Advice from an Estuary

Today, as Marlene and I walked through Baluga Slough in Homer, Alaska, we came upon this poem written on a placard along the hike. I found it most beautiful and full of wise thoughts. It mirrors Biblical principles.

Advice from an Estuary

Look ordinary
Don't ask for much 
Travel to your edge, then go further
Empty out
Let the moon refill you
Embrace opposites easily
Host travelers without borders, feed them
Listen to the distance in their songs
Nurture the invisible, harbor the young
Send those you've raised out into the world
Digest insults. Reframe and cleanse them
Adopt silence while others speak all around you
Measure change calmly
Mirror the sky
At times,
Be still.
- Wendy Erd

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Besides just listening for God you can "see" Him in Alaska everywhere you look!

Flossing the Fish?

In Alaska anglers are required to catch salmon by a technique called flossing. It is a particular type of snagging the fish. The peculiar feature in this flossing technique is the necessity of the fishing line to "land" across the mouth of the fish allowing the barb to stick in one side of the mouth only. If the fish is caught with the barb in the tail, fin, side or another part of the fish the fisherman must carefully remove the barb and return the fish to the water. 
Salmon on their way up the streams to spawn do not eat. Therefore bait of any kind, even man-made flys, offer no interest to them. They have one goal in mind only-to mate! I guess with their "one track" thinking they don't see the line coming as it floats down the river right into their mouth as they swim up the river. It has taken Hunter a bit of work to master this type of fishing but he is one to never give up on a good challenge. He is having success and we have enjoyed one meal of fresh caught salmon and look forward to another tomorrow night. 

These salmon are "clueless" of the dangers of the lines in the cold streams as they swim up toward their destination. They remind me of life situations we often get ourselves into where Satan snags us. Our minds are on money, success, competing with the neighbor's for things, fudging on truth, instead of focusing on God and what He wants in our lives. One of my recent memory verses speaks to this dilemma and how to overcome it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

So instead of being "flossed" by Satan keep your eyes open and rely on God to guide you to safety. 

While fishing we enjoyed God's beauty and wild creatures!

Binoculars!

 The right "tool" for the right moment-binoculars-to see clarity and detail when looking long distances. We certainly utilized their "power" during our adventure yesterday in Alaska. We traveled to Whittier, where we boarded a small boat to explore the Prince William Sound. Our own personal boat captain provided us "play by play" descriptions as he guided the boat through the many estuaries and open water sections of this great body of water filled with glaciers, chunks of ice, and cascading waterfalls.

Wildlife abounds in this seemingly inhospitable area! With our binoculars we could zoom in on sea otters, eagles, puffins, sea lions, harbor seals and even a humpback whale breaching in the distance!

 

Every time I picked up the binoculars I was amazed at the imagines I saw. Sometimes I felt as though I could reach out and touch what I was viewing, although I would decline that opportunity even if it was offered in regards to the smelly, noisy, cantankerous sea lions! Ha!

In reflecting on the day God reminded me that he, too, has binoculars but they are a great deal more powerful than those I was holding. His "binoculars" see into my heart, mind, and soul. 

What does He see in detail every day as he uses them to look at me? Is the image He sees clean and white like the beautiful glaciers or a bit stinky and ornery like the sea lions? Something to contemplate.

Psalm 51:7 "Purify me from sins and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow."

God's creative majesty in Alaska!

"I lift up my eyes to the hills,

  From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

  who made heaven and earth."

Psalm 21:1-2

The road from Anchorage to Sterling, Alaska, is lined with majestic mountains. Actually it is a scenic drive rated by National Geographic as one of 50 ultimate road trips. We thoroughly enjoyed the beauty!

 

 

And YES, we saw our first moose!

It all begins with food!😉

Alaskan halibut, stir fried pea pods, and Washinton strawberry shortcake. Can life get any better?Ha! (Hunter would prefer an Iowa steak.) This trip to Alaska will be all about fresh fish, whether we "view it through the binoculars", he catches it on his fly rod or I eat it. All's good!

Thank-you, God, for creating fish and the enjoyment of eating some it it!

Packing for Alaska

In two days Hunter and I willl join my sister and her husband in boarding planes for a much anticipated adventure to Alaska! We have read all the books, including James Michener's Alaska, made a multitude of reservations, followed some of the suggestions of "Lonely Planet", and listened to many stories from the exploits of various friends in the state's wilderness. It is now our turn and we are busy packing. I generally overpack when we travel and this time will probably be no different. I am always concerned about having the "right" clothes for the "right" event, in this case having enough layers for the cold of the glaciers, protection from the rain on and off the boats, the shoes for the hiking trails, the hat for the sun, if it ever peeks out of the clouds, and the insect repellent and sunscreen for the long evenings of sunlight. It seems like so much "stuff" as I pile it on my bed. Oh and I can't forget the backpack with a folder of reservation confirmations, books, snacks, binoculars, camera, identification and Dramamine! Like Hunter says, "They do have stores in Alaska!" Yes, yes, I know but feeling prepared gives me a sense of peace.

In finishing the evening with some scripture I was reminded of the spiritual adventure we are on once we commit our lives to Christ, anticipating heaven as our final destination. Like my trip to Alaska it is exciting and although we prepare for each day by reading scripture and taking time with our Lord, unlike our trip to Alaska, there is NO packing necessary. Filling a "suitcase" with good deeds, church attendance, feeding the poor, teaching Sunday School  doesn't provide what you need to reach your goal-heaven. All the packing, the work, the effort has already been accomplished by Jesus on the cross. He gives you a free ticket and THAT  is where real peace can be found!

Perseverance

Burned pizza crust again! "Let's just give up on grilling the "perfect" pizza and order in", I vehemently voiced as invited guests walked towards the front door! Not MY husband! When he determines to do something he possesses a level of tenacious persistence that rivals Benjamin Franklin himself! If you know anything about Ben Franklin you remember the invention of the lightbulb took more than a "few" tries, in fact, over 3,000 to be exact! Samuel Johnson once said,"Great works are not performed by strength but by perseverance." Benjamin Frankliin proved that to be true!

Back to our pizza. We continue to experiment on friends with the many facets of creating the ultimate chewy, crisp pizza crust that makes one's mouth water as it is pulled from the hot oven. My attitude here is just one example of where I fall short of the definition of being persistent. "The definition of perseverance means that they have a determined continuation in something with a steady and continued action of belief that occurs over a long period of time amongst and despite especially difficult circumstances."

That is not me but I wish it was and I am trying to be more attuned to that character trait as I age. 

In reflecting on earlier years I remember throwing away failed sewing projects instead of persevering through removing seams and learning from my mistakes. I remember dumping disaster desserts as well as their recipes in the garbage instead of reevaluating the "wrong turns" and trying again. Unfortunately I see this played out more and more in young people's lives today. What happened to the era of Ben Franklin where you were expected to just keep trying-hang in there? Giving up has become the norm rather than the exception! The Bible speaks about this trait in James 1:2-3

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." In investigating the background of James you learn that James was writing to Christians who were being put death for their faith! This was a call to the ultimate in perseverance, a far cry from spoiled food. James was pleading with them to persevere in their faith of the Lord Jesus. In fact later in the same chapter, verse 12, he says,

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." 

I know I must persevere in areas of my physical life but what about my spiritual walk with the Lord? Am I standing strong in my faith, boldly proclaiming it no matter the reactions? I don't have to face death as the early Christians did, thankfully. But I want to be true to what I believe in my heart and daily share it with others. So I will persevere and I challenge you to do the same, no matter the obstacles!