Still Waters

We were invited to a wedding in Meeker, a more remote area of Colorado. Because I love to get on water whenever I can, I always take my inflatable kayak, just in case. At the hotel we learned of Lake Avery. Oh boy! We made the drive to this lovely body of water nearly a mile long, quite wide and very deep, nestled down in the midst of bald hills with a little scrub oak scattered on the terrain. A beautiful day for a cruise in my little yellow craft.

I launched at one end and began my tour of Avery. There was hardly a soul on the water, but a few fisher people on the edge. I decided to see if I could paddle the whole length. About halfway I noticed at the other end a bunch of blonde rocks. Curious, I had to see what they were. Looking back, I could no longer see my husband or even the truck. Committed, I went on and in a little while I heard bleating sounds. Looking around I could not discern where it was coming from because sound echos on water, especially with hills all around.

As I got closer to the end I noticed the rocks were moving and to my wonderment, were actually sheep. Really? I certainly did not expect to see sheep out here. They spread across the hill. One ewe would move and some would follow. Then another of these wooly creatures would hike in a different direction followed by still others. There was no real leader. No one sheep had any sense of direction. Some came down the hillside to drink of the cool water. Others wandered away from the crowd. It was confusion in some ways, aimless, but whichever of them was moving would cause others to move, also. Kind of like my trying to explain it, nonsensical.

Fascinated, I floated for awhile watching and listening to the random bleating. The sheep became more and more separated and spread over the entire slope. After several minutes I heard a human voice call out what sounded like “Go on!” and suddenly they all began to move in an orderly fashion in the direction the voice indicated. Each time the herdsman called, they responded in obedience, without resistance asif they knew they needed this guidance.

I sat in my gently rocking boat captivated by this scene. It seemed pretty clear that the shepherd cared about his flock and it was obvious they respected and trusted their leader. I continued watching in amazement as he gently, yet firmly directed them. In a short time the flock that had been wandering directionless was gathered in a close group again and moving to where their protector desired them to be.

As I turned for the long paddle back I pondered about the caretaker of the sheep and if he had to defend them against dangers such as snakes, coyotes, dehydration; if he had to attend to their wounds. He certainly had to keep them from their willful ways. I bet he even had to search for a lost one now and then. I also wondered what commitment to his flock cost him personally. Perhaps many cold nights in the mountains away from the comforts of home, so he could provide the sweetest grass for grazing and crystal clear streams to quench their thirst. Or the risks to his own safety keeping the sheep from harm when a wild predator attacked.

This pondering took me to a passage in the Bible, “I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me…I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary…My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life.”

I am a sheep. I go my own way or follow some other sheep. I get distracted, or confused. I wander off, even get lost and lose connection with others. I become oblivious to danger. But my Good Shepherd knows me and always calls for me. No matter what I have done, He comes to find me. His care for me has cost Him everything. I know His voice and obediently follow Him because He is trustworthy. I know I need His guidance and protection from my willful ways. He knows exactly what I need. He leads me to green pastures and clear, still waters to restore me. He gently tends to my wounds and shields me from danger. He gives me real and everlasting life. I truly want to be where He desires me to be. There is comfort and peace when I am in the Shepherd’s Presence.

What about you? Do you know the Good Shepherd? He knows you.

Another Unexpected Adventure

Last night I was at my office seeing clients. They left with both of us forgetting about payment. I hurried down the stairs and out the door to catch them, not thinking that it was after 7:00 p.m. when the front door automatically locks. Learning that my clients were planning to pay online, I turned to go in as they asked if they could wait till I was ready to leave, since it was dark. “Oh, no, I will be fine, thanks.” As they backed out and I headed toward the door I realized, “IT IS LOCKED” and then the rest dawned upon me: I am locked out of the building, no phone, no keys to my locked car, my office is open, lights on, my purse, planner, money from clients, it is dark, cold and I have no jacket. Oh yeah, I also need to empty my bladder. I was in a real predicament. My husband was in Elizabeth, about twenty-five minutes away at a meeting. Immediately I began to pray for help, a rescue, as I walked around the entire building looking for lights in windows and an open door. None. I began to pace the parking lot, praying and keeping my body moving to stay warm. Then my bladder began really talking so I went to the dark end of the building, stooped down in the dirt and emptied it. At least one problem was solved. Now, should I walk over to that gas station across a field and a busy intersection and find a phone to call Mick? But then my office would still be open to whomever when the doors unlocked early on the morrow. Then I looked up and saw lights in the office on the level higher than mine. Yes! Thank God! Now I just have to wait until she finishes her session, as she is a Play Therapist. She should be finished by 8:00, about 45 minutes, so God, just help me to stay warm as I wait.

Have you any idea how slowly time goes when you are locked outside at night with no one around, no clock to watch and it is getting colder by the minute? Have you ever imagined what goes on in the mind of someone in that circumstance? What time is it now? Are they going to sleep there tonight? Shall I walk to the gas station? Burt if I do and someone comes down I will miss them. Oh God, please tell Mick to come or send someone with a key, or You miraculously unlock the door. I tried pacing the parking lot again but found I was colder away from the building. I tried messing with the automatic lock to see if I could trigger it to open. Then I tried yelling “Somebody please help me!” a few times to no avail. There was a painted rock by the glass front door so I picked it up and gently. but firmly tapped awhile. Nothing. I kept walking out to see if anything was happening upstairs. What are they doing? Isn’t it eight o’clock yet?

I looked at the van parked out front and for some reason opened the door. A most obnoxious alarm began sounding. At first I was alarmed by the alarm then thought, “Oh, good, this will surely bring someone down.” NOT! Even though the stupid honking of the horn continued for what seemed an eternity. By now, if I weren’t so cold, I would have been laughing at myself for getting me into this. Instead, I was pushing down a could-be panic, mostly due to the cold, and praying all the more. I settled for a bit into just waiting. I can do this. But I was so chilled, once again I considered walking to the gas station before the cold rendered me unable to move. When all of a sudden, it was over. The folks from upstairs came down, opened the door and let me in. It was 8:17. Yes, she had heard the tapping on the door, used her remote to stop the alarm on her van, but chose not to check it out. She was so apologetic. I was grateful it was not a sleepover.

As I warmed myself in my cozy office I realized that through the entire ordeal it had not even occurred to me to be afraid for my safety. This corner is a very public area and right off of the interestarte. The building has been robbed a couple times. I was so absorbed with how to get out of this situation and how cold I would be before it was over, I never even thought I could be in danger.

Looking back today, I am wondering what that was all about. Sometimes we get ourselves into difficult situations without intending to. When we recognize it, we go into a frenzy of activity to get ourselves out. When nothing seems to work, after we have done what we can, we see that we just have to wait for things to play out to bring resolution to the matter. When we look up we can see the lights of hope and provision. Praying is a very good thing in these moments, for our Adonai, the God who sees us, is there to protect, calm, speak words of wisdom and comfort. When we are in the place of peace we can hear Him better. It is also helpful in these times to remember clearly that He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. That even goes for when we do things without thinking. He has our back, always. There are also the unseen angels present. Is that why I wasn’t afraid? Because I was so covered?

Perhaps last night was just to give me another posting for this blog. Her maybe it was to remind me once again of His faithfulness. Hmmmmmm.

As in the last posting, there is much here to ponder that I have not written. Take a few and ask Him what He wants you to receive from this.

Adventures

Labor Day has forever been exactly that in the Rike household. Stay home and work on house projects. Borrrring! This year was different. Mick decided to take me somewhere on Monday so I could kayak while he would sit in a camp chair on the shore and read some kind of sci-fi novel. It so happened that on Sunday we learned of the Catamount Reservoirs on Pike’s Peak. All these years in this state and I never heard of them?!

Monday came and off we went South on I-25 to 24 West to Pike’s Peak Highway. The day seemed specially made. Vibrant, blue skies, fluffy clouds, temperature perfect. North Catamount Reservoir was stunningly beautiful.

I inflated my little yellow craft and launched on a new adventure. As is my custom, I explored every nook and cranny of the crystal clear body of water. One inlet had no sign of human visitation and was totally silent, still. My eyes drank in the beauty while my soul soaked up the restorative quiet. Hmmm, a bit reminiscent of the most familiar Psalm, “He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul.”

Cruising on, for there was much more to see, including recreating fisher folks on the shore while the fish were leaping as high as twelve inches above the water’s surface out where I was. Either these edible creatures couldn’t understand English when I encouraged them to go towards the bait, or they knew they were safer out by me.

Portions of the lake were smooth as glass while others had a slight current pushing or pulling me. I soon realized there were more acres to paddle than I had thought. For a moment, but only that, I considered not following my custom. “I may never come here again. I have to see it and paddle it all.” On I went, farther from where I launched. A thought that “I have to get back, do I have enough in me.?” drifted through my mind. Stroke, stroke, stroke. No gentle push to help me here. Now using landmarks as goals to get me to the end of the reservoir. “I’ll go to that tree and see how I feel.” “Now, to the rock up ahead and then I’ll turn around.”

Within a few yards of my goal, suddenly I noticed a change. The winds came up. Something in me said, “Turn around NOW!” Obeying, I was now paddling into the wind that was creating waves with white caps. All systems on alert for this was my first time kayaking in these conditions. I was not sure how my little boat would do. It was a pretty bumpy ride. I had to keep stroking or I would lose ground quickly. Fear tried to join me with headline thoughts “Kayaker Lost on North Catamount.” The near panic was short-lived as I prayed for calm and strength to complete this adventure. There was something about this that was scary and exhilarating at the same time.

After a few minutes of intense paddling, my arms were getting tired. In a brief break between wind gusts, I rested a bit and rode the waves but never relaxed my attention to the conditions. Back to serious stroking. I began to get in a bit of a rhythm but I could not fully return to the still place of an hour ago. Again I used markers on the shore to help me not think about how far I still had to go.

There were very few others on the lake and they were far away. So getting assistance was not an option. I had to finish this myself. I set my focus on the destination and paddled on. My arms got over being tired and went on what seemed auto pilot. I became one with my yellow craft as we fought the blustery winds and choppy waves. This continued for many minutes when I noticed ahead other kayakers just floating and looking up. As I reached them I became aware the wind had decreased. I relaxed my pace and gazed upward to find a beautiful bald eagle soaring on the breeze, swooping down, then back up high in a showy display of majesty. As I took it in, I was reminded of how I have always wanted to soar like an eagle.

The rest of the journey to where I had launched and to Mick was joy. I had just experienced an adventure that was a picture of life.

I encourage you to take a few moments and reflect on the ways this story can be meaningful on your personal journey.

Dreams

Do you have any? I mean daytime dreams.  Have any of your dreams become reality?  Or have you given up dreaming because they never seem to come true?

Dreams are about hope or faith.

I have experienced both sides.  Dreams have kept me alive at times. The long periods of waiting have almost been my demise at times.

In the LORD OF THE RINGS movies the theme of “hope” is threaded through.  Sam would encourage Frodo with “there is always hope.”  When in the bleakest situations they would dream aloud of being back in the Shire where life seemed idyllic. The dreaming seemed to help them forge on and then caused sadness as it looked like they would never see the Shire again. That was just before their rescue.

My personal dreaming has come, gone, returned, disappeared, and resurged. Last fall a dream of forty-eight years came true when I went to Australia. I waited seventeen years before owning our first home. Twenty years more I longed for and dreamed of a bigger kitchen.  The kids are grown now. Is it too late?  Apparently not, for a year ago my dream kitchen happened. Now, a dream that was birthed twelve years ago is a reality.  I just finished recording an album (see the posting below). The last one I did was twenty-seven years ago.  For decades I dreamed of writing songs that were in my soul.  Four of those are on this project.

A late bloomer, you ask?  Perhaps, but I am learning that though I have regrets, it is never too late to have new and grand adventures and dreams.  The dreams I have waited the longest to become real seem to be sweeter than ones that come more easily.

Have you quit dreaming?

There is life in hoping and dreaming, even when it takes years to see it.  Not all dreams become reality.  I always wanted to sing at least one solo backed by a live orchestra.  It never happened and I don’t hope for it any longer. Oh, but I did sing a solo before 10,000 people accompanied by keys, guitar and bass. In fact, I have had many wonderful musical experiences.

Many of our heroes of the faith mentioned in Hebrews, chapter eleven did not live to see their dreams realized, but their hope kept them going.

I still have unfulfilled dreams.  For forty-three years I have believed I would write a book.  Is 2018 the year?  Who knows?

I dare you to allow yourself to dream again.

Dawn Rike, July 23rd, 2018