Chris Loehmer Kincaid's Blog, page 27

Challenges

Severalyears ago, I challenged myself to walk all of the trails in one of the state parks.

In2021, I hiked one of the trails in Devil’s Lake State Park. It was exhilarating,but I also thought I could have killed myself. I’ll never get to all the trailsin that park.

Lastyear, I walked all of the trails in Bewabic State Park in Michigan. And I hopedto accomplish that goal in a different state park each year. 

Thisyear, as you can certainly guess, I didn’t come close. One day, I stopped byour nearest state park the end of July and walked a very paltry section of itstrails. Okay, to be honest, most of what I hiked was on the handicap accessiblepath. I’m pathetic.

Butguess what? It is only September 1. Maybe we will have a long, comfortable autumn,and now that my back is doing quite a bit better, I’ll be able to get out andexplore before snow falls.

Hopeyou’ve been able to get out and enjoy all that the outdoors of your area has tooffer. And if not, there is always tomorrow, or next week, or next year. Justdon’t give up.

Orif you really want a challenge – well, I still can’t believe I climbed up thiswall in 2015 in Hell’s Gate National Park in Kenya. If I could do that, you cando anything.

A Day and Night Away

Well,gee whiz, where has the month gone. I know I mentioned that on my post lastFriday. But I’m looking back at the few road trips I took this summer and am amonth behind. 

 The last weekend in July, my daughter rented a cabin in Jump River and invited me to spent Saturday afternoon and night with her and her dog.

The cabin was really nice.

I suppose I could have gotten a picture of my daughter instead of just of my grandpuppy.  

But what’s a grandma to do?

And if you’ve never heard of Jump River, or been there, look it up.

There’s always something to do no matter where you go in Wisconsin.

And always something beautiful to take pictures of.

Relevant or not? Too long or not?

 

Ialways hate posting a long passage from the Bible. I’m afraid you won’t read itall, because you will find it boring, or had to understand, or irrelevant. 

Last night, I read2nd Corinthians, chapter 4, and it said so much to me. I wanted to pick out themost pertinent verse to try to pick apart and explain in my own words. Butreally? Like my words are ever better than God’s?

Sohere is the entire chapter. I hope you read it all.

          God, with his mercy, gave us thiswork to do, so we don’t give up. 2 But we have turned away from secret andshameful ways. We use no trickery, and we do not change the teaching of God. Weteach the truth plainly, showing everyone who we are. Then they can know intheir hearts what kind of people we are in God’s sight. 3 If the Good News thatwe preach is hidden, it is hidden only to those who are lost. 4 The devil whorules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They cannotsee the light of the Good News—the Good News about the glory of Christ, who isexactly like God. 5 We do not preach about ourselves, but we preach that JesusChrist is Lord and that we are your servants for Jesus. 6 God once said, “Letthe light shine out of the darkness!” This is the same God who made his lightshine in our hearts by letting us know the glory of God that is in the face ofChrist.

          7 We have this treasure from God, butwe are like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great poweris from God, not from us. 8 We have troubles all around us, but we are notdefeated. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living.9 We are persecuted, but God does not leave us. We are hurt sometimes, but weare not destroyed. 10 We carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that thelife of Jesus can also be seen in our bodies. 11 We are alive, but for Jesus weare always in danger of death so that the life of Jesus can be seen in ourbodies that die. 12 So death is working in us, but life is working in you.

          13 It is written in the Scriptures, “Ibelieved, so I spoke.” Our faith is like this, too. We believe, and so wespeak. 14 God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and we know that God willalso raise us with Jesus. God will bring us together with you, and we willstand before him. 15 All these things are for you. And so the grace of God thatis being given to more and more people will bring increasing thanks to God forhis glory.

          16 So we do not give up. Our physicalbody is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new everyday. 17 We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain aneternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. 18 We set our eyes not onwhat we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time,but what we cannot see will last forever.

(2Corinthians 4, New Century Version)

And Summer is Over

Wow,look at that date. The last Friday of summer. (I don’t know why they still saysummer lasts until September 23. It’s got to do with the moon, I think, butlike why are we still living in the Middle Ages. Come on, summer is June throughAugust and that’s all she wrote.)

It’salso four months until Christmas. I was thinking about getting a start on myshopping by at least buying my kids’ yearly packages of socks, maybe underwearthis year too, as they have both been struggling with life.

Becausemy back has been tormenting me all summer, as you know and are probably tiredof hearing, I didn’t have nearly as many adventures or go as many places as Iwould have liked. Looking back, however, I guess I got out a little bit. 

A walk with my daughter and her dog in our hometown. Another walk on another day with daughter and grand-dog.
A walk on my own at Council Grounds State Park in Merrill. 
A walk with my sister at a park in her town of Wausau.
Everyone tells me that walking is the best thing for my back. 
An overnight adventure with Daughter and Pup at Jump River.
Our annual camping trip to Bewabic State Park in Michigan. 
A new camping site, Wyalusing State Park in the far southwest corner of the state. 


And on days when I can't get out of the house, sometimes, all I have to do is look out my window. 

Don't Compare Wings

Thewings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wingsand feathers of the stork. (Job 39:13, New International Version)

Thursday,I had my appointment with the spine specialist. I didn’t have high expectationsthat this visit would magically heal my back, but I thought I should at leasttry it and see what they said.

Isuffer a fair amount of anxiety, and this ongoing back pain has worsened it. AsI was sitting in the car, trying to calm myself down before entering thebuilding, I wished I had dragged my husband along for moral support. (He wasmore than willing to come with me, but I told him I got this.) But there I was,all alone. Not really.

Sinceit was too late to have anyone else join me, I decided to invite Jesus into thedoctor’s office.

Thestaff person finished rooming me and asking me a million questions, one ofwhich was, “Is your blood pressure usually this high?” And I was left alone towait for the doctor.

Isat back, closed my eyes, and imagined Jesus sitting down in the chair besideme. And then I started in on myself.

Whywas I even there? I already had my mind made up that this doctor wouldn’t helpmy back. And so what? So many more people were out there with problems moresignificant than mine. Sure, it hurt to walk, but only 75% of the time, but Icould still walk. What about paraplegics? What about amputees? Sure, they canwalk on a prosthesis, but wouldn’t that get old after a while?

Yes,Jesus was with me, and while I was waiting for the doctor to come in, beratingmyself for being such a whiner when other people have it way worse than me,Jesus told me not to compare myself with others. Everyone has their own battle,and this is mine. And Jesus will fight it with me just like He fights the onesthat other believers are fighting.

I’mnever alone, and God hears and answers all of our prayers. But today’s reminderis: You may have ostrich wings, or stork wings, or even eagle wings, butwhatever kind they are, don’t compare them with others. They are your wings andyours alone.

That’s a Wrap – annual camping in the UP, Blog Post #4

Our annual camping trip to the UP was cut short becauseof the unrelenting pain in my back. Our last day there, Wednesday, we stillmade the run up to the Jampot, near Eagle River, for jams and treats from thedear monks who run the bakery.

They grow beautiful roses too.

Every time we drive through Eagle River, we glance over at the Historical Museum, but it has always been closed. Like many such museums in small towns, it has quirky hours. But lo and behold, it was open that day and we took a quick tour.

Eagle River Falls, which at one time had much more water flowing over it, but it’s been this scanty for many years now it seems.

Just up the road is the County Courthouse.

And just past that is the County Sheriff’s office.

And at the end of that street is the Gitchee Gumee Bible Camp. I always wanted to check it out, but this is probably the closest I’ll get.

Lake Superior, aka the real Gitchee Gumee, will always be the most fascinating part of the trip for me though.

And seeing a freighter out on the water always excites me.

serenity and so much more

Godgrant me the serenity

Toaccept the things I cannot change;

Courageto change the things I can;

Andwisdom to know the difference. ( Written by Reinhold Neibuhr in the 1930s)

Everynight, after I go bed, I recite the Lord’s Prayer in my head and follow thatwith all the things I am thankful for, all the things I’ve done which need tobe forgiven, and my long list of prayer requests.

Thelast few months, I’ve added the serenity prayer. Thinking about that prayer, I’vechanged things around a bit and added something like this:

Godgrant me peace, God take away my fear.  

Godgrant me healing, God take away my pain.

Godgrant me rest, God take away my anxiety.  

Youget the idea, and I’m sure you can come up with your own list. I’ve beenreciting this new list in my head until I drift off to sleep, which is one ofthose things I always ask God to grant me.

Anyway,it’s just a thought for something for you to try if you feel your prayer lifeis stagnant.

Alsohave you read the entire Serenity Prayer?

Godgrant me the serenity

Toaccept the things I cannot change;

Courageto change the things I can;

Andwisdom to know the difference.

 

Livingone day at a time;

Enjoyingone moment at a time;

Acceptinghardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking,as He did, this sinful world

 

Asit is, not as I would have it;

Trustingthat He will make all things right

IfI surrender to His Will;

Sothat I may be reasonably happy in this life

 

Andsupremely happy with Him

Foreverand ever in the next.

Amen

Top of the Hill and More – annual camping in the UP, Blog Post #3

The last time I wrote here about our camping trip to theUP in July, we were just leaving the World War II Glider Museum in IronMountain. The volunteer working there directed us to the ski lift on top ofPine Mountain, not only for the jump but for the veteran’s memorial that wasthere.    

          It sits above the Pine Mountain Ski and Golf Resort. We took pictures from the bottom and the top. And it was definitely worth the drive up.        

          The views were breathtaking.        

          And the veteran’s memorial was touching.

          We ate lunch there under the picnic shelter. It was comfortable in the sun and slightly cool in the shade. One of the better weather days of the trip.  

Words you might need today

 

Lord,listen to me and answer me.

    I am poor and helpless.

2Protect me, because I worship you.

    My God, save me, your servant who trusts inyou.

3Lord, have mercy on me,

    because I have called to you all day.

4Give happiness to me, your servant,

    because I give my life to you, Lord.

5Lord, you are kind and forgiving

    and have great love for those who call toyou.

6Lord, hear my prayer,

    and listen when I ask for mercy.

7I call to you in times of trouble,

    because you will answer me.

 

8Lord, there is no god like you

    and no works like yours.

9Lord, all the nations you have made

    will come and worship you.

    They will honor you.

10You are great and you do miracles.

    Only you are God.

11Lord, teach me what you want me to do,

    and I will live by your truth.

Teachme to respect you completely.

12Lord, my God, I will praise you with all my heart,

    and I will honor your name forever.

13You have great love for me.

    You have saved me from death. (Psalm 86, NewCentury Version)

 

Beautiful verses fromthe Book of Psalms. Maybe these are words you need today. 

Backyard Encounter

As usual, I had other things I planned to write about tonight, but then there was this amazing backyard encounter at my house yesterday afternoon which I just had to share. 
If you know me at all, you've heard about Emma, our special kitty. She has a seizure disorder and is just not right in the head. When I lay out on the deck, she wants to be outside too, but I have to keep an eye on her because if she were to wander off, there's no way she'd find her way home. Usually, she lays under a chair or the grill, in the shade and sleeps, but sometimes she does jump off the deck. 
It was time for both of us to go back in the house. I looked around, and there she was under the clothesline, stalking something. I only had my cellphone, in case someone called, and not my regular camera, so the pictures aren't the best. I suppose I need to cave and upgrade my cell, huh?  It didn't take me long to see what Emma was stalking. Little stinker. 
The doe was just as curious. Sorry about the clothes on the line. Yes, I'm that old-fashioned. 
 So this stupid deer, turns and wanders off in the woods, with Emma still looking for her. And that doe circles around on my trail and comes out in the yard behind Emma.  And Emma is oblivious. Like she's saying, "Which way did he go, George?" from the old cartoon "Of Foxes and Hounds".  

And the doe just wants to find out what Emma is.  "Oh, hello, there!" The moment of truth. And Emma hissed and the deer took off.  And Emma's still like, "Which way did he go?"