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.