Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 5)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

(Psalm 121:1)

Part 5 of 8

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It was a little after 10:30 that night when Old John spotted what he did not want to see – a small reddish-orange glow just beyond a couple of ridges to the south-west.  He quickly picked up his radio's microphone and called headquarters to report the direction and approximate distance to the place where the fire had started.  No hikers were reported to be that far over, and the cause of the fire was definitely the lightening strike.

But, a serious problem was developing fast.  The wind was picking up and would  fan the fire, likely driving it right across the place where he had parked his old 1953 Ford pickup.  Because of the darkness, the fire – fanned by the increasing wind – would have an eight to ten hour jump on the first fire fighters who could reach that remote area.  The ever-present dry brush and dead branches, which covered the forest floor like a thick worn out carpet, would make a very inviting meal for the ever-hungry young fire.

When Old John realized what the most likely path was that the fire would take, he became very concerned for the safety of the four people he knew were camping over there.  They would be in a valley that was directly in the path of the fire.  Most likely, the fire would be racing over the ridge to the south of them by mid-morning.  This would definitely cut off their path to where they most likely left their car.  And any other way out would be long, difficult, and dangerous – even if you were very familiar with the forest.

Old John had to find a way to get their attention, and get them to safety.  And he would have to do something very soon!

[To be continued - jad]

The Paradox of Freedom Through Bondage

I was born in and into heinous bondage – as are we all.  Blinded, I did not recognize my bondage.  Why? – My cage – indeed the prison cell, which contains us all  – is so large.  Our cell is this finite world in which we live.  My chains were my commitment to this world and everything in it – beautiful things; wonderful experiences; emotions and passions; desires, needs and wants.  All these otherwise good things had been distorted by sin and the prince of this world.  They blinded me to my wretched condition.

Paradoxically, my freedom came in the form of bondage – bondage to Christ.  He alone could and did rescue me from this prison, and from its chains.  He made me a citizen of His infinite and eternal kingdom.  He accomplished this marvelous act of love by revoking the claim that sin, this world, and the prince of this world had on me.  Paying the penalty of death – separation from God – (as only the infinite, all-powerful, and perfectly just God could), He threw the lifeline of His gospel (the promise and sure hope of eternal safety) to me.  He enabled me to jump to it, grab ahold of it, and to cling to it – the anchor of my soul.

Now, my chains are grace, and hope, and mercy.  Each link is forged in Christ's love on the anvil of God's eternal glory.  They carry the weight of His eternal purposes – the work of His passionate heart, the work in which He invites and allows me to participate – a burden that is designed to be both light to bear and a light to the world.

Shine, Jesus Shine!

Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 4)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

(Psalm 121:1)

  

Part 4 of 8

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Jerry, Annette, and their kids had been cozying up to their campfire for a couple of hours, drinking warm coffee and hot chocolate, and sharing stories and fun memories.  It was cooling down quickly in the valley, where it had  already gotten dark.  The peaks around them were still lit up by the warm setting sun, and were beautiful to look at.  They were enjoying their last-night's fish fry before having to pack up the next morning and start their 2-day hike back to the car.  They had been saving the trout that had been caught over the last few days for this special time.  And the fish smelled and tasted great.  It was a wonderful finish to a great week.

The night was really clear, and you couldn't even begin to count the stars – a few were very bright, and some were so dim that you could barely sense that they were  really there.  Even though there was not a cloud in sight, they were pretty sure that they could hear the distant low rumble of thunder.  In these mountainous valleys, that could mean flash floods.

Jerry decided that they should pack as much as possible that evening, and be prepared to start hiking out as quickly as necessary, but certainly as soon as possible first thing in the morning.  They definitely did not want to have to be outrunning a flooding river.

So, as soon as they finished the last bits and pieces of a wonderful trout dinner, they cleaned up, packed everything that they would not need during the night or at breakfast in the morning, and settled in for their last night's sleep in this beautifully remote valley.

[To be continued - jad]

Reflections – Late 40's - Early 50's

 I find it intriguing to think about the kinds of things, back when I was a young boy, which seem to have begun shaping my view of the world, and started to create the questions in my mind that I would begin to ask about the world in which I found myself living, and about my place in it.

A few incidents, which occurred generally around the end of the 1940's and beginning of the 1950's, have been drifting though my head.  I was somewhere between seven and eleven years old.

I discovered that my grandma Davis came from a German-speaking family, and I wanted to learn some German words from her.  I remember how she taught me to count: eins, zwei, drei, vier, fünf, sechs, seben, acht, neun, zehn, ... and phrases like Gutten Morgan, dankeschön.

Somehow, which I have never discovered, my grandpa Davis had learned how to count in Chinese.  I seriously doubt that he learned this in his little school house in Baker, Oregon, where he grew up.  At any rate, he taught me to count from "ip" to "sip" (1 - 10).

Grandpa Anderson had lived and worked in Siam (now Thailand) in the very early 1900's.  He had met my English grandmother there.  (She was there with her parents – her father was Captain Robinson, a sea captain sailing ships between the Malay Peninsular and Australia.)  My grandpa told me that there is one word in the English language that comes from the Malay language, "orangutan".  It comes from two Malay words that mean, "hunched over man".

Around this same time in my life, the Korean War broke out.  It was in the news a lot.  We only had a radio then, so all of our news was from the radio or newspapers.  (I don't think we even knew anybody who had a television until about 1953, when a couple of neighbors down the street bought TVs.)  Someone, I think it was my Uncle Larry (he was married to my dad's youngest sister, Catherine), gave me a map of Korea.  I hung it on a wall in my bedroom, and marked all of the places that were being mentioned in the news.  That was my first practical (self-imposed I suppose) geography lesson.  Uncle Larry gave me a surplus Navy short wave radio receiver (An RBO - it covered the broadcast band and up to 15Mhz).  I strung up a long copper wire antenna in the back yard, and listened to as many shortwave broadcasts as I could receive.

(Some 15 or so years later, when I was an electronic technician in the Navy, one of my assignments was to the USS Markab (AR-23).  She had been in service since WWWII, and still had RB series receivers in use in Radio Central, including the RBO.)

One other thing that I clearly remember was my Golden Encyclopedia.  I particularly remember the "map" of the universe in the center of the book.  When you opened the book out flat, this "map" extended all the way across both pages, from the left edge of the left page to the right edge of the right page, and from the top of the page to the bottom - with no margin.  It was black background with various sized white marks indicating the stars and constellations.  What really intrigued me was the question, "what's beyond the edge of the page?  What's beyond and what's behind all of this vast universe?  The way this "map" was printed clear to the edge of the pages implied that their was no known limit.

          A big world was opening up to me.  Bigger than I could have imagined – certainly bigger, grander, and more complex than I could understand, or explain.

Outwitted

Once in a while, something catches our attention that is unusually thought provoking, profound, or perhaps interestingly descriptive of someone, some place, or some thing – perhaps a little nugget of truth.

When I was a college student at San Jose State, I lived in one of the men's dormitories – Markham Hall.  There was a framed plaque hanging prominently on a wall in the sitting room on the first floor, a sort of living room where guests could be entertained.  It was a short poem by Edwin Markham, after whom our Dormitory was named.

Outwitted

He drew a circle that shut me out –

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had wit to win:

We drew a circle that took him in.

Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 3)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

(Psalm 121:1)

Part 3 of 8

__________

Old John had just finished another careful sweep around the vast wilderness with his powerful binoculars.  Then, he made his twice-daily routine report (brief and to the point) to the ranger headquarters with his two-way radio.

He settled back, and poured himself a mug of hot coffee – which always tasted wonderful in the cool, late-afternoon air at that altitude.  As he settled into his chair, he watched with interest as thunderheads began to build up to the southwest.  It looked like a good-sized summer storm was brewing.

Old John had previously caught a glimpse of campfire smoke in a valley near the end of a ridge down southwest of his lookout.  He new there was good fishing in the streams in that area.  And, he was not surprised to see that the hikers, whose presence in the vicinity had been reported to him, had settled there about six days ago.

On a couple of occasions, he had caught glimpses of flashes of light from down there too – probably off the lenses of someone's binoculars, someone who was just curious about the lookout.  They probably wondered what kind of a person would spend his life up here – and why?

As the sun began to set, the thunderclouds were growing larger and more ominous.  They began to look quite a bit darker and more menacing as twilight began to set in.  It was still quite clear around Baldcrest Mountain.  But further to the southwest, Old John could see the first flashes of lightening.

At first, they made beautifully spectacular flashes between the clouds.  Then, one large bolt of lightening seemed to connect earth to heaven, and it lit up the whole sky down in that direction.

It was still light enough to see the tops of the forest silhouetted against the clouds and portions of the darkening sky as twilight drifted into the dark of night.  It was getting quite cool as the sun disappeared.  A stiff breeze began to blow in Old John's face as he peered intently into the growing darkness from his vantage point on the exposed walkway that extended around the perimeter of his old lookout.  He put on his warm comfortable old jacket, and sipped his coffee.  That cup of hot coffee sure felt good.

  Old John would have to keep a watchful eye to the southwest.

[To be continued - jad]

Twelve, Five, Sixty

On December 5, 1960, I had driven across the old San Mateo Bridge in the morning, and then back home later as the sun was setting.  It looked so unusually beautiful that day, that I wanted to be able to capture it in my minds eye.  To create this memory, I decided to try to describe it in rhyme.

I stopped the car as soon as I got off the bridge that evening on the Hayward side, by the Leslie salt flats, and wrote my thoughts.

___________________

With hills of brownish green

And bay a calm as a peaceful stream,

The sight was like a beautiful dream

Of what is possible could ever seem.

Not a cloud was in the sky.

No smog got in your eye.

The day was quite unusual - like

Meeting a man who could never die.

Today's was a sight not often seen

Around our beautiful bay of green;

For the air is not often so clean

As 'twas from six am to eight this evening.

The bay looked as if 'twere lighted below

By lights caught in he undertow;

And only one who saw it would know

That it was a most marvelous show.

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Yosemite Fire Falls - Sure, Sure!

Yes, there used to be a fantastic display of fire falls in the evenings at Yosemite Park.  I got to see the fire falls once – when I was in the Boy Scouts.  It was probably in the early or mid 1950's.  Our scout troop (#44 in Castro Valley) had gone to camp at Diamond-O, a Boy Scout camp  near Hetch-Hetchy reservoir – not too far from the north entrance to Yosemite.

Our Scout Master had seen the fire falls before, and decided that we should all drive over so that we would have the opportunity to see them.  We just barely had time to make the mountainous trip ("We have a whole hour before the falls start, and it should only take an hour to get there!") - Our Scout Master had been an ambulance driver!?  So off we went.

By the time we arrived, several of us, including yours truly, were quite carsick.  But we made it to the parking lot in the valley – and out of the cars – just in time to see the big fire at the top of the cliff pushed off and tumble down.  It was quite a spectacular show.  Unfortunately, they stopped this breath-taking show quite a long time ago. 

  

   Needless to say - I've never forgotten that unique trip.

Great Blue Heron

 

A Great Blue Heron must make sure that he keeps himself ready to greet his subjects
 as he keeps careful watch over what he believes is his kingdom.

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God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves,

with which the waters swarmed after their kind,

and every winged bird after its kind;

and God saw that it was good.

God blessed them, saying,

“Be fruitful and multiply,

and fill the waters in the seas,

and let birds multiply on the earth.”

                                                            (Genesis 1:21-22)

Photo - Discovery Bay

October 10, 2011

Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 2)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;

From where shall my help come?

(Psalm 121:1)

Part 2 of 8

__________

August 1st had finally arrived.  Another year of hard work at the small factory where Jerry worked had finally come to a close.  During the first two weeks of August every year, the factory closed for inventory, and most of the employees were off for their annual vacation.

Jerry and Annette had been married for several years now.  The timing of the plant closure and their vacation was always a pleasure, because it left them free to celebrate their August 3rd anniversary any way they wanted.

This year, like most years, they planned to take their two children and go hiking in Baldcrest Wilderness.  The kids were old enough now to be able to carry packs big enough so that among the four of them, they could hike in about a two-days journey, camp by a good fishing-stream for a week, and then hike back out with a couple of days to spare.

Saturday was spent getting everything in final order.  All the essentials were laid out on the living room floor in four piles, according to the weight each of them could carry.  They each carefully packed their packs, and a few extra items were packed in a box to be left in the car for the first night when they arrived back at the car at the end of their anticipated 11-day round-trip hike.

Sunday morning, they were all up early and on their way.  About four hours later, on a comfortably crisp and beautiful morning, they parked at the end of a dirt road where they would leave their car for the next 11 days.  There was only one other vehicle there – an old, well-worn pickup.  It looked like it was probably a mid-50's old Ford, and it had apparently been parked there for several months.  It was very dusty.  But, from what you could see through the windows it seemed fairly well cared for on the inside.  Jerry's son, John, was left with the impression that it was still used by somebody, and had not just been abandoned there,  The tires were certainly in pretty good shape.

Jerry, Annette, and their two kids locked up their car, took up their packs and started down the trail – leaving their cares behind them, and striking out into the wilderness on their long-anticipated adventure.

[To be continued - jad]

God Makes the Sunset Shout for Joy

They who dwell in the ends of the earth

stand in awe of Your signs;

You make the dawn

and the sunset shout for joy.

Psalm 65:8

September 24, 2011

Mt. Diablo as seen from Discovery Bay

Kamakura

On May 30, 1966, according to the note I wrote at the time, "I went to Kamakura by train this morning to see the shrines, Great Buddha & countryside.  ¥100 for ticket on train, which took about one half hour."

At Kamakura there is a lovely pond in the middle of a very beautiful park or garden.  After walking around the pond and thoroughly enjoying the quiet beauty of this picturesque place for a while, I was impressed to start writing the following description.  I ended up finishing it on the train ride back to Yokosuka later that same day.  I still recall sitting quietly glancing out of the train window at the passing countryside as I wrote.  (jad)

       

           

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At Kamakura, by the temple, where the different hues of green sweep smoothly but rapidly down the hillsides to the pond with a small island and a few green trees and green bushes and a small building of Japanese architecture; And there is a small red bridge in the form of an arch reaching across to the island.

Everything is filled with life and even something more.  Even the pond is filled with life; for even though it is a small, murky pond, you can see a small motion just under the surface, which turns into a circular ripple as the turtle sticks his head through the surface for a breath of the pleasantly warm air.

And as you watch, the turtle pulls his head just below the surface and his shadowy form moves slowly but surely on through the pond, and between the few Lillie pads which lay smoothly on the surface.

Then, a sudden motion off to the right draws your attention to a big golden carp, which has jumped from the water after something to eat, and you wonder just how much it takes to fill up a fish that size, or if he even knows what it means to be full as you know it after a long slow, relaxed evening meal.

Suddenly you are aware of the presence of some others.  And as you glance at them, you know that they are lovers.  Because, as he talks and walks, she follows his every movement and listens to his every word, and is all of the time looking up into his eyes with all of the trust and admiration which is possible for anyone to imagine.  And the young lovers walk on the pond's edge hand in hand, and he whispers something to her and she smiles and tightens her grip on his arm.  They stop and look at the pond together and throw a small pebble into the water, and they watch the ripples spread out on the smooth surface in ever widening circles, content to be able to admire life together.

And as you watch the ripples move outward, they push under the shiny Lillie pads, and push against the back of the turtle's head as he comes up for yet another bite of life-giving air, and the ripples meet the ripples caused by the carp coming up after some food.

A small water spider scoots off along the pond's surface, trying to outrun the ripples, but ends up ridding over the ripples as they catch up to him and pass by him, and he goes on searching for his food and continuing his existence.

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