Life Moves Pretty Fast -- Don't Miss It!

In the words of the great philosopher, Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you'll miss it!" That wisdom is so true, and unless you're my age, or more, you may not give those words a second thought now.....but give it a few years, and believe you me, you'll understand them and you'll be glad you did or you will regret NOT stopping and looking around!

I'm just so thankful I come from a long line of folks who did recognize the importance of living each day as if there were no tomorrow. I remember it being a big deal for my parents to be sure to go see their elderly parents often. I remember them visiting close friends and family, regularly, and them coming to visit us. I remember our big family reunions. Those were "matters of the heart" that are still with me today. We're still living each day to the max!

We just returned from our several days at Beaver's Bend State Park in Broken Bow, OK. We had a glorious few days of early morning fishing (at the crack of dawn), kayaking or other adventures in the afternoon, and more fishing after 6 pm. We hauled in a mother-lode of trout in all the various "fish hole" locations.

My daughter, Staci, is a master angler, with "fish" patience and "fish" intuition. I'm convinced she is a "fish whisperer" because when all lines are in the water, with the same bait on the hook -- you can count on hers being the bait of choice by those hungry trout. I'm also convinced her daddy, in heaven, has much to do with the magnetic draw of fish to her lines as she sits with her dad's fishing pouch in her lap. It touches my heart so much.

Larry says "You ready to go fishing?" She responds "Morning, noon and night!" You know you're a "red neck" when your biological clock is set to the time that fish are feeding. I'm so proud of this girl for so many reasons, but here in the great outdoors, I see her not as the girly, girl on the outside, but the girl that lives out loud with every breath she breathes. She's an adventurer and outdoors-woman to the core, so just the thought of those fish being there for the taking, keeps her on high alert. She has the map identified with the fishing spots -- good, better, best locations, based on our own experience.

Payton and his friend, Matt, are both 18 now, so they enjoyed being on their own and they hauled in a mass of fish, too. I caught a few fish which satisfies my need to fish and Alexia, our artistic, free-spirited girl -- enjoys taking photos, fishing a little, taking the fish from the fishermen and putting them on the stringer. It's all about a time of slowing down from a life that moves pretty fast and we're not missing it.

Like Ferris Bueller said, "If you don't stop and look around, you'll miss life." Life is everywhere -- in little kids, in our loved ones and friends, in our surroundings and in everything that God made. We embraced being in nature -- watching the crane on the water in his stealth mode as he'd target his fish lunch, the birds were chirping, the many deer and fawn that crossed the road, the squirrel that was eating out of our hands, the turtles in a circle on a huge rock in the water, a raccoon eyeing our trash, a beaver and a hawk that were zeroing in for the fish on our stringer, the clear, flowing waters and the enjoyment of each other -- making more memories that will carry on for generations, I'm sure.

That's the stuff that life and God's goodness is made of -- living with a grateful heart in the ups and downs, and enjoying the littlest of things that makes the biggest of things seem so trivial. How awesome it is to "Look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!" Psalm 27:13. So, to put John Wayne's "Daylight's a'wasting" to scripture words, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

When You Pass Through the Waters, I Will Be With You

Over the years, we’ve enjoyed every water feature you could imagine. We frequented the lakes in Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. And then there was Saddleback Lake in Canada where I officially became a Master Angler when I caught an 8 lb 9 oz Walleye. Mama brought home the fish. Papa had it mounted, and it's prominently placed in Mama's office!

We had fountains in three of our homes that provided such calming sound effects in our backyards. We had a pond at our Sapulpa OK home where our grandkids loved to hang out with Papa. In fact, they all learned to fish there. There's a fishing pond where I live now. We camped, fished and river rafted, canoed, and kayaked in rivers and there are no adequate words to convey about the majestic oceans and seas that we cruised on.

I recall my Sweetheart sitting back, delighting in the stillness and beauty of those moments in all of those water places. He loved taking it all in. He was "home" by the water. I'm quite sure he's made sure that our mansion in heaven is right by the River of Life.

What if life was like living by a pond or lake? A lake can represent stability and tranquility. A lake doesn’t change much from year to year. With the exception of a severe storm (we were at the lake on plenty of occasions when a tornado was coming through), a lake is a secure place with clear boundaries, stable waters, and a quiet shore. There is a sense of order, control, and safe predictability about a lake, with few major surprises from day to day.

I have found life to be more like traveling down a river. It's very unpredictable and filled with many twists and turns, highs and lows, rapids and calms, unseen obstacles and unexpected objects that go drifting by. But, it can also be filled with exhilarating experiences that are packed full of adventure.

Larry, Staci, the kids and myself recently enjoyed a trip to the Illinois River. When the Tenkiller Dam is closed, the river flows nice and slow, and it’s easy to swim and relax, even fish while standing right in the middle of the river. But when the gates at the dam open up, the strong force of those waters is a force to be reckoned with. You can ride the currents in a raft or kayak, but you have to avoid the potential dangers which can be devastating to a rider. We know that for a fact – when our kayaks tipped over and we were pulled into the rapids, and but for the grace of God, could have lost our lives. Our kayaks went on down the river….without us in them. Thank God, we had on life preservers.

As we journey on in life we want things to be safe and secure for us and our loved ones, like that lake with borders -- no big changes or surprises. But, in reality, life is more like a river as it is continually moving in ways that we cannot control, predict, or expect.

The good news for us is that our security, stability, AND sanity are not found on the rivers of our lives, but in the Lord of of our lives. Our hope is in Him who knows the way through the obstacles and the twists and turns. Our peace is found in the One who directs our course. Our hope is fixed upon the One whose hands not only created the river, but calms it, and He is THE ONE Who causes the unpredictability of the river to work things together for our good.

Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you....."

Lathered Up With a Fishing Pole Between Our Toes

As I looked up at my office wall yesterday, I was reminded of one of my favorite fishing stories.  My husband, teenage daughter and I flew on a seaplane into secluded, Side Saddle Lake in Manitoba to fish for the day.  A seaplane was the only way to get into that lake.   My husband, with his organized personality, had all his fishing equipment in order and ready to go.  That included a depth finder, a fish locator, and every rigging you could possibly need to catch "the big one"!  His philosophy was always "If you're going to do something, do it right and do the best job you can at it!"

My daughter and I, on the other hand, both sanguine personalities, take-it-as-it-comes and fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants mentality, had two things in mind, to catch fish and to catch some sun rays.  We were greased up from head to toe in suntan oil.  My husband, with his meticulous way of doing things, patiently trolled the boat all around the lake, ensuring we were on just the right spots to catch walleye,  Staci eventually had on a 12-pound alligator gar that was so strong and mighty, it nose-dived and went right through the fish net when she tried to land it.  Now there was this gapping hole in the net.

Not long after that, Staci and I were both laying back in the boat, catching some rays, oiled up, and our fishing rods were snug between our toes. My husband was dismayed that we were getting suntan oil all over his tackle and bait. Bless his heart -- he tried so hard to be patient with us.   Suddenly I had a huge hit on my line. We could see it was a BIG ONE -- a big walleye.   Staci and I were squealing and rocking the boat and Ron did his best to calm us down. I reeled as he held the net (with the hole in it).  With even more determination, he helped me get that 'big boy' into the boat, which is the fish you see here.

Ron was so proud of me, as that "catch" qualified me as a Master Angler in the Province of Manitoba.  

When I think about all my precious husband went through to make for such a great experience for his girls -- the details, the right equipment, the perfect location and setting -- not to mention the stress we gave him -- I know, that still, he was absolutely bursting with joy and pride at HIS accomplishments.  But, I have to tell you, he took life so seriously -- he worked so hard -- he was so detailed in getting things done just right -- and often in the middle of it all had so much less fun than we did.  Then there's his two girls that just showed up and relaxed and embraced the moments, and had a party.   It was immaterial to us if we caught any fish at all.  We were there for the fun (that's what sanguines do).  But, all in all, we needed each other  then, and we ALL need each other today!  Regardless of the personality differences -- the ones who have it altogether, as well as those who are free-spirited, we need each other.  We bring balance to each other.  Opposites "attract" for a reason -- it certainly was that way for us for over 44 years.  He made us better because of his organization.  We made him better because he learned to "chill" more.   And, if we all took life less seriously, if we slowed down, relaxed and embraced the moments, we will find blessings just come so naturally --  even if we're all lathered up with a fishing pole between our toes!