His Right Hand Shall Lead Me!

My son and I just returned from a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) in upper Minnesota, literally a few feet south of the Canadian border.  Actually, due to rookie navigation skills, we did accidentally stray into Canada on a few occasions.  The BWCA is very remote.  There are few people and motorized vehicles are not allowed in most of the area.

I intend on blogging a few times about our trip.  But, thought I would start with a journal entry from one of the afternoons in which we were camping on an island in the northernmost part of the BWCA.  Here is that entry...

This afternoon I have been sitting here on a granite outcropping a few feet north of our campsite on Camper's Island.  There is a slight breeze, but for the most part the water is calm.  The sun has been out a few times today, but it has been overcast most of it.  

I can see about eight pine covered islands from where I am sitting within 200 yards or so in the middle of the Saganaga.  The land masses further on are probably islands as well, but from here the land just runs together.  According to the map, they are most likely Horseshoe, Government and Blueberry Islands.  

The stillness is only broken by the occasional mournful cry of a loon, the slight lapping of the water on the rocks and a few motors and voices far off in the distance.  Sound travels a great distance out here.  At the moment, I can hear nearly every word said from some canoeists nearly a mile from me on Horseshoe Island.

But, most of the afternoon has been shrouded in silence.  To be honest, the silence is a very comforting but strange and unusual experience.  It is calming and exhilarating at the same time.  God is here!!  His majesty is unmistakable.  As I considered this a few minutes ago, a lone bald eagle flew directly over our camp.  I could hear, very distinctly, every flap of his wings.  It was stunning!  God truly is a God of beauty!  The cool thing is that even though I can more easily sense His presence here, I don't have to come here to find Him!  I was reading earlier today and came across Psalm 139:7-10.  "If I ascend unto heaven, you are there.  If I make my bed in hell, you are there."  

He is in the Boundary Waters AND He is in Indianapolis!  Even there, His right hand shall lead me!

More to come later! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ringing the Bell at the Brothel

"The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God." from The World, The Flesh, and Father Smith by Bruce Marshall I love the quote above! I heard it recently when listening to a Podcast by John Eldredge. As I have discussed before on this blog, men often take their search for affirmation, intimacy, and validation to the woman. It is God's intention that we approach the woman with our strength, to protect and to lead our families. Instead, all too often, we approach the woman in search of our strength. But, she cannot, nor was she intended to, provide that. She is not God! But, we keep searching, thinking the problem is with the woman that we have chosen, not our expectations. Indeed, her beauty is the pinnacle of God's creation. But her beauty is not the destination. Instead, that beauty is intended to be an arrow, pointing us straight to the heart of the Creator.
Read more

Tiger Woods is Looking For God

A few months back, I wrote a blog about a quote that I had read. See the details here , but the quote was "The young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God." Here is why... God is a God of beauty! He is continually wooing us to Himself with the beauty that is all around us. I have written about how this recognition of beauty and its impact is unique to mankind. I am sure that all of you have experienced this when you have gazed at the mountains, the ocean, a star-filled sky, the clouds of a gathering thunderstorm, etc. This feeling is the wooing that I spoke of above. Men, you know that the beauty of a woman has a similar, yet more intense, impact. That is because Woman is God's crowning achievement. This is what Solomon was saying in the Song of Solomon. Woman is beauty personified. Her beauty and all of God's creation are intended to stir a longing in our hearts. A longing for our creator. But, that intention and plan took a
Read more

Dying to Self

After all of these years, I have pretty much decided that my greatest enemy is not Satan. It is me! More specifically it is my selfishness. It's my tendency for my motivation to do anything to be "What can I get out of this?" or "How can I manipulate people, circumstances, etc. to get things to turn out the way I want them?" I don't think these things consciously! It is just obvious when I really evaluate my behaviors and feelings. The irony of it all is that this approach causes me great pain and is very tiring. It is hard work to always be trying to manipulate your surroundings. It is no fun for those who love me either. Many years ago, I worked for a pastor named Bill Britton. He was an author and evangelist. One of the articles that he wrote follows. In the end, it is obvious to me that I am NOT dead yet. Dying to Self Bill Britton When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set at naught, and you don’t sting and hurt with the ins
Read more