles such as that he had, and there being no person out with me but him and no indians that we could discover I have no doubt in my own mind of his having shot me. with the assistance of Sergt. Gass I took off my cloaths and dressed my wounds myself as well as I could, introducing tents of patent lint into the ball holes, the wounds blead considerably but I was hapy to find that it had touched neither bone nor artery.” Life is better than fiction. We thought Sylvester Stallone was tough as John Rambo stitching his own arm with the fishing kit found in the handle of his “Rambo” survival knife. Where would Meriwether Lewis fit on this same scale of toughness?
Still in command Lewis directs the men “…to dress the two Elk which Cruzatte and myself had killed which they did in a few minutes and brought the meat to the river.” Usually we would be looking for the next in command to take the lead. Sgt. Ordway does not do anything other than serve his Captain and carry out his orders.
Unbelievably Lewis lays on his stomach on top of the cargo on one of the canoes and his party proceeds on! “…at 4 P. M. we passed an encampment which had been evacuated this morning by Capt. Clark, here I found a note from Capt. C. informing me that he had left a letter for me at the entrance of the Yelow stone river, but that Sergt. Pryor who had passed that place since he left it had taken the letter;…”
“…we came within eight miles of our encampment of the 15th of April 1805 and encamped on N. E. side. [6] as it was painfull to me to be removed I slept on board the perogue; the pain I experienced excited a high fever and I had a very uncomfortable night.” No morphine, no Aleve, not even an aspirin. I bet Lewis had an uncomfortable night.
Captain Clark meets two trappers headed to the Yellowstone to seek their fortune and adventure. They have already survived an encounter with the Teton Sioux. They are not the better for it. Clark hears an account of the problems between Indian tribes and sets his mind to bringing peace between them when he arrives.
We do not read much in the accounts of the Corp of Discovery regarding the accidental shooting of Captain Lewis by their favorite fiddle player and skilled riverman Pierre Cruzatte. We find out in this account that he was nearsighted in his good eye which brings me to the conclusion that one should never hunt with a one-eyed near sighted boat man when you are wearing buckskins! I was wearing my camo in the snow while hunting this year. It is the type designed for duck hunters and is mostly the light tan of swamp reeds and too much the color of elk hide. I decided then that even with an orange safety vest it was not the best choice for fall fashions in the woods.
“My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. But if by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith, so that when I am with you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of me in your life in union with Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:20-26 GNB)
Like Lewis, like Paul, like Christ. May we be so brave.
Proceed on.
Wounded, but I Hope not Mortally
James Webb, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy and American patriot, has written a series of great books based on his life and lineage of military leadership and community service. ( www.jameswebb.com ) His family served our nation in battle since the Revolutionary War. In “Something to Die For” he describes a battle through the eyes of a Marine Expeditionary Unit officer fulfilling his command as his life is slowly ebbing from wounds sustained in the engagement. It is one of the most moving pieces I’ve read. And it puts duty, honor and self-sacrifice in their rightful place. Self sacrifice is the food of duty and honor.
Before the sun sets on this day two hundred years ago Meriwether Lewis will demonstrate this same self-sacrificial fulfillment of duty and honor. He however will not be required to die. This single act alone could mark Lewis as a great leader. Taken in the stream of the expedition it is but another rung on a ladder of great achievement. The spectacular has become familiar. Today is a spectacular day along the human frontier.
Lewis’ camp is completing their work on the perogue and their new buckskins these past two days. Clark’s camp is about similar activities as he describes geography, flora and fauna. Lewis and his men “…set out very early this morning. it being my wish to arrive at the birnt hills by noon in order to take the latitude of that place as it is the most northern point of the Missouri,…” Crossing some t’s and dotting some i’s on the return trip. The kind of thing you do on the way home if you have time.
Lewis’ party also needed fresh meat. A bison was found in the river and the small canoe was left to skin it and bring meat. At about 9AM the men caught up with Lewis and informed him that the meat was rancid. About 11:30AM Lewis saw a herd of elk and directed his men to take some. He headed downriver hoping to get to his goal before noon so he could complete his measurements and not lose a day. Unfortunately he arrived “…about 20 minutes after noon and of course the observation for the (image placeholder)'s meridian Altitude was lost;…””… jus opposite to the birnt hills there happened to be a herd of Elk on a thick willow bar and finding that my observation was lost for the present I determined to land and kill some of them accordingly we put too and I went out with Cruzatte only.”
The following events played out on the prarie. “I was in the act of firing on the Elk a second time when a ball struck my left thye about an inch below my hip joint, missing the bone it passed through the left thye and cut the thickness of the bullet across the hinder part of the right thye; the stroke was very severe; I instantly supposed that Cruzatte had shot me in mistake for an Elk as I was dressed in brown leather and he cannot see very well;…” I have a .54 caliber lead ball in my hand. It is the size of a small marble. Single .54 caliber lead balls still kill large animals when put into the vital zone. Mighty grizzly bears were been shot with single lead balls and killed by these same men.
“…under this impression I called out to him damn you, you have shot me,…” Getting no response from Cruzatte, who does take an elk himself, Lewis records, “I called Cruzatte several times as loud as I could but received no answer; I was now preswaded that it was an indian that had shot me as the report of the gun did not appear to be more than 40 paces from me and Cruzatte appeared to be out of hearing of me; in this situation not knowing how many indians there might be concealed in the bushes I thought best to make good my retreat to the perogue, calling out as I ran for the first hundred paces as loud as I could to Cruzatte to retreat that there were indians hoping to allarm him in time to make his escape also; I still retained the charge in my gun which I was about to discharge at the moment the ball struck me. when I arrived in sight of the perogue I called the men to their arms to which they flew in an instant, I told them that I was wounded but I hoped not mortally, by an indian I beleived and directed them to follow me that I would return & give them battle and releive Cruzatte if possible who I feared had fallen into their hands;…” He never says so, but Lewis must have been thinking that the Indians had somehow caught him after his battle with the young braves up the Maria’s River. Meriwether Lewis reveals the heart of his character as calls his men to arms to defend themselves and rescue Cruzatte from his attackers. Severely wounded yet he runs one hundred yards and attempts to lead the counterattack.
Unable to run any further, Lewis struggles back to the perogue where “my self with a pistol my rifle and air-gun being determined as a retreat was impracticable to sell my life as deerly as possible.” This is the second time in sixteen days Lewis has had to set his mind that if he is to be overtaken it will be at great price. How well armed would we feel with a muzzleloader with one lead ball, a pistol with a smaller, slower lead ball and a BB gun? He probably had a knife in his belt and his espontoon may have been near at hand.
After about twenty minutes of what he describes as anxiety “the party returned with Cruzatte and reported that there were no indians nor the appearance of any; Cruzatte seemed much allarmed and declared if he had shot me it was not his intention, that he had shot an Elk in the willows after he left or seperated from me. I asked him whether he did not hear me when I called to him so frequently which he absolutely denied. I do not beleive that the fellow did it intentionally but after finding that he had shot me was anxious to conceal his knowledge of having done so.” Which of us would have been so magnanimous? I’d like to think me, but I doubt it. Some less than complimentary adjectives would have been floating through my head towards Cruzatte.
“…the ball had lodged in my breeches which I knew to be the ball of the short rifles such as that he had, and there being no person out with me but him and no indians that we could discover I have no doubt in my own mind of his having shot me. with the assistance of Sergt. Gass I took off my cloaths and dressed my wounds myself as well as I could, introducing tents of patent lint into the ball holes, the wounds blead considerably but I was hapy to find that it had touched neither bone nor artery.” Life is better than fiction. We thought Sylvester Stallone was tough as John Rambo stitching his own arm with the fishing kit found in the handle of his “Rambo” survival knife. Where would Meriwether Lewis fit on this same scale of toughness?
Still in command Lewis directs the men “…to dress the two Elk which Cruzatte and myself had killed which they did in a few minutes and brought the meat to the river.” Usually we would be looking for the next in command to take the lead. Sgt. Ordway does not do anything other than serve his Captain and carry out his orders.
Unbelievably Lewis lays on his stomach on top of the cargo on one of the canoes and his party proceeds on! “…at 4 P. M. we passed an encampment which had been evacuated this morning by Capt. Clark, here I found a note from Capt. C. informing me that he had left a letter for me at the entrance of the Yelow stone river, but that Sergt. Pryor who had passed that place since he left it had taken the letter;…”
“…we came within eight miles of our encampment of the 15th of April 1805 and encamped on N. E. side. [6] as it was painfull to me to be removed I slept on board the perogue; the pain I experienced excited a high fever and I had a very uncomfortable night.” No morphine, no Aleve, not even an aspirin. I bet Lewis had an uncomfortable night.
Captain Clark meets two trappers headed to the Yellowstone to seek their fortune and adventure. They have already survived an encounter with the Teton Sioux. They are not the better for it. Clark hears an account of the problems between Indian tribes and sets his mind to bringing peace between them when he arrives.
We do not read much in the accounts of the Corp of Discovery regarding the accidental shooting of Captain Lewis by their favorite fiddle player and skilled riverman Pierre Cruzatte. We find out in this account that he was nearsighted in his good eye which brings me to the conclusion that one should never hunt with a one-eyed near sighted boat man when you are wearing buckskins! I was wearing my camo in the snow while hunting this year. It is the type designed for duck hunters and is mostly the light tan of swamp reeds and too much the color of elk hide. I decided then that even with an orange safety vest it was not the best choice for fall fashions in the woods.
“My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For what is life? To me, it is Christ. Death, then, will bring more. But if by continuing to live I can do more worthwhile work, then I am not sure which I should choose. I am pulled in two directions. I want very much to leave this life and be with Christ, which is a far better thing; but for your sake it is much more important that I remain alive. I am sure of this, and so I know that I will stay. I will stay on with you all, to add to your progress and joy in the faith, so that when I am with you again, you will have even more reason to be proud of me in your life in union with Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:20-26 GNB)
Like Lewis, like Paul, like Christ. May we be so brave.
Proceed on.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Leave the Rest to the Chapter of Accidents
Journal 2006 08 08
Leave the Rest to the Chapter of Accidents
“…not finding Capt. Clark I knew not what calculation to make with rispect to his halting and therefore determined to proceed as tho' he was not before me and leave the rest to the chapter of accedents.” Not finding Clark just around the next bend Captain Lewis decides to recoup and allow the men adequate time to resupply themselves. Their buckskins are tattered and in need of replacement. One of the canoes and the peroque are leaking and in need of repair. “the men with me have not had leasure since we left the West side of the Rocky mountains to dress any skins or make themselves cloaths and most of them are therefore extreemly bare. I therefore determined to halt at this place untill the perogue and canoe could be repared and the men dress skins and make themselves the necessary cloathing.”
Further downstream Sgt. Pryor, Shannon, Hall and Windsor meet the party via the tub-like bull boats of Mandan design. The story that follows is one of danger and excitement on all fronts. This party was taking the horses to the river via a different route while Clark and the river party set out in canoes. “Sergt. Pryor informed me that the Second night after he parted with me on the river Rochejhone he arived about 4 P M on the banks of a large Creek which contained no running water. he halted to let the horses graze dureing which time a heavy Shower of rain raised the Creek so high that Several horses which had Stragled across the Chanel of this Creek was obliged to Swim back. here he deturmined to Continue all night it being in good food for the horses. In the morning he could See no horses. in lookg about their Camp they discovered Several tracks within 100 paces of their Camp, which they pursued found where they had Caught and drove off all the horses. they prosued on five miles the Indians there divided into two parties. they Continued in pursute of the largest party five miles further finding that there was not the Smallest Chance of overtakeing them, they returned to their Camp and packed up their baggage on their backs and Steared a N. E. course to the River Rochejhone which they Struck at pompys Tower, there they killed a Buffalow Bull and made a Canoe in the form and shape of the mandans & Ricares [NB: Shannon killed Buf. & made Canoe] (the form of a bason) and made in the following manner. Viz: 2 Sticks of 1¼ inch diameter is tied together So as to form a round hoop of the Size you wish the canoe, or as large as the Skin will allow to cover, two of those hoops are made one for the top or brim and the for the bottom the deabth you wish the Canoe, then Sticks of the Same Size are Crossed at right angles and fastened with a throng to each hoop and also where each Stick Crosses each other. then the Skin when green is drawn tight over this fraim and fastened with throngs to the brim or outer hoop So as to form a perfect bason. one of those Canoes will carry 6 or 8 Men and their loads. Those two Canoes are nearly the Same size 7 feet 3 inches diamieter & 16 inchs deep 15 ribs or Cross Sticks in each. Sergt. Pryor informs me that the Cause of his building two Canoes was for fear of ones meating with Some accedent in passing down the rochejhone a river entirely unknown to either of them by which means they might loose their guns and amunition and be left entirely destitute of the means of precureing food. he informed me that they passed through the worst parts of the rapids & Shoals in the river without takeing a drop of water, and waves raised from the hardest winds dose not effect them. on the night of the 26th ulto: the night after the horses had been stolen a Wolf bit Sergt. Pryor through his hand when asleep, and this animal was So vicious as to make an attempt to Seize Windsor, when Shannon fortunately Shot him. Sergt. Pryers hand was nearly recovered. The Country through which St. Pryor Passed after he parted with me is a broken open Country.”
A flash flood, Indians stealing their horses, building and using the untested bull boats down an unknown river and a wolf attack. Sounds like several scenes out of a mountain man movie doesn’t it? Yet is a little noted footnote to the annals of this epic. Amazing!
With the loss of the horses for trading Clark sets out hunters. “My object is to precure as many Skins as possible for the purpose of purchaseing Corn and Beans of the Mandans. as we have now no article of Merchindize nor horses to purchase with, our only resort is Skins which those people were very fond the winter we were Stationed near them.” The men must have been looking forward to corn and beans at the Mandan villages. They knew they needed items of value to barter with. And without horses hides were the most valuable goods within reach. They set about storing up a treasure of them.
Lewis planned to catch Clark but did not. Clark planned to trade horses for food but they were stolen. Ever had your plans go awry? You couldn’t be human if you haven’t. It is at times like these when this proverb is never more true. “You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.” (Proverbs 16:9 GNB) A little like “leaving the rest to the chapter of accidents.” I would choose to say, “…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 MKJV) Do we love God and are we working to His purposes?
Proceed on.
Leave the Rest to the Chapter of Accidents
“…not finding Capt. Clark I knew not what calculation to make with rispect to his halting and therefore determined to proceed as tho' he was not before me and leave the rest to the chapter of accedents.” Not finding Clark just around the next bend Captain Lewis decides to recoup and allow the men adequate time to resupply themselves. Their buckskins are tattered and in need of replacement. One of the canoes and the peroque are leaking and in need of repair. “the men with me have not had leasure since we left the West side of the Rocky mountains to dress any skins or make themselves cloaths and most of them are therefore extreemly bare. I therefore determined to halt at this place untill the perogue and canoe could be repared and the men dress skins and make themselves the necessary cloathing.”
Further downstream Sgt. Pryor, Shannon, Hall and Windsor meet the party via the tub-like bull boats of Mandan design. The story that follows is one of danger and excitement on all fronts. This party was taking the horses to the river via a different route while Clark and the river party set out in canoes. “Sergt. Pryor informed me that the Second night after he parted with me on the river Rochejhone he arived about 4 P M on the banks of a large Creek which contained no running water. he halted to let the horses graze dureing which time a heavy Shower of rain raised the Creek so high that Several horses which had Stragled across the Chanel of this Creek was obliged to Swim back. here he deturmined to Continue all night it being in good food for the horses. In the morning he could See no horses. in lookg about their Camp they discovered Several tracks within 100 paces of their Camp, which they pursued found where they had Caught and drove off all the horses. they prosued on five miles the Indians there divided into two parties. they Continued in pursute of the largest party five miles further finding that there was not the Smallest Chance of overtakeing them, they returned to their Camp and packed up their baggage on their backs and Steared a N. E. course to the River Rochejhone which they Struck at pompys Tower, there they killed a Buffalow Bull and made a Canoe in the form and shape of the mandans & Ricares [NB: Shannon killed Buf. & made Canoe] (the form of a bason) and made in the following manner. Viz: 2 Sticks of 1¼ inch diameter is tied together So as to form a round hoop of the Size you wish the canoe, or as large as the Skin will allow to cover, two of those hoops are made one for the top or brim and the for the bottom the deabth you wish the Canoe, then Sticks of the Same Size are Crossed at right angles and fastened with a throng to each hoop and also where each Stick Crosses each other. then the Skin when green is drawn tight over this fraim and fastened with throngs to the brim or outer hoop So as to form a perfect bason. one of those Canoes will carry 6 or 8 Men and their loads. Those two Canoes are nearly the Same size 7 feet 3 inches diamieter & 16 inchs deep 15 ribs or Cross Sticks in each. Sergt. Pryor informs me that the Cause of his building two Canoes was for fear of ones meating with Some accedent in passing down the rochejhone a river entirely unknown to either of them by which means they might loose their guns and amunition and be left entirely destitute of the means of precureing food. he informed me that they passed through the worst parts of the rapids & Shoals in the river without takeing a drop of water, and waves raised from the hardest winds dose not effect them. on the night of the 26th ulto: the night after the horses had been stolen a Wolf bit Sergt. Pryor through his hand when asleep, and this animal was So vicious as to make an attempt to Seize Windsor, when Shannon fortunately Shot him. Sergt. Pryers hand was nearly recovered. The Country through which St. Pryor Passed after he parted with me is a broken open Country.”
A flash flood, Indians stealing their horses, building and using the untested bull boats down an unknown river and a wolf attack. Sounds like several scenes out of a mountain man movie doesn’t it? Yet is a little noted footnote to the annals of this epic. Amazing!
With the loss of the horses for trading Clark sets out hunters. “My object is to precure as many Skins as possible for the purpose of purchaseing Corn and Beans of the Mandans. as we have now no article of Merchindize nor horses to purchase with, our only resort is Skins which those people were very fond the winter we were Stationed near them.” The men must have been looking forward to corn and beans at the Mandan villages. They knew they needed items of value to barter with. And without horses hides were the most valuable goods within reach. They set about storing up a treasure of them.
Lewis planned to catch Clark but did not. Clark planned to trade horses for food but they were stolen. Ever had your plans go awry? You couldn’t be human if you haven’t. It is at times like these when this proverb is never more true. “You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.” (Proverbs 16:9 GNB) A little like “leaving the rest to the chapter of accidents.” I would choose to say, “…we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 MKJV) Do we love God and are we working to His purposes?
Proceed on.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Hope Deferred
Journal 2006 08 07
Hope Deferred
“It began to rain about midnight and continued with but little intermission until 10 A. M. today. the air was cold and extreemly unpleasant. we set out early resolving if possible to reach the Yelowstone river today which was at the distance of 83 ms. from our encampment of the last evening; the currant favoured our progress being more rapid than yesterday, the men plyed their oars faithfully and we went at a good rate.” After a cold wet night Lewis sets his mind on reaching the mouth of the Yellowstone River and his good friend. He estimates the distance at 83 miles, notes that his men are plying the water with strength, the current is helping them and the distance is within their reach today.
Lewis had several days earlier told the men to dry enough meat at night to take them through the following day that they might make an additional fifteen miles per day. They did and they have. Lewis notes that the soil is much more fertile and he notes a number of birds and plants that he hasn’t seen since they were in this region last May. He also notes the abundance of bears and their tactics. “…they had killed 2 bear and seen 6 others, we saw and fired on two from our perogue but killed neither of them. these bear resort the river where they lie in wate at the crossing places of the game for the Elk and weak cattle; when they procure a subject of either they lie by the carcase and keep the wolves off untill they devour it. the bear appear to be very abundant on this part of the river.”
“…at 4 P. M. we arrived at the entrance of the Yellowstone river. I landed at the point and found that Capt. Clark had been encamped at this place and <was gone> from appearances had left it about 7 or 8 days. I found a paper on a pole at the point which mearly contained my name in the hand wrighting of Capt. C. we also found the remnant of a note which had been attatched to a peace of Elk's horns in the camp; from this fragment I learned that game was scarce at the point and musquetoes troublesome which were the reasons given for his going on; I also learnt that he intended halting a few miles below where he intended waiting my arrival. I now wrote a note directed to Colter and Collins provided they were behind, ordering them to come on without loss of time; this note I wraped in leather and attatced onto the same pole which Capt. C. had planted at the point; this being done I instantly reimbarked and decended the river in the hope of reaching Capt. C's camp before night.” Do you think he was happy to see Clark’s note complete or not? He takes up the canoes and “…instantly reimbarked and decended the river in the hope…” He didn’t have hope in the hope that all were alive ahead of him. He had proof that at least his dear friend was alive. His hope was no longer deferred. In this instance all that Lewis had been pursuing and hoping for was just beyond his reach yet very much fulfilled.
“…about 7 miles below the point on the S. W. shore I saw some meat that had been lately fleased and hung on a pole; I directed Sergt. Ordway to go on shore examine the place; on his return he reported that he saw the tracks of two men which appeared so resent that he beleived they had been there today, the fire he found at the plce was blaizing and appeared to have been mended up afresh or within the course of an hour past. he found at this place a part of a Chinnook hat which my men recognized as the hat of Gibson; from these circumstances we included that Capt. C's camp could not be distant and pursued our rout untill dark with the hope of reaching his camp in this however we were disappointed and night coming on compelled us to encamp on the N. E. shore in the next bottom above our encampment of the 23rd and 24th of April 1805.”
Ever been so close to something you could smell it, taste it and almost touch it? Find an elk hunter and ask him that question. Fresh tracks, barnyard smell of “scat” and you know you are within reach of your prize. Sgt. Ordway finds tracks, a blazing fire and Gibson’s hat. Close! Really close. But not today. The eternal cycle of day and night set in place at Creation overcomes the day and the men set in for the night at an old camp.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick; But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”
(Proverbs 13:12 ASV)
Meriwether Lewis was feeling hope deferred. Not to the point of being heartsick. Yet. Can you imagine how he would feel if for the next two weeks his daily pursuit of Clark left him a blazing campfire away? That would be hope deferred!
Hope, or desire, fulfilled is said to be a tree of life. Abundant with fruit for living. Providing shade and comfort. Standing strong against all elements. Maybe even suitable for transformation into a canoe.
What are we pursuing today? Where are our desires focused? Are we in hot pursuit of something? Are we hoping in hope that a situation may be all we envisioned?
Or have we like Meriwether Lewis found evidence this very day that our hope is not in hope but is within reach and about to be fulfilled? Will our hearts will rejoice rather than become sick? And will we see the fulfillment of that deferred hope as a tree of life where we that we can be grafted into?
Jesus said, “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.” (John 15:1-8 MKJV)
My final thoughts today turn to this concept of being grafted into the Tree of Life by the One who planted it. If you, like me, have hope deferred it is for His purposes. It is to lead us to the tree of life where He can graft us into the vine of His choosing and bring us life.
Proceed on.
Hope Deferred
“It began to rain about midnight and continued with but little intermission until 10 A. M. today. the air was cold and extreemly unpleasant. we set out early resolving if possible to reach the Yelowstone river today which was at the distance of 83 ms. from our encampment of the last evening; the currant favoured our progress being more rapid than yesterday, the men plyed their oars faithfully and we went at a good rate.” After a cold wet night Lewis sets his mind on reaching the mouth of the Yellowstone River and his good friend. He estimates the distance at 83 miles, notes that his men are plying the water with strength, the current is helping them and the distance is within their reach today.
Lewis had several days earlier told the men to dry enough meat at night to take them through the following day that they might make an additional fifteen miles per day. They did and they have. Lewis notes that the soil is much more fertile and he notes a number of birds and plants that he hasn’t seen since they were in this region last May. He also notes the abundance of bears and their tactics. “…they had killed 2 bear and seen 6 others, we saw and fired on two from our perogue but killed neither of them. these bear resort the river where they lie in wate at the crossing places of the game for the Elk and weak cattle; when they procure a subject of either they lie by the carcase and keep the wolves off untill they devour it. the bear appear to be very abundant on this part of the river.”
“…at 4 P. M. we arrived at the entrance of the Yellowstone river. I landed at the point and found that Capt. Clark had been encamped at this place and <was gone> from appearances had left it about 7 or 8 days. I found a paper on a pole at the point which mearly contained my name in the hand wrighting of Capt. C. we also found the remnant of a note which had been attatched to a peace of Elk's horns in the camp; from this fragment I learned that game was scarce at the point and musquetoes troublesome which were the reasons given for his going on; I also learnt that he intended halting a few miles below where he intended waiting my arrival. I now wrote a note directed to Colter and Collins provided they were behind, ordering them to come on without loss of time; this note I wraped in leather and attatced onto the same pole which Capt. C. had planted at the point; this being done I instantly reimbarked and decended the river in the hope of reaching Capt. C's camp before night.” Do you think he was happy to see Clark’s note complete or not? He takes up the canoes and “…instantly reimbarked and decended the river in the hope…” He didn’t have hope in the hope that all were alive ahead of him. He had proof that at least his dear friend was alive. His hope was no longer deferred. In this instance all that Lewis had been pursuing and hoping for was just beyond his reach yet very much fulfilled.
“…about 7 miles below the point on the S. W. shore I saw some meat that had been lately fleased and hung on a pole; I directed Sergt. Ordway to go on shore examine the place; on his return he reported that he saw the tracks of two men which appeared so resent that he beleived they had been there today, the fire he found at the plce was blaizing and appeared to have been mended up afresh or within the course of an hour past. he found at this place a part of a Chinnook hat which my men recognized as the hat of Gibson; from these circumstances we included that Capt. C's camp could not be distant and pursued our rout untill dark with the hope of reaching his camp in this however we were disappointed and night coming on compelled us to encamp on the N. E. shore in the next bottom above our encampment of the 23rd and 24th of April 1805.”
Ever been so close to something you could smell it, taste it and almost touch it? Find an elk hunter and ask him that question. Fresh tracks, barnyard smell of “scat” and you know you are within reach of your prize. Sgt. Ordway finds tracks, a blazing fire and Gibson’s hat. Close! Really close. But not today. The eternal cycle of day and night set in place at Creation overcomes the day and the men set in for the night at an old camp.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick; But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”
(Proverbs 13:12 ASV)
Meriwether Lewis was feeling hope deferred. Not to the point of being heartsick. Yet. Can you imagine how he would feel if for the next two weeks his daily pursuit of Clark left him a blazing campfire away? That would be hope deferred!
Hope, or desire, fulfilled is said to be a tree of life. Abundant with fruit for living. Providing shade and comfort. Standing strong against all elements. Maybe even suitable for transformation into a canoe.
What are we pursuing today? Where are our desires focused? Are we in hot pursuit of something? Are we hoping in hope that a situation may be all we envisioned?
Or have we like Meriwether Lewis found evidence this very day that our hope is not in hope but is within reach and about to be fulfilled? Will our hearts will rejoice rather than become sick? And will we see the fulfillment of that deferred hope as a tree of life where we that we can be grafted into?
Jesus said, “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.” (John 15:1-8 MKJV)
My final thoughts today turn to this concept of being grafted into the Tree of Life by the One who planted it. If you, like me, have hope deferred it is for His purposes. It is to lead us to the tree of life where He can graft us into the vine of His choosing and bring us life.
Proceed on.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
A Slight Breeze
Journal 2006 08 05
A Slight Breeze
“…the Misquetors was So noumerous that I could not keep them off my gun long enough to take Sight and by thair means missed.” William Clark. The day before Clark recorded “The Child of Shabono has been So much bitten by the Musquetor that his face is much puffed up & Swelled.” I’ve spent a fair amount of time recording trouble with mosquitoes. The men recorded more. This was the second day Clark reported having trouble taking aim with his rifle because the mosquitoes were so thick. Every time he mentions the young Mr. Shabono (Charbonneau) I can’t help but smile and wonder of the affection and attention directed toward this youngest of explorers the world has ever known. Did his mother always have him or did he spend much of his day in the care of some of the men? Did he receive the best of provisions the men had to offer? My guess is he was treated then as any young infant would be today, with great care and affection by most.
Records are kept of the great amounts of animals seen and the basics of daily life. But in reality a good part of the day for Clark and his party is spent trying to find a “more favorable” camp where the location allows for less bugs and any breeze to help carry them away. They do accomplish that. Before he left the junction of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers he leaves a note on a stick for Lewis as he has done many times over the past two years. Both parties report relief from a thunderstorm and the accompanying breezes that blow the bugs away.
The parties are still about one hundred and twenty miles apart as the crow flies. But they are on the same road, or waterway. Only they won’t be assured of that until they see one another.
“God is the one who made the mountains and created the winds. He makes his thoughts known to people; he changes day into night. He walks on the heights of the earth. This is his name: the LORD God Almighty!” (Amos 4:13 GNB)
A slight wind is a breeze and brings relief and safe travel to ships of sail. A mighty wind is a storm and threatens destruction. Tonight, the men enjoyed relief from a soft wind that took away their torment.
Proceed on.
A Slight Breeze
“…the Misquetors was So noumerous that I could not keep them off my gun long enough to take Sight and by thair means missed.” William Clark. The day before Clark recorded “The Child of Shabono has been So much bitten by the Musquetor that his face is much puffed up & Swelled.” I’ve spent a fair amount of time recording trouble with mosquitoes. The men recorded more. This was the second day Clark reported having trouble taking aim with his rifle because the mosquitoes were so thick. Every time he mentions the young Mr. Shabono (Charbonneau) I can’t help but smile and wonder of the affection and attention directed toward this youngest of explorers the world has ever known. Did his mother always have him or did he spend much of his day in the care of some of the men? Did he receive the best of provisions the men had to offer? My guess is he was treated then as any young infant would be today, with great care and affection by most.
Records are kept of the great amounts of animals seen and the basics of daily life. But in reality a good part of the day for Clark and his party is spent trying to find a “more favorable” camp where the location allows for less bugs and any breeze to help carry them away. They do accomplish that. Before he left the junction of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers he leaves a note on a stick for Lewis as he has done many times over the past two years. Both parties report relief from a thunderstorm and the accompanying breezes that blow the bugs away.
The parties are still about one hundred and twenty miles apart as the crow flies. But they are on the same road, or waterway. Only they won’t be assured of that until they see one another.
“God is the one who made the mountains and created the winds. He makes his thoughts known to people; he changes day into night. He walks on the heights of the earth. This is his name: the LORD God Almighty!” (Amos 4:13 GNB)
A slight wind is a breeze and brings relief and safe travel to ships of sail. A mighty wind is a storm and threatens destruction. Tonight, the men enjoyed relief from a soft wind that took away their torment.
Proceed on.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Build a Fort
Journal 2006 08 03
Build a Fort
“…at 8. A. M. I arived at the Junction of the Rochejhone (Yellowstone River) with the Missouri, and formed my Camp imediately in the point between the two river at which place the party had all encamped the 26th of April—1805.”
Clark reaches their camp of almost a year and a half ago at the junction of the Yellowstone River and Mighty Missouri. This point will be a landmark for all travelers up the Missouri and a jump off point for many future mountain men seeking the abundant beaver populations the Captain and his men record on their trip down the Yellowstone.
Captain Clark summarizes the journey to this point in his journal like this. “The distance from the Rocky Mountains at which place I struck the River Rochejhone (Yellowstone) to its enterance into the Missouri 837 Miles 636 Miles of this distance I decended in 2 Small Canoes lashed together in which I had the following Persons. John Shields, George Gibson, William Bratten, W. Labeech, Toust. Shabono his wife & child & my man York. The Rochejhone or Yellow Stone river is large and navagable with but fiew obstructions quite into the rocky mountains. and probably <to head> near it's source. The Country through which it passes from those Mounts. to its junction is Generaly fertile rich open plains the upper portion of which is roleing and the high hills and hill Sides are partially covered with pine and Stoney. The middle portion or from the enterance of Clarks Fork as low as the Buffalow Shoals the high lands Contain Some Scattering pine on the Lard. Side. on the Stard. or S. E. Side is Some hills thickly Supplied with pine. The lower portion of the river but fiew pines are to be Seen the Country opens into extencive plains river widens and Contains more islands and bars; of corse gravel sand and Mud. The Current of this river may be estimated at 4 Miles and ½ pr. hour from the Rocky Mts. as low as Clarks Fork, at 3½ Miles pr. hour from thence as low as the Bighorn, at 3— Miles pr. hour from thence as low as the Tongue river, at 2¾ Miles pr. hour from thence as low as Wolf rapid and at 2½ miles pr. hour from thence to its enterance into the Missouri.”
Clark gives a thoughtful recitation of the advantage of establishing a fort and trading post on the Yellowstone rather than further up the Missouri where Maria’s River empties in. “…to an establishment on this river at clarks Fork the Shoshones both within and West of the Rocky Mountains would willingly resort for the purposes of trade as they would in a great measure be relived from the fear of being attacked by their enimies the blackfoot Indians and Minnetares of fort de Prarie, which would most probably happen were they to visit any establishment which could be conveniently formed on the Missouri. I have no doubt but the same regard to personal safety would also induce many numerous nations inhabiting the Columbia and Lewis's river West of the mountains to visit this establishment in preference to that at the entrance of Maria's river, particularly during the first years of those Western establishments. the Crow Indians, Paunch Indians Castahanah's and others East of the mountains and south of this place would also visit this establishment; it may therefore be looked to as one of the most important establishments of the western fur trade. at the entrance of Clark's fork there is a sufficiency of timber to support an establishment, an advantage that no position possesses from thence to the Rocky Mountains. The banks of the yellowstone river a bold not very high yet are not subject to be overflown, except for a few miles immediately below where the river issues from the mountain. the bed of this river is almost entirely composed of loose pebble, nor is it's bed interrupted by chains of rock except in one place and that even furnishes no considerable obstruction to it's navigation.”
So Clark has come full circle and given a report advising the President of his recommendation for establishing presence and trade. He gives a good report full of faith for the future and filled with a realistic hope for trade and security as people move westward to the Pacific via the Columbia River.
Clark could have reported that the mosquitoes were oppressive, prickly pear cactus and rattlesnakes threatened your every step, snow-capped mountains stood challenging your very being and tribes of warring Indian nations all would band together to eliminate any intruders. But William Clark was not like ten of the twelve men sent out by Moses to recon the Promised Land. He was Caleb to Joshua. He brought a report that reminds me of this Biblical report of the land of milk and honey.
“And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow and said to the people, "The land we explored is an excellent land. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land. Do not rebel against the LORD and don't be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. The LORD is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid." (Numbers 14:6-9 GNB)
“Don’t be afraid.” What are we afraid of entering into? Could it be the very promise that God has intended for us? Are we standing at the entrance to the fulfillment of our promise yet afraid? I contend that unless you are fearful you cannot be at the point where you can enter into the Promise that God has laid out before you.
Like Joshua and Caleb and Lewis and Clark, choose to give a good report. A report filled with faith in God to deliver the fulfillment of His promises to conquer, rule and reign in the places He has prepared for you.
Are you at the junction point of two mighty rivers having closed the loop on your exploration? Take a moment and analyze what you’ve seen and what the next faith-filled step might be.
After all, like William Clark, you’ve made it this far when most thought you’d die. Take courage in the exploits of the past and set your heart on entering into His promise for you.
Proceed on.
Build a Fort
“…at 8. A. M. I arived at the Junction of the Rochejhone (Yellowstone River) with the Missouri, and formed my Camp imediately in the point between the two river at which place the party had all encamped the 26th of April—1805.”
Clark reaches their camp of almost a year and a half ago at the junction of the Yellowstone River and Mighty Missouri. This point will be a landmark for all travelers up the Missouri and a jump off point for many future mountain men seeking the abundant beaver populations the Captain and his men record on their trip down the Yellowstone.
Captain Clark summarizes the journey to this point in his journal like this. “The distance from the Rocky Mountains at which place I struck the River Rochejhone (Yellowstone) to its enterance into the Missouri 837 Miles 636 Miles of this distance I decended in 2 Small Canoes lashed together in which I had the following Persons. John Shields, George Gibson, William Bratten, W. Labeech, Toust. Shabono his wife & child & my man York. The Rochejhone or Yellow Stone river is large and navagable with but fiew obstructions quite into the rocky mountains. and probably <to head> near it's source. The Country through which it passes from those Mounts. to its junction is Generaly fertile rich open plains the upper portion of which is roleing and the high hills and hill Sides are partially covered with pine and Stoney. The middle portion or from the enterance of Clarks Fork as low as the Buffalow Shoals the high lands Contain Some Scattering pine on the Lard. Side. on the Stard. or S. E. Side is Some hills thickly Supplied with pine. The lower portion of the river but fiew pines are to be Seen the Country opens into extencive plains river widens and Contains more islands and bars; of corse gravel sand and Mud. The Current of this river may be estimated at 4 Miles and ½ pr. hour from the Rocky Mts. as low as Clarks Fork, at 3½ Miles pr. hour from thence as low as the Bighorn, at 3— Miles pr. hour from thence as low as the Tongue river, at 2¾ Miles pr. hour from thence as low as Wolf rapid and at 2½ miles pr. hour from thence to its enterance into the Missouri.”
Clark gives a thoughtful recitation of the advantage of establishing a fort and trading post on the Yellowstone rather than further up the Missouri where Maria’s River empties in. “…to an establishment on this river at clarks Fork the Shoshones both within and West of the Rocky Mountains would willingly resort for the purposes of trade as they would in a great measure be relived from the fear of being attacked by their enimies the blackfoot Indians and Minnetares of fort de Prarie, which would most probably happen were they to visit any establishment which could be conveniently formed on the Missouri. I have no doubt but the same regard to personal safety would also induce many numerous nations inhabiting the Columbia and Lewis's river West of the mountains to visit this establishment in preference to that at the entrance of Maria's river, particularly during the first years of those Western establishments. the Crow Indians, Paunch Indians Castahanah's and others East of the mountains and south of this place would also visit this establishment; it may therefore be looked to as one of the most important establishments of the western fur trade. at the entrance of Clark's fork there is a sufficiency of timber to support an establishment, an advantage that no position possesses from thence to the Rocky Mountains. The banks of the yellowstone river a bold not very high yet are not subject to be overflown, except for a few miles immediately below where the river issues from the mountain. the bed of this river is almost entirely composed of loose pebble, nor is it's bed interrupted by chains of rock except in one place and that even furnishes no considerable obstruction to it's navigation.”
So Clark has come full circle and given a report advising the President of his recommendation for establishing presence and trade. He gives a good report full of faith for the future and filled with a realistic hope for trade and security as people move westward to the Pacific via the Columbia River.
Clark could have reported that the mosquitoes were oppressive, prickly pear cactus and rattlesnakes threatened your every step, snow-capped mountains stood challenging your very being and tribes of warring Indian nations all would band together to eliminate any intruders. But William Clark was not like ten of the twelve men sent out by Moses to recon the Promised Land. He was Caleb to Joshua. He brought a report that reminds me of this Biblical report of the land of milk and honey.
“And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of the spies, tore their clothes in sorrow and said to the people, "The land we explored is an excellent land. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will take us there and give us that rich and fertile land. Do not rebel against the LORD and don't be afraid of the people who live there. We will conquer them easily. The LORD is with us and has defeated the gods who protected them; so don't be afraid." (Numbers 14:6-9 GNB)
“Don’t be afraid.” What are we afraid of entering into? Could it be the very promise that God has intended for us? Are we standing at the entrance to the fulfillment of our promise yet afraid? I contend that unless you are fearful you cannot be at the point where you can enter into the Promise that God has laid out before you.
Like Joshua and Caleb and Lewis and Clark, choose to give a good report. A report filled with faith in God to deliver the fulfillment of His promises to conquer, rule and reign in the places He has prepared for you.
Are you at the junction point of two mighty rivers having closed the loop on your exploration? Take a moment and analyze what you’ve seen and what the next faith-filled step might be.
After all, like William Clark, you’ve made it this far when most thought you’d die. Take courage in the exploits of the past and set your heart on entering into His promise for you.
Proceed on.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Wild Kingdom
Journal 2006 08 02
Wild Kingdom
“…nothing remarkable took place today. we are all extreemly anxious to reach the entrance of the Yellowstone river where we expect to join Capt. Clark and party.” Anxious. Meriwether Lewis has been separated from his friend William Clark for one full month now. He had been in a skirmish, killed two Indians and I’m sure was aware that everyday that passed kept his friend in potential peril from any large war party of braves. Lewis had camped last night after a long wet day on the river to allow his goods to dry. The day proved to be good for that purpose and by the end of the day all the cargo was sufficiently dry to proceed. Lewis was especially concerned about his antelope skins that could not be replaced at this point. Little did he know that Clark’s men were in a virtual shooting gallery of wild game floating down the Yellowstone and had procured several antelopes themselves.
Both parties gained the attention of bears who were afraid of nothing. I believe you could compare the grizzly bear of North America to the lion of Africa. They were at the top of their food chains. Over the last two days both parties encountered bears intent on pursuing the men or, more likely, the scent of fresh meat and skins carried on the canoes. “…at 9 A. M. we saw a large brown bear swiming from an island to the main shore we pursued him and as he landed Drewyer and myself shot and killed him; we took him on board the perogue and continued our rout. Lewis (1806 08 01) “…shortly after we landed the rain ceased…a white bear came withint 50 paces of our camp before we perceived it; it stood erect on it's hinder feet and looked at us with much apparent unconsern, we seized our guns which are always by us and several of us fired at it and killed it. it was a female in fine order, we fleesed it and extracted several gallons of oil. this speceis of bar are rearly as poor at this season of the year as the common black bear nor are they ever as fat as the black bear is found in winter; as they feed principally on flesh, like the wolf, they are most fatt when they can procure a sufficiency of food without rispect to the season of the year. the oil of this bear is much harder than that of the black bear being nearly as much so as the lard of a hog. the flesh is by no means as agreeable as that of the black bear, or Yahkah or partycoloured bear of the West side of the rocky mountains.” Lewis (1806 08 01).
Clark and his party record the following bear encounters for this day two hundred years ago.”… about 8 A. M this morning a Bear of the large vicious Species being on a Sand bar raised himself up on his hind feet and looked at us as we passed down near the middle of the river. he plunged into the water and Swam towards us, either from a disposition to attack't or from the Cent of the meat which was in the Canoes. we Shot him with three balls and he returned to Shore badly wounded. in the evening I saw a very large Bear take the water above us. I ordered the boat to land on the opposit Side with a view to attack't him when he Came within Shot of the Shore. <I let swim> when the bear was in a fiew paces of the Shore I Shot it in the head. the men hauled her on Shore and proved to be an old Shee which was so old that her tuskes had worn Smooth, and Much the largest feemale bear I ever Saw.”
Clark’s party waited twice during the day for over an hour as huge “gangues” of bison crossed the river in front of them. Clark observed wolves chase a cow elk into a grove of trees of which neither emerged. He makes the fair assumption that the wolves overtook the elk. Both Captain’s observe bull elk antlers are fully developed and note the bull elk are gathered in what we today call “bachelor herds” of up to a dozen each. The cow elk are gathered into large herds with their young cows and young bulls.
Clark mentions big horn sheep of which they see but can’t get close enough to shoot. Beaver and deer are taken by each party.
What would a guide charge for a float fishing and hunting trip through Yellowstone National Park today? You would have to hold a tag from the President of the United States for any game animal, fish or fowl that came within range of any weapon you carried. Most of us would say,“Impossible!” But it was common two hundred years ago. Didn’t have to spend hours and hundreds of dollars attempting to draw coveted big game tags in the states where these great animals reside. Unrestricted choice of weapons to hunt with. Lewis had spent a fair amount of time with his armorers before outfitting his men with the best rifles of his time.
A debate could go on for a long time about the weapons that this crew would carry today. I would contend it would look much like a military expedition that must meet a variety of targets and needs. Hunters/snipers carry long range bolt action rifles in .30 caliber. I contend that the .223 of the M16 would be replaced by a similar rifle in the same .30 caliber as the hunting/sniper rifles. The bow gun of the keel boat and perogue would be an M60 .30 caliber machine gun. Some men would have .22 caliber rimfire rifles and pistols for harvesting small game. Benelli semi auto shotguns would be found as would a variety of sidearms in .45ACP, 9mm, 44 Magnum and .22 rimfire.
For those hunters reading these postings we can only imagine the abundance and the freedom enjoyed by these men. They opened a land unknown in its riches. It is still rich in wild game today despite the changes.
And as John Eldredge ( http://www.ransomedheart.com ) points out so well in his book, “Wild at Heart,” God planted a need deep in the heart of man that draws men to answer the deep calling within their heart to operate in, experience and conquer that which is wild. “Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul. A Battle to fight. An Adventure to live. A Beauty to rescue. This is what a man longs for. This is what makes him come alive. Look at the films men love. For that matter, look at the dreams of little boys, the games they play. There is something fierce, passionate, and wild in the heart of every man. That is how he bears the image of God. And the reason that most men "live lives of quiet desperation" (Thoreau) is because men have been told that the reason God put them on earth is to be a good boy. To be nice.
God designed men to be dangerous. Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy: To be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk. Sadly, most men abandon those dreams and desires— aided by a Christianity that feels like nothing more than pressure to be a nice guy. It is no wonder that many men avoid church, and those who go are often passive and bored to death.
Now, in all your boyhood dreams growing up, did you ever dream of becoming a nice guy? Ladies, was the Prince of your dreams dashing . . . or merely nice? "We've taken away the dreams of a man's heart and told him to play the man." As C.S. Lewis said, 'We castrate the gelding and bid him be fruitful."
This is a message about the recovery and release of a man's heart, his passions, which he has been given by God.
You’ve been far more than forgiven. God has removed your heart of stone. You’ve been delivered of what held you back from what you were meant to be. You’ve been rescued from the part of you that sabotages even your best intentions. Your heart has been circumcised to God. Your heart has been set free.” Eldredge
Proceed on.
Wild Kingdom
“…nothing remarkable took place today. we are all extreemly anxious to reach the entrance of the Yellowstone river where we expect to join Capt. Clark and party.” Anxious. Meriwether Lewis has been separated from his friend William Clark for one full month now. He had been in a skirmish, killed two Indians and I’m sure was aware that everyday that passed kept his friend in potential peril from any large war party of braves. Lewis had camped last night after a long wet day on the river to allow his goods to dry. The day proved to be good for that purpose and by the end of the day all the cargo was sufficiently dry to proceed. Lewis was especially concerned about his antelope skins that could not be replaced at this point. Little did he know that Clark’s men were in a virtual shooting gallery of wild game floating down the Yellowstone and had procured several antelopes themselves.
Both parties gained the attention of bears who were afraid of nothing. I believe you could compare the grizzly bear of North America to the lion of Africa. They were at the top of their food chains. Over the last two days both parties encountered bears intent on pursuing the men or, more likely, the scent of fresh meat and skins carried on the canoes. “…at 9 A. M. we saw a large brown bear swiming from an island to the main shore we pursued him and as he landed Drewyer and myself shot and killed him; we took him on board the perogue and continued our rout. Lewis (1806 08 01) “…shortly after we landed the rain ceased…a white bear came withint 50 paces of our camp before we perceived it; it stood erect on it's hinder feet and looked at us with much apparent unconsern, we seized our guns which are always by us and several of us fired at it and killed it. it was a female in fine order, we fleesed it and extracted several gallons of oil. this speceis of bar are rearly as poor at this season of the year as the common black bear nor are they ever as fat as the black bear is found in winter; as they feed principally on flesh, like the wolf, they are most fatt when they can procure a sufficiency of food without rispect to the season of the year. the oil of this bear is much harder than that of the black bear being nearly as much so as the lard of a hog. the flesh is by no means as agreeable as that of the black bear, or Yahkah or partycoloured bear of the West side of the rocky mountains.” Lewis (1806 08 01).
Clark and his party record the following bear encounters for this day two hundred years ago.”… about 8 A. M this morning a Bear of the large vicious Species being on a Sand bar raised himself up on his hind feet and looked at us as we passed down near the middle of the river. he plunged into the water and Swam towards us, either from a disposition to attack't or from the Cent of the meat which was in the Canoes. we Shot him with three balls and he returned to Shore badly wounded. in the evening I saw a very large Bear take the water above us. I ordered the boat to land on the opposit Side with a view to attack't him when he Came within Shot of the Shore. <I let swim> when the bear was in a fiew paces of the Shore I Shot it in the head. the men hauled her on Shore and proved to be an old Shee which was so old that her tuskes had worn Smooth, and Much the largest feemale bear I ever Saw.”
Clark’s party waited twice during the day for over an hour as huge “gangues” of bison crossed the river in front of them. Clark observed wolves chase a cow elk into a grove of trees of which neither emerged. He makes the fair assumption that the wolves overtook the elk. Both Captain’s observe bull elk antlers are fully developed and note the bull elk are gathered in what we today call “bachelor herds” of up to a dozen each. The cow elk are gathered into large herds with their young cows and young bulls.
Clark mentions big horn sheep of which they see but can’t get close enough to shoot. Beaver and deer are taken by each party.
What would a guide charge for a float fishing and hunting trip through Yellowstone National Park today? You would have to hold a tag from the President of the United States for any game animal, fish or fowl that came within range of any weapon you carried. Most of us would say,“Impossible!” But it was common two hundred years ago. Didn’t have to spend hours and hundreds of dollars attempting to draw coveted big game tags in the states where these great animals reside. Unrestricted choice of weapons to hunt with. Lewis had spent a fair amount of time with his armorers before outfitting his men with the best rifles of his time.
A debate could go on for a long time about the weapons that this crew would carry today. I would contend it would look much like a military expedition that must meet a variety of targets and needs. Hunters/snipers carry long range bolt action rifles in .30 caliber. I contend that the .223 of the M16 would be replaced by a similar rifle in the same .30 caliber as the hunting/sniper rifles. The bow gun of the keel boat and perogue would be an M60 .30 caliber machine gun. Some men would have .22 caliber rimfire rifles and pistols for harvesting small game. Benelli semi auto shotguns would be found as would a variety of sidearms in .45ACP, 9mm, 44 Magnum and .22 rimfire.
For those hunters reading these postings we can only imagine the abundance and the freedom enjoyed by these men. They opened a land unknown in its riches. It is still rich in wild game today despite the changes.
And as John Eldredge ( http://www.ransomedheart.com ) points out so well in his book, “Wild at Heart,” God planted a need deep in the heart of man that draws men to answer the deep calling within their heart to operate in, experience and conquer that which is wild. “Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul. A Battle to fight. An Adventure to live. A Beauty to rescue. This is what a man longs for. This is what makes him come alive. Look at the films men love. For that matter, look at the dreams of little boys, the games they play. There is something fierce, passionate, and wild in the heart of every man. That is how he bears the image of God. And the reason that most men "live lives of quiet desperation" (Thoreau) is because men have been told that the reason God put them on earth is to be a good boy. To be nice.
God designed men to be dangerous. Simply look at the dreams and desires written in the heart of every boy: To be a hero, to be a warrior, to live a life of adventure and risk. Sadly, most men abandon those dreams and desires— aided by a Christianity that feels like nothing more than pressure to be a nice guy. It is no wonder that many men avoid church, and those who go are often passive and bored to death.
Now, in all your boyhood dreams growing up, did you ever dream of becoming a nice guy? Ladies, was the Prince of your dreams dashing . . . or merely nice? "We've taken away the dreams of a man's heart and told him to play the man." As C.S. Lewis said, 'We castrate the gelding and bid him be fruitful."
This is a message about the recovery and release of a man's heart, his passions, which he has been given by God.
You’ve been far more than forgiven. God has removed your heart of stone. You’ve been delivered of what held you back from what you were meant to be. You’ve been rescued from the part of you that sabotages even your best intentions. Your heart has been circumcised to God. Your heart has been set free.” Eldredge
Proceed on.
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