The Forge of Friendship

Journal 2006 07 03
The Forge of Friendship

Those of us who live in the Great Northwest are familiar with the Alaska Airlines radio ads featuring Lewis and Clark jetting all over the country comparing modern travel to their journey. The ads are funny. After I became a student of the Corps of Discovery I found it ironic that the creative people at the advertising company had reversed the personalities of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark! Clark in reality was a bedrock of stability and low key in nature. Lewis was mercurial and his emotions are part of the fabric of his record. His ever so visible heart allowed President Jefferson to describe him as a man of “courage undaunted.” Lewis’ heart inspired the mission. Those traits are seen in today’s records of each Captain as they part ways hopeful of a soon successful reunion.

Meriwether Lewis, “All arrangements being now compleated for carrying into effect the several scheemes we had planed for execution on our return, we saddled our horses and set out I took leave of my worthy friend and companion Capt. Clark and the party that accompanyed him. I could not avoid feeling much concern on this occasion although I hoped this seperation was only momentary.”

William Clark, “we colected our horses and after brackfast    I took My leave of Capt Lewis and the indians and at 8 A M Set out with [blank] men interpreter Shabono & his wife & child (as an interpreter & interpretess for the Crow Inds and the latter for the Shoshoni) with 50 horses.”

“Matter of fact” William Clark and “from the heart” Meriwether Lewis. Best of friends and perfect compliments to one another. Lewis heads north and Clark east to meet again on the Mighty Missouri River. Both run into fast moving rivers. Both have trouble crossing. Lewis and his party determine that rafts are needed to cross the East Fork of Clark’s River. They begin construction at 11:00AM and finish at 3:00PM. The crossing is successful if you measure success as no loss of life. The Indian guides quickly created small “basons of deer skins” and safely transported their gear. Lewis waited with the last of three small rafts to aid two men who were poor swimmers. For those who have traveled in the mountains during spring runoff you strive to cross rivers early. Water levels can and do rise as the sun melts the winter snows. Lewis and party are the last group across on the rafts and enter into a “River of No Return” ride. The current carries them a mile and a half downstream before they are swept off the raft by brush and finally manage to make the other shoreline soaked but safe. Lewis had tucked his chronometer in his “fob” hoping to keep it safe during the crossing. It too was soaked. Lewis had his chronometer to make sure he recorded the northernmost point of his expedition.

As is so many times reflected in real life, the most difficult part of a journey can be nearest its beginning. Clark and his contingent cross ten creeks and rivers on their first day out. Several times the baggage gets wet and is aired out. As always, they keep forging ahead. Clark covers thirty six miles. Lewis fourteen.

I contend from my own life’s experience that Lewis will miss the steadying influence of William Clark more than Clark will miss the heart of Meriwether Lewis. I’ll also contend that neither will be as successful alone as they would have been together.

King Solomon said it long ago and the saying has yet to be improved, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he does not have another to help him. Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone? And if one overthrows him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 MKJV)

We need one another. King David and Jonathan the Prince were much like Lewis and Clark. Friends to the end. Different in makeup. Both better off for it. Do we each have a friend who is very different from us yet we both come away better for the friendship? Is the world a better place because of the friendship? If we can answer “yes” we are fortunate men indeed. Let’s pray that the God of Heaven and Earth will create such a friendship for each of us.

“… the soul of Jonathan was joined with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as he did his own soul. … And Jonathan and David cut a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.”(1 Samuel 18:1-3 MKJV)

In our “modern” world we teach these truths in the context of marriage. And the “three stranded cord” is a wonderful illustration of a husband and wife intertwined with their Savior. The root and soul of these writings was and is still directed to men. Allowing the power of relationship between men fashioned by God to be diminished is to diminish the power of friendship to change the world. Our two expeditioners, Lewis and Clark, forged their friendship on the battlefields of the colonial frontier. God used that refining fire to shape a friendship that still stands as a testimony to all men.

Find the fire and proceed on.