Aunt Lela's Journal

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Refreshing Waters

From the looks of my yard and garden this June I'd say we’re in for another hot, dry summer here in East Tennessee.  Summer without regular rainfall quickly reminds us of how essential water is to our very survival.  Water make up around 78% of our bodies when we are born, and even as adults it makes up over 50% of our body weight.  You cannot live long without water.

 

 

Take a hike on a hot day, especially in desert country and you soon realize the importance of water.  That is a truth I learned some years ago on a hike into Arizona’s Grand Canyon. 

 

 

During a summer trip through several western states, my son, Mike, his buddy Cleve and I decided to hike from the south canyon rim down to the Colorado River and back out the same day.  We planned to hike down the South Kaibab Trail, traverse the River Trail and climb back out on the Bright Angel Trail.  The elevation of the south rim is 7,200’ and the River’s elevation is 2,420’, a drop of 4,780 feet.  Of course, on the way out you must climb that same 4,780 feet.

South Kaibab down, crossed river, then down to Bright Angel for climb back to South Rim

 



Hot and dry on the trail down into the canyon. The only water is what you carry.

In June, the temperatures on the south rim are in the pleasant 70’s but as you descend into the canyon the temperature soars, reaching 115 degrees the day we made our trip.  The Park Service recommends carrying no less than two quarts of water per person, but a gallon is better.

 

 

The three of us did very well on the trip down and were thrilled to jump into the icy cold waters of the Colorado for a refreshing dip.  After a quick look at historic Phantom Ranch and eating our lunch, we walked on down the River Trail, crossed the river and began our climb up Bright Angel Trail to the south rim. 

 

 

Sometimes you hear people tell of some past event and say, "I like to have died," doing such and such.  Well, on that hike that day "I like to have died."  What I remember most about that tortuous climb out of the Canyon was the relentless heat from above and the reflected heat from surrounding canyon rocks.  There was no escape from the heat and burning rays of the sun.  You drink, but can’t quench your thirst.  If you fail to consume enough water, you begin to lose your stamina, your strength, and finally your will to keep going.  You are looking for a cool shady spot, but none is to be found.  You begin to count your progress in steps, not miles.  Go a hundred steps and rest.  Go fifty steps and rest.  You look for a rock ledge overhang and hope for some shade for a moment’s rest.

 

 

Finally, some 3,000 feet below the south rim, you reach Indian Gardens, a small oasis with cooler temperatures, small trees and green plants.  Garden Creek is a perennial water source of refreshing water flowing out of the canyon walls. 

Indian Gardens

This small oasis was used until the early 1900's by the Havasupai Indians to raise corn, squash and beans and thus is known as “Indian Gardens.”   Here you can rest in the shade, refill your water bottle and drink all the water you can hold.  With this water you are refreshed and soon ready for the final 4.6 mile climb out of the canyon.

Bright Angel Trail passes through the shade from trees that grow along the stream.

Each time I remember this hot desert experience I also am reminded of the story of Jesus and his encounter with the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well.  The Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus reminds me of the truth about water.  Yes, water is refreshing and it keeps me alive, but when I drink it I will get thirsty again.  It nourishes my body for the moment, but it won’t be long until I need to drink water again. 

 

Looking back down the canyon you can see the patch of green below, Indian Gardens,  with its refreshing water.

 

For our "faith journey, Jesus provides us with “spiritual water;” water that is eternal and lasting.  In John 4: 13 Jesus replies to the Samaritan woman’s questions by telling her, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

 

 

Yep, looks like a hot and dry summer for 2014.  It will help me remember that on life’s trail I need two kinds of water; the physical water upon which earthly life depends and God’s “living water” that is available through faith in Jesus Christ. 


Be sure you’ve got both for the journey. 


Now, let’s ramble!

Father: More than a Sperm Donor

I did not have a living father during my childhood and adolescence; even my male grandparents were already deceased when I was born.  Father’s Day was a special day for other families and had little meaning during all my growing up years because my father never returned from WW II.

It was as an adult that I finally realized that despite my natural father’s absence, I did have “flesh and blood fathers.”  Yes, I said “Fathers.”  However, my “fathers” were a bit veiled in their fathering.  All during my youth, my “fathers” were tucked away in the lives of three uncles, my grandmother, and the fathers of my boyhood friends.

They provided for me many of the things a father might provide for a son, but their “father role” was obscured, hidden from me by the role they played in their own family or by societal stereotypes.  After all, can a grandmother also be a father?   You bet!

In my professional career as an educator, I became interested in “parenting” and earned certification in counseling and eventually qualified as a “parent educator.”  In the process, I also became the father of two boys.  I learned a lot about fathering from books and I learned a lot from trial and error.

So on this Father’s Day 2014

·         I want to ask my own sons to forgive me for using them as “laboratory guinea pigs” and practicing my fathering skills on them.  Congratulations, both of you are doing an excellent job of fathering our grandchildren.

·         I want to remind fathers that it takes a lot more than being a “sperm donor” to be a father.  During my “parent educator” years I met quite a few men (some on court probation) who thought that “sperm donor” was the only thing that qualified them to be a father.  WRONG! 

·         I want to pay tribute to my Uncle C.T., Uncle John, and Uncle Jim who taught me much about manhood without even giving it a second thought.

·         I want to pay tribute to the fathers of numerous boyhood buddies who included me in their own hobbies, sports, work, and family time.  Sharing expertise, advice and skills that a father shares with a son.

·         I want to acknowledge my “Heavenly Father.”  Although God’s ways are not man’s ways and his ways are often hard to fathom; I have found him to be a constant source of strength, direction and security.

·         Last but certainly not lease, I want to pay tribute to my grandmother, Zena Johnson.  Grandmother was not the correct gender for a father, but she gave me the love, discipline, and direction that any good father would have given.  She not only rocked the cradle, she shaped the man.

 

Enjoy your Father's Day, but come Monday, let's ramble!

Crossing A Creek & Wet Feet

A Memorable Hike... Crossing A Creek and Wet Feet

If you hike many mountain trails you’ll eventually have to cross a creek or small stream.  One backpacking trek with many creek crossings is the trail that follows Eagle Creek from high on Thunderhead to Fontana Lake. I made this hike one summer with my oldest son, Rob and his brother-in-law, Dave Brown.

Eagle Creek begins as a small trickle high on the slopes of Thunderhead Peak and becomes a small river where it empties into Fontana Lake.    The trail follows the creek as you drop the 3,400 feet to lake level.  Along this route you must cross Eagle Creek about 21 times.  In the summer, you can sometimes hop from rock to rock when the water is running low and cross without getting your boots wet.  But even in the dry days of summer there are several crossings where you are going to get wet.  In crossing a deep creek, you have a couple of options, either take off your boots and socks, hang them on your pack and wade barefoot.  The other option is to slosh on through in your boots and hope for the best.

Rob, Dave and I tried the “boots off” option first, but found that our tender feet on slippery rocks made for a difficult crossing. At least one of us took a tumble and fell pack and all into the cold waters of Eagle Creek.  On other crossings we kept our boots on and had better footing, but had to hike the rest of the day in wet boots and soggy socks.  As you can see, both choices had consequences.

As we make our way along life’s trail we are often faced with “creek crossing” decisions.  We face obstacles on our life trail where we can’t go around or hop rocks; we are forced to make a choice on how to proceed.  Just like “creek crossings,” no matter what choice we make, there will be consequences that we must live with.

On the Eagle Creek hike I remember suffering miles of trail with uncomfortable feet squishing in wet socks rubbing against wet leather.  I also remember the refreshing, but unintended dunk in cold creek water.  I remember building a fire in the evening and hanging boots and socks on sticks to dry them out for the next day on the trail.

In the scriptures, God never promises immunity from life’s consequences, but He promises that he will never give us “more than we can bear.”  In the Old Testament, God promised the nation of Israel that if they would follow him and do his will, He would “guide them always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58: 11)

As a person of faith, I believe God's promises still hold true today.  The real issue of your life journey is not making decisions about how to “cross the creeks,” but letting God be your guide as you encounter obstacles along your path.  He will “guide you” and help you deal with whatever consequences you encounter along the way.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.  Proverbs 3: 5-6, New KJV

Now, let’s ramble!

Enjoying the Journey

When I was a young man I often tried to see how fast and how far I could hike in a day.  Age has now slowed my pace and I can’t cover the ground or carry the loads of my youth.  In those early years I found that the faster I walked, the more ground I could cover, but with speed I sacrificed my ability to see and appreciate the vistas along the trail.  Slowing my pace allowed me to enjoy the trip and enhances my appreciation of God’s creative works.

This past week Becky and I began the summer-long process of celebrating our fifty years together.  Our actual anniversary will be August 16^th, but we’re getting an early start.  Our first part of remembering and enjoying the journey was to invite our two sons and their families to go with us to the state that was our first home.  Off we all traveled to Florida, meeting at Disney World for four days; then to a beach house on Ponte Vedra Beach, just north of St. Augustine.  I will have to admit, four days at Disney World is not my idea of slowing down, but it is definitely a change of pace in a wonderful place, experiencing a lot of fun stuff and meeting a lot of very nice people.




One of the nice people we met!

The beach was a totally different story and the pace much slower.  Everyone got a chance to enjoy the majestic views of the beach, interesting marine life and Atlantic Ocean.  Everyone also had some laid back time on the deck, sofas or bed.  It was a great time with family and we definitely “enjoyed the journey.”

 

View from the third floor deck.  We had a deck on each level and made use of each one.

 

Becky and I took a "memory lane" side trip by ourselves as we drove from Disney to Ponte Vedra; visiting Titusville, Florida, our first real home as a married couple. We visited our old church, our first schools, Nels & Sue, a couple who still lives there, and our first trailer park where we parked our first home, a 55’x 12’ Skyline trailer. Becky got a full tour of her old school. 


Becky's first school teaching job in 1963 was at Coquina Elementary in Indian River City, Florida  It was the first fully air conditioned and full carpeted school in the United States.

Park Avenue Baptist Church began when we were members of FBC Titusville.  We were involved in the building campaign and construction began in 1968.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time as members. Peter Lord was our pastor, his son is now pastor of this church.

We drove by my old school, but no tour; then drove to Park Avenue Baptist Church and talked with the church secretary.  Our old trailer park is now a “retirement community” and still has a beautiful riverfront area on the Indian River. 

Oak Point Trailer Park on the Indian River.  The small blip on the center horizon is the VAB across the Indian River, on Cape Canaveral.  It was used for NASA's assembly of the moon rockets and other space launches back in the day.  We could walk down and watch the rockets launch!

 

We definitely enjoyed the visit down memory lane, but it was sad to see the depressed economy of the area with the demise of NASA’s space program on the Cape (Kennedy) Canaveral area.  Our old church has dropped from a membership high of 2,000 to the current 800.  Many homes and business locations are empty.  Our old friends live in the same home and like us, are aging grandparents.  Life is short and moving quickly forward.

Our intent this summer is to slow down the pace of life and enjoy the journey of remembering these past fifty years together.  This past week was a good start to our remembering the journey, but impressed on us again how brief fifty years actually has been.  There is a Biblical truth that relates to the pace and brevity of life, found in Psalm 39:4-6 (New Living Translation)  “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.  Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.   You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.  My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.  We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.

As I’ve reflected on this truth I’ve come to realize that I need to enjoy the process of living; enjoying each day.  My life on earth is a finite time with an unknown termination point.  For people of faith, the destination is assured so why not enjoy the journey.



Enjoy every sunrise and keep rambling!