Comments for Wonder of Creation

Comment on My Struggle by ingrid

ingrid — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:35:42 +0000

Thank you so much for this and for all of your reflections - esp. appreciated the John the Baptist/John Muir one. I would love more than anything to live on a sustainable farm but have not found a way to make that work with my education debt. I’m torn between opting out of the conventional social structure to follow my own principles or staying in enough to try to keep relationships where I can influence others. The latter is feeling increasingly futile, esp with the gap between what I know and what I do.

Peace.

Comment on My Struggle by Natasha Ohlman

Natasha Ohlman — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:34:21 +0000

I’m ready to move, whenever you are:)
Much Love Your Daughter-
n

Comment on God Must Have Big Hands by Ted M. Gossard

Ted M. Gossard — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:21:43 +0000

Thanks, Dean, for sharing the wonderful story of your dad. And nice tie to our loving Father.

Comment on SAD by rdrcomp

rdrcomp — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Dean, I hate to rub it in, but I just spent a wonderful crisp morning exploring some of the property that the Lord allowed our church to have which we purchased a number of years ago. I’m trying to find an ideal spot where our younger scouts can camp without being too far out in a wilderness setting similaer to where the older boys can go.

What a morning! Spooked two does and was serenaded by a choir made up of several species of our feathered friends.

If you ever do sprout some snow-bird wings, you might want to visit us down here in “the old north state” We can give you a winter inoculation to carry you through to the spring thaw.

Comment on God Must Have Big Hands by rdrcomp

rdrcomp — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:54:50 +0000

Great tribute to your dad. I lost my dad back a number of years ago, and still miss him. He didn’t have big hands, but his heart was huge.

Reminiscing about loving fathers reminds me of the verse that speaks of the comparative love of our Father in heaven that Matthew speaks of in chapter 7 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

Never thought of my earthly father as evil, and compared to a lot of earthly fathers, he certainly was not. But compared to the love of God, my earthly father was, as I, another earthly father and grandfather, certainly am evil.

But think of it, God is so extravagant, so absolutely full of grace and mercy, that He has us in the grip of His big hands so that no matter what, nothing can “snatch us out of them” (John 10:29)

Comment on SAD by Dean Ohlman

Dean Ohlman — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 14:12:29 +0000

mjday:

My brother and sister-in-law live on Orcas Island, and we have been blessed to visit a few times. I could use that vista right now–looking out toward Mt. Baker! (They avoid SAD by spending winters in Palm Desert, CA. That vista isn’t too bad either!)

My poor maligned reading chair: first it is seen to have a pitch and yaw; now a blowout. I think it’s been conformed to my image!

Comment on SAD by mjday

mjday — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:03:24 +0000

I also live in Washington State, but in the Puget Sound area. We’ve had six inches of snow, but that’s unusual around here. It’s been very exciting for us. The Cascade Range usually keeps it mild and wet on the west side of the state, and cold and dry on the east. SAD is a problem here too.

Dean, I’ve enjoyed your posts. I grew up backpacking and skiing in the Cascades, and have had the opportunity to climb the major peaks here. I appreciate hearing about the terrain and weather in the Midwest, it’s so different from our mountains with Douglas fir, cedar and hemlock.

The picture of your favorite reading chair was delightful. Looked like it had a blowout on one side. I look forward to enjoying your posts in the future. Best wishes for 2009.

Comment on A New-Year John the Baptist by plumbape

plumbape — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 22:12:11 +0000

Hey Dean I managed to type my password correctly to be able to comment and change my password so I can get back in easily. Love your work and sense of humor. I spent a few years in San Diego and many southern (warm) states which also leaves me wondering why I’m now in Indy, lol.
On a different note, it would almost seem that one might be trying to justify John Muir’s dad beating him into the Holy Bible. The end justifies the means..? I believe we are best at something simply when we enjoy it. I love the wonders of God and even being a plumber I see the Lords hand in my work. You take care out there in wonder land and hope I do see you out there.

Comment on SAD by wretch-like-me

wretch-like-me — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:32:06 +0000

Dean,
I also live in a snow-prone area of the northwest, an hour or so from Canada on the border between Washington and Idaho. While I love the four seasons, and look forward to each segment, the excitement of fresh powder decays quite rapidly when snowplows leave a 4 foot berm at my ‘newly plowed’ driveway entrance.

Currently, I am visiting my son and his family near Boise,Idaho and dredding the return home. We have had 3 feet of fresh snow fall since leaving our home and I expect a mountain of snow at my driveway entrance.

After 8 hours of driving, it is a daunting task to remove that obstacle just to gain access to the driveway to the house… a very large half circle driveway that looks sooo nice when well groomed but, a nightmare to tackle when left unattended for nearly three weeks.

I can relate to your aches and pains from sledding… only in my case its the 4-6 hours of snow removal.
Still, I love the beauty of fresh powder and the ‘quiet’ of a pristine paradise of pines ‘flocked by the Master’.

Only one thing better than being outdoors in winter…
Being indoors afterwards with a mug of ‘Joe’ and a cracklin’ fire.

Comment on A New-Year John the Baptist by Ted M. Gossard

Ted M. Gossard — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:59:53 +0000

I just can’t believe the dismissal of nature and creation by much of the tradition of Christianity I’ve been a part of. So in a way I identify with Muir, yet not at all in the sad way he experienced.