What's Your Story?

Throughout the month of October our teens were learning about Anger. To explain what is “sinful” about our anger, our pastor talked about our “stories”. He talked about how we all are living OUR story and so when that story is interrupted or rerouted we get angry. Our frustration can show in the big things like serious illness, divorce, unwanted pregnancy, financial loss and even presidential elections. But, it can just as easily come out in the little things like other drivers cutting us off, our kids spilling the milk, our spouse disagreeing with us, our boss changing our schedule. Anyways, you get the idea. Our anger is a result of our selfish desire. He then talked about GOD’S story. He used the illustration of the Bible as a glimpse into GOD’S story. When reading the Bible, we are seeing portions of GOD’S story. There are smaller stories within the Bible, but they all affect each other. None of them are exclusive unto themselves. The creation story isn’t a story about Adam and Eve, it is a story about GOD. The exile from Egypt isn’t a story about Moses. It isn’t even a story about Israel. The story of the great flood is not about Noah. He isn’t even the main character. God is. The story of King David isn’t about a great king or a murderous adulterer, or a man after God’s own heart. It is a story about God’s character. Our pastor explained to the teens that we can choose to have our very own story. All about us. What we want. What we believe. What we desire. In this path we will experience great bouts of anger, depression and sorrow. OR we can choose to live GOD’S story. It’s all about Him. What He wants. What He knows. What He desires. If we choose GOD’s story, we can be a character in it, but it’s not about us. Our anger, depression and sorrow will still be there but it will be shorter, easier to bear and quicker to fade.

Have you ever read Job 38 and 39? Have you ever seen the video “How Great is our God” by Louis Giglio?



If you are concerned because of our political election, if you are angry at your spouse, if you are scared because of illness in your life, if you are frustrated with your job or lack there of, if you are depressed and don't know how to crawl out of the dispair, if you have fallen back into addiction, if you are worried about your mortgage, if you are struggling with your teens... then go read the end of Job. Read what God has to say to Job when his life changed direction. Watch the video "How Great is our God". What we must remember is this: We are a mere speck in the wind. A blink of the eye. But GOD'S story is eternal and overcomes it all. It overcomes our human failings and brings us victory in the big picture of Jesus' story. Even if we fail in our current here and now, God's story will take that failure and use it to further His kingdom in ways we cannot fathom. He will bring purpose and Glory out of our dispair. Whose story are you living? Are you a human story about struggle and failure or are you a child, loved by God, in a story that will end in victory?

Card Carrying Member

I know, I know. There has not been a post in a while.

So, here is a post.

As you may be or may not be aware, I am pretty conservative when it comes to politics. I am, by far, not an environmentalist either. In fact, although I am not quite weird enough to chant “drill, baby, drill” when in a room with thousands of other conservatives, I would probably say “drill, and drill now” while playing games with friends.

I guess it is with that in mind that I find my involvement (some may call it an addiction) with geocaching very strange. I am not an outdoorsman. I am not a hunter. I do like to fish, but the reality is I like to catch. However, I completely enjoy the outdoors now. I guess BC (before geocaching), I saw no purpose in visiting a park or the country or a creek bed or a lake (without a fishing pole). Now, I can see those things AND have a purpose for being there. I enjoy seeing deer now, rather than making sure they do not run into my car. And can a conservative, non-environmentalist, non-animal loving man be more concerned for the safety of antelope? I don’t think so.

I don’t know if I can say that my love for animals has increased, but while looking for a cache recently we all witnessed what almost turned out to be a horrible happening. My wife held the camera and the kids watched in awe as I went into action. Here is a download of the result:




Of course, now that you have watched the video, you know full well that could not have been my fat, well, gut chasing him down. In real life you all probably know that the boys and I would have most likely been on top of the geocar chanting – “cheetah, cheetah, cheetah.” Even if it were real, and it was me, PETA would still have picketed my front yard because I deprived the cheetah of his meal (oh, and ignored him as I ran by) and humiliated the antelope in his native environment and who knows what the buzzard division of PETA would have said…

Maybe we will place a cache in honor of this un-heroic feat. Or maybe we will just wait until we really do discover a cheetah while geocaching. Or maybe I will change and become a card-bearing member of PETA. Or maybe, just maybe this is something I will never discover a change for.

I won’t fall as long as you’re around me… (Sandra)

So, as Marc said in our previous blog, we found some great rock walls for the boys to climb while on vacation. It was fun to watch how they each approached this adventure. Caden, jumping up and down asking over and over and over: ”Can we sign up to climb the rock wall mom? Can we? Did you hear me mom? Mom? Can we climb the wall over there?” Then Eric, calmly coming over with all the details: “Mom, they have a rock wall here. We can climb it for free”…” Yes for free, but you have to sign the paper saying it’s okay. If you sign it, Ms. Marly will. Megan’s done it before, please, can we?” Then Riley, after I have said to ask their dad and dad said sure, he quietly approached, almost like he was afraid to hear the answer: “Mom, can I? Please, I know I can do it. Eric and Caden get to, can you sign me up to?”

Well, we signed them all up!

Eric got strapped in. You could see him studying the wall, asking questions. What’s the easy way up? Do you think I could do the medium? What’s the goal? That bell at the top, what’s it for? What are those red tape strips? Okay, I’m ready. I’ve got a plan! I can get the bell.” For Eric, it was about the facts, the task and the accomplishment.

Caden was so different. He wasn’t really paying close attention to the wall. Just strap me in. Let’s go. Oh, wait, how do I get down? What if I want to quit? Okay, let’s try it. This is like that so and so in the movie such and such were the guy is doing something and he is like climbing and then he falls and then he grabs hold and so and so comes to help and ………….” For Caden, it was about the journey. It was about the role play. It was about being someone else, the hero in his imaginary world The experience was what mattered not the end result. If he made it great, if not, oh well…

Riley was just so thrilled to be with the big kids. He is stoked. He can do anything Eric and Caden can do and he is just sure to be just as successful as his brothers. There is no question, he is doing this and proving to everyone, especially mom, that he isn’t the little kid anymore! Strap me into this thing and let’s go. I watched the other two. I already know how to do this. For Riley, it was all about proving he was capable. He had the ability. If he could do this, he wasn’t the baby anymore. He was just as strong as everyone else!

So, as they climbed I watched. I watched the kids. I watched the guy on the other end of the rope. You know that guy. The one holding my child’s life in his hands. The one who made me sign that lawsuit waver. The one who was responsible for stopping a fall.

Eric didn’t need him for more than a safety precaution. He was there for nothing more than to make sure if Eric somehow slipped he didn’t plummet. Eric was determined. He wasn’t going to slip. He didn’t need the “guy”. But for legal reasons, that guy had to be there. Eric made it. He rang the bell. He accomplished the goal. He was the man!

Caden relied fully on the “guy”. He climbed sort of nonchalantly, grabbing hold, pushing and pulling himself up, but always aware that the safety net was there. He couldn’t fall. There was nothing to worry about, but also no reason to hold on for dear life. His life wasn’t in danger. Caden made it about halfway. Then he looked down. Wow, that was a long way down. He had experienced a thrill. He had lived a few minutes of spiderman. He was the comic book hero for just a minute. What a fun thing to do. But halfway was good enough. He didn’t need to continue. His goal wasn’t the top, it was the experience. It was the thrill. It was the role-play. And, it was a long way down. “Okay, (guy) let me down.”

Riley was thankful for the guy. The guy was his protection. He had a job to do. Success meant he moved up in the world. Okay, but this was hard. Riley’s legs weren’t long enough. His arm span wasn’t wide enough. But the guy was tugging on that rope. When his hands slipped and he was only hanging on by fingertips, the rope tugged upward so he could reach the next hold. He finally made it. To the top. He rang the bell. He was all smiles! He couldn’t have done it without the “guy”, but that didn’t matter. Eric had “needed” the guy. Caden had “needed” the guy. Yes, he did it! He had arrived!

Well, we’ve been home a week. I was in the car listening to our current favorite song: Washed by the Water by Need to Breath. I’ve listened to it at least a hundred times. The volume is cranked and I’m singing along.

Even if the Earth crumbles under my feet
Even if the ones I love turn around and crucify me
I won’t never ever let you down
I won’t fall
I won’t fall
I won’t fall as long as you’re around me

As soon as I sang that last line, the boys on the wall came to mind. The “guy” was around the boys. He was their safety. They couldn’t fall. I felt like God was whispering “Remember, I’m your Guy?” Sometimes I forget that He is my Guy. I’m a high stress person…I can stress about anything: a messy house; a broken pool pump; rental properties that need to sell; credit card balances that are to high; getting groceries; something I said trying to be funny…that came out wrong; my weight; overdue library books; gas prices; weeds in the garden… and the list is endless. Let’s just say, I STRESS! But God is wondering if I remember that He is in control.

Like the “guy” did for Eric, God can hold me steady so I can climb and accomplish and find fulfillment without fear. What if I fail? He will catch me. He will take my failure and give it a purpose. I can’t fall if I let Him hold the rope.

Just as the “guy” held the rope for Caden, God can be my complete safety net. He protects me completely so I can live, love, laugh, experience EVERYTHING to it’s fullest joy (without the stress). Life can be a journey of excitement and a thrill ride of experiences. Will there be pain and sorrow? Sometimes. But, I can’t fall if I let Him hold the rope.

And finally, as the “guy” did with Riley, God will even pull me up to the top. When I don’t have the strength, the skill or the ability, He can accomplish what I cannot. Will success come without struggle? Probably not. It may even include sacrifice and a little of bit of “dangling in the wind” when my hands and feet slip. However, I can’t fall if I let Him hold the rope.

Is God your Guy?

Even when the rain falls
Even when the flood starts rising
Even when the storm comes
I am washed by the water

Even if the Earth crumbles under my feet
Even if the ones I love turn around and crucify me
I won’t never ever let you down
I won’t fall
I won’t fall
I won’t fall as long as you’re around me
- Washed by the Water – Need to Breathe

Vacation

Sigh… Got back from vacation a few days ago, and it was relaxing. I believe you can judge a vacation with one question – How many times did you have to wonder or ask “what day of the week is it?” I asked that several times.

Anyway, we went geocaching a little on this vacation… a little. We did some things that we have never done before as a family (by far not our first time down there): found 2 new waterfalls, visited President and Senator Clinton’s college home in Fayetteville, found 2 rock climbing walls (our 5 year-old made it to the 30 foot top), visited several lakes and parks and cemeteries, went to Silver Dollar City, saw Yakov Smirnoff, and found 111 caches.

Why do I tell you all of that? Why not. Nothing profound, just information. Normally, we go to Arkansas to sit around and do nothing to relax. This year, we drove around and did some things to relax.

But sometimes it is much easier to find a change of pace when on vacation… Back to the real world and a more efforted pace change.

The Ultimate Cache

We are still looking for that ultimate cache. The greatest container, in the best hiding spot, with the coolest swag (toys, trinkets, stuff, etc), and the most traveled trackables. Don’t get me wrong, we have found some very cool hides. We found one near a snake, one at night as small as a bullet in a pine tree, an amazing hide on a guardrail, one in a cemetery where both confederate and union soldiers, and even one that we thought we were going to need SCUBA gear for. That is just naming a few. I guess what I am trying to say is – we have found some very cool hides.

Towards the end of 2 Kings after many different kings of Israel that just flat out blew it, comes a king that was 8 years old when he took the crown. The boy king's father, who was king before him, was assassinated by his confidants (who were then killed by the people). After ruling for about 18 years, this young king made a discovery – a book. Just a simple book. Yeah, it was found in the temple. So were a ton of other books. But this book was a little different. This one was written by Moses – a three sermon series that he preached to the people of Israel, just before they crossed the Jordan into the “promised land.”

He could have very simply put it up on the shelf. Set it on the coffee table. Tossed it under the bed. But not this king, not Josiah. After reading it, he followed through. He eliminated the evil from Judah. And when I say eliminated, I mean eradicated. He destroyed temples, idols, poles (don’t ask), alters, evil priests, mediums and spiritists, household gods, and basically everything detestable. “Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did—with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses.”

If only we could make that kind of commitment. If only we could just eradicate all of the crap out of our lives that we know isn’t right. If we could, maybe THAT would be the ultimate discovery. Maybe then could we live the ultimate discovery under the ultimate authority. Maybe, just maybe – the ultimate cache.

Fresh Paint

We found this park while out recently on the east side of Springfield Lake. The tunnel pictured allowed those visiting the park to cross the road (without looking both ways).

As we searched for a clue in our hunt for 10c toys, we were finding nothing. All we were looking for was a small tag with some numbers on it. But without the numbers, there was no way of finding the final portion of this hide. We looked some more in the tunnel, still nothing.

Then my oldest son pipes up and says, “Hey dad, it smells like fresh paint. I wonder if they painted over the clue.” Then he proceeds to say pointing at the roof of the tunnel, “Like right here.” What perception he showed, as he was spot on. A few fingernail scratches later and walla – the three digit number appeared. He took the time to notice what was right under all of our noses (pun intended).

This is the epitome of why I am blogging. I just want to point out some of the cool little spots we have found while out geocaching. Those areas that we would never have seen, gone to, visited, walked around if not for this silly little game. You know, the areas right under our noses that suddenly appear when you look at things differently.

Fresh paint and all, our family is Discovering a Change of Pace.

Huge

A fellow Geocacher and I were speaking a while back and were talking about the size of some of the containers we find. As we went down the conversational trail, we discussed how we thought there would be a “size window” where the containers hid out in the open would be discovered by non-game players.

Let me explain - our theory was that the container (cache) would need to be small enough to be obscure (about the size of a bullet), OR so big that it was ignored (maybe as big as a dumpster). If it was in the middle, those not playing this game may find it… Regular sized containers are about the size of a toaster (give or take) – our theory was that those would not work out in the open.

While out searching with the family last week, we found a cache (container) that was big. No, it was huge. It was big enough that the “hidden” container had the biggest cache we had seen inside of it. In fact the container in the container held at least 5 “regular” sized caches PLUS about a hundred other items PLUS room to spare (lots of room). The amazing thing is this cache is right out in the open. Available for anyone to find – they just have to be looking for it.

Isn’t that how it is with our God? He is so big that He is the Creator of all things. He is so small that He wants a relationship with each of us. He is so big that we worship Him. He is so small that we talk to Him all the time. He is, as He told Moses, “I am.” He is, as He told us, standing at the door and knocking. Available for anyone to find Him, we just have to be looking.


Now that’s a discovery worth making.

Series: Geofinding

I am going to start a small series on this Blog. Nothing complicated, just short explanations of what Geocaching is. As we get into this little game more and more, I find myself forming new ways of explaining what it is. AND, because I write this Blog as much for me as for anybody else, the series is for me so that I will get better at explaining what this game is.

We have found ourselves explaining Geocaching to several of our friends over the last several months. Mainly because we enjoy this game more when more people we know get involved.

Probably the biggest problem with explaining what the game is all about is its title – “Geocaching.” Yes, that is what it is. No, it has nothing to do with CASH. I am not talking about treasure. There is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. So, for this post, I am going to call it Geofinding.

I have heard of the bumper sticker that describes Geofinding like this “using expensive equipment to go deep into the woods to find a 10c toy.” That is pretty close, only sometimes there is no 10c toy.

I am going to describe Geofinding like this:

"Geofinding is a game where thousands of people around the world hide containers ranging in size and shape in places that are right under our noses. Why? So that others can go out and find them. The game is played with a GPS (coordinates posted online), the finder’s minds, and the great outdoors. The “caches” (which stands for hiding place) always contain a log (for the finders to sign) and sometimes contain many other items."

As I said above, I am going to make this a series to clear it up and find an easy way to describe Geocaching in 30 seconds or less (and actually have people understand what I am saying)… Watch for the icon above and join me on this journey to Discovering a Change of Pace – if I can explain it well enough.

The “Why do I Blog?” Challenge

I read other Blogs. Some are humorous, some are profound, some are good writing, some are not, some are professional development, some are innovative, some… well some are just worthless words.

I read recently a Blog (of the professional nature) that answered the writers question – “Why do I Blog?” I do not personally know this writer, but love to see his writings from my professions standpoint. This writer gave 3 reasons why he Blogs and I thought it was interesting to put it down for the world to see.

Then I began to think back to my old Blog and realized the reasons I Blogged back then vs. now are completely different. I want to put out there why I am Blogging… So, here goes – I am Blogging because:

Metaphorical Living - I want to personally find metaphors in daily living and put them down on paper. Take the time to re-look at things from a different perspective. This Blog gives me that opportunity, personally.

Discovery - I want to show others how many different places there are right under our noses. I guess I am discovering this and want others to do the same.

Introduction - I want to introduce people to Geocaching, a weird marriage of technology and nature.


So, here is my challenge – write in your Blog about why you do it. What are the 3 things that stand out when you ask yourself that question… I am curious to the different responses that will come out of this.

I wonder how many people are Discovering a Change in themselves when they write.

The Arena

We had the opportunity to visit Allerton Park (just outside of Monticello, IL) recently with family. This is a park that was donated to the University of Illinois back in 1946 as “an educational and research center, as a forest and wild-life and plant-life reserve, as an example of landscape architecture, and as a public park.” Allerton Park is a 1500-acre park welcoming more than 100,000 guests a year. There are numerous trails, gardens, formal gardens, gazebos, statues, and Fu Dog statues (strange little unique purple dinosaurs that look nothing like Barney). In short, a great place to visit.

It is a Public park - of course there are caches throughout the historic estate. So when my sister suggested we go, we were in. We were not able to see the entire park in one day. However, we visited one trail and quite a few formal gardens.

At one end of the formal gardens we visited there was an arena – a large concrete walled grassy area with small statues scattered around the outside. What made this spot so cool was that you could sit on the stairs at one end of the arena, someone else at the other and hold a conversation without yelling. Although there is about 75 yards separating the two ends, the acoustics of the arena made it seem like they were only a few feet away. Of course it did not work quite as well when several conversations were taking place, cell phones were ringing, and the kids were running around and yelling…

Recently, I have been reading in Deuteronomy (Thanks Evan) and found the following: “Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form.” Why? Because they stood at the foot of a mountain and listened. Saul, on his way to Damascus, heard the voice of Jesus and immediately was converted. Why? Because he listened (his companions merely heard a sound).

How often do we have so much going on in our lives that we miss the voice of our Creator? Sometimes it seems He is so far away. But if we are quiet, listen and change our pace… maybe, just maybe He will speak to us in our own personal arena - as if he is only a few feet away.

Setting Aside

Whew! That was close. While searching recently with friends (5 seakers from Mt. Zion and all of us – 10 total), we were walking down a 1/3-mile path that went along a ledge next to Lake Shelbyville. To complicate things, we were trying to grab a cache quickly before a thunderstorm hit… You know what they say about best-laid plans.

The trip down the path was interesting. As I walked, while watching the Doppler on my Blackberry with the GPS unit around my neck and my left hand holding the hand of my youngest, I quickly realized the soil under my feet had been eroded. No, not the ground I was walking on, but the soil underneath the ground I was walking on. I made this realization not because I saw the erosion, but instead because the ground broke free under my foot. Yes, I was quickly forced to fall to my left knee as my right leg dangled off a 10 foot ledge.

Fortunately, I was able to give the hand of my 5 year old to my wife, sheath my Blackberry, ignore the GPS and climb back up to safety. Like I said, Whew!

But doesn’t that remind you of life? We see the storm brewing in the distance and miss the loose ground right in front of us. Sometimes it's the little things right in front of us, you know - life, that shakes us up just enough to make us realize we need to set some things aside (ok, NOT our kids) and regain our footing. But, sometimes we need to be proactive and set things aside before life shakes us up.

As far as the cache – we didn’t find it. As far as the storm – it found us. As far as the lesson… definitely a reminder to set some things aside and continue Discovering a Change of Pace.

A Sportsman's Discovery

As we were searching several weeks ago and introducing friends to Geocaching, we found a small “park” just off Lake Decatur. Sportsman’s Park is made up of a couple of parking lots and an obscure trail.

It is always interesting to find these parks that we had no idea even existed. But, in a rush, the 8 of us made our way down the trail, looking for a small container filled with trinkets and a travel bug (I will cover this in a later post). The adults were walking, the kids were chatting, and we all were excited about finding our 5th cache of the evening.

The band Needtobreathe has a song titled “The Heat” that says “The hurry’s gonna bring you to your knees.” Wow. How true is that? In the end, what made this find so interesting was what we found at the end of the trail. Beyond the cache (the supposed treasure), was our experience viewing a really spectacular scene. We all agreed that we had no idea there was a small bluff overlooking an end of Lake Decatur with lily pads, flowers, and a tree laden horizon.

Wow. As we sat on the bench, we wondered how many other areas like this exist in Decatur. How many other areas have we missed in the rush of life while living here for over 14 years? “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

Sitting on the bench with friends seeing a view of Lake Decatur that we have never seen before, we we had to give Him account as we continued our journey Discovering a Change of Pace.

The Small Discovery

I am getting back into the game… After an incredibly long Blog sabbatical, I decided to make a come back. Not in the Brett Favre or Michael Jordan kind of way, but in a not quite as sardonic as before way. Although my previous Blog focused on absolutely nothing (in fact was a compilation of worthless words), these musings I hope will show things from a different angle.

In this, my opening entry, I hope everyone takes just a minute to look past what may seem weird or trivial and look to the real discovery. In other words, hang with me here – my other posts should be much shorter.

A few months ago, my beautiful wife was reading a magazine and stumbled on something we knew very little about. She found something that talked about Geocaching. For those who may not know much about Geocaching, it is a glorified, technologically enhanced treasure hunt for all-but worthless booty placed for the sole purpose of others making a find. Here is a synopsis: 1) geocachers go to a website (typically http://www.geocaching.com/) and search for hidden caches in particular areas, 2) they download GPS coordinates to their portable GPS units, 3) they search for the hidden stashes, caches, treasures (or whatever you want to call them), 4) they log their “finds” on the website.

Ok, yeah, it may seem like this is silly or something for those who have nothing better to do, but we thought it was interesting enough to give it a whirl. What we have discovered is this: geocaching is an incredible way to slow the pace of our world just enough to find things that are either right in front of our eyes or in places we would never have known about.

This Blog will focus on the small discoveries that we, as a family, are making in areas we would have never seen without Geocaching. I hope you will see the significance in the bluffs overlooking local lakes, the complete joy when a child finds a tough to find hiding spot, the hidden away beautiful parks, the historical markers all over the United States marking events that shape who we are as a people today, the historical Route 66, areas visited by people for reasons that no one else can understand, and sometimes the mere fact that some things are just right under our noses and we never see them.

I am hoping my words will inspire others to take a moment to Discover a Change of Pace.