Too Busy

(This photo has nothing to do with the subject matter of this blog, but I thought some of you may enjoy seeing a photo of my class reunion. )

It was eighteen days ago when I posted my last blog. What happened? Where did the time go. I guess that I just got busy. Hmm! Too busy! Isn't that the story of our life?

We were studying in Sunday School this morning some of the things that prevent us from living a life of faith. The subject of being busy and caught up in life came up. It wasn't in the list, but I believe that it should be among the top five of the "barriers of faith."

So, what have I (we) been doing the last eighteen days? Try the following:

1) A Men's Retreat for all adult males from our Church. We got together at the World Impact's Morning Star Ranch near Cedar Point, KS. It was a great time of bonding, eating, learning how to love our wive's better, and good ol' fellowship. (I did have to take my camera and take a couple photos, of course.)

Some of the guys and me sat on the benches near the cross on top of the hill and swaped stories.

The cross on the hill at sunrise.

2) Football. Collin's last game was this past Thursday night. He really enjoyed the season and the team ended up with a respectable five wins and two losses. Collin says he's going to miss it. That's the way you want it - wishing you were still playing the game.

Collin (#78) put a block on a Hayesville opponent.

3) Practicing for Judgement House. Our Church will be ministering through the Judgement House live drama, with presentations starting Friday, Oct. 24 and running through Thursday, Oct. 30 (None on Weds., Oct. 29). If you have the opportunity to come to Judgement House, I think it will be worth your time. This will be especially good for those who don't attend church. (please pray for us during this time, and for those attending.

4) Working Cattle. This is the time of year when cattle are taken out of the pasture and taken home to the winter grounds. I missed the loading at the big pasture in Chase County because of the Men's Retreat, but I got in on the vaccinations and sorting.

Rod & Erika take a break from working cattle to pose for the camera.

Dad & Donny Hett run a cow out of the squeeze chute.

5) Just plain ol' work. You'd think it would slow down for us at the Park, but that's not the case yet. We shift to a different kind of work: training, trail work, resource management, special hunts, and educational programs.

Our handicap accessible hunting blind we made for the Youth Deer Hunt.


Tagging Monarch butterflies that will fly to Mexico.

Interestingly enough, our sermon in Church this morning was on waiting to hear on the Lord. WOW! Pretty cool, huh? So, my suggestion for us all comes from Psalm 46:10. I'm going to try to take my own advice this week!

This also has nothing to do with the blog content, but I thought Adam's latest drawing was neat.

Connections

As I previewed in the last posting, the story of the Elk Hunt II is about to be told. Since this was our (big brother/pastor Rick, younger brother/teacher Rod, western KS hunting buddy Craig and myself) second hunt together, we had high expectations and we weren't let down. The first full day of hunting found us in a high mountain meadow, each in our own little spot - camouflaged from our prey. I had no longer sat down and was trying to organize my hunting gear when.... KABOOM! "What in the world?" I thought! Did somebody already shoot at an elk or did a gun accidentally discharge? I sat a few seconds and I heard Rick whistle. I ran over to where he was hidden in a clump of Spruce trees and he pointed towards the woods. There lay a cow elk. He had hit it in the spine and dropped it in its tracks. So, we dressed the elk and carried it down the mountain. Craig went and got a pack horse while we went back up the mountain for the rest of our equipment. We got back to our upper camp with all of our gear and the bagged up elk by dark.

Rick poses with his downed elk in the edge of the woods.

We hunted the next day and went trout fishing between hunts. Rick was the first to wet a line and, you guessed it, caught the first fish - which just happened to be the biggest fish caught on the trip. (That's right, the Ranger and outdoors man got skunked.) We ate good that night, though, enjoying fresh trout and a big bowl of chili.

Rick shows off his big Rainbow Trout and Rod covetously looks on.

Our upper camp in the edge of the Spruce forest.

Other highlights of the hunt included: eating lunch at numerous scenic vistas (one being at the ever enjoyable 11,000 feet; following elk trails through the woods and realizing that those animals have to be part mountain goat; listening to the coyotes howl a nighttime mountain chorus; taking a bath in ice cold mountain streams; and getting snowed on in the woods and in our tent.

The view looking west towards Derby Mountain from our camp.

The four mighty hunters pose on an alpine meadow.

Now, brother Rick joked that his success was because of his direct connection he has with our Creator. Interestingly, my devotions this morning were talking about fairness. In fact, it was saying that we are not the arbiters of fairness. God is, and he knows far more than we do about His plans and purpose. The question isn't about fairness. In the end, it's about trust in a faithful God who knows what He's doing. (He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice. Deut. 32:4) Isn't it great to know that life is not always fair, but God is always faithful?

Rod grazes with the horses (he was craving some roughage).

How about you? Do you have "connections?"