Transitions of the Fall Season

Fall is a time of transition. Caterpillars into butterflies, shade trees to bare trees and God's creature migrate to their winter homes!

When we lived in New Hampshire we had a pond in the back yard, Lupine Pond, named for the floral that grew around it! It had a collection of animals many of which I will eventually write.

Canadian Geese are such a treasure. Yes, they poop all over but really. We had geese all summer and most of the fall. We got see the hatching's turn from swimmer to flyer's. One of my favorite memories was while preparing dinner with my wife. She was washing some dishes in the kitchen sink that overlooked the pond. She called me over to see this mother with her 8 or nine children in the water. At first nothing was different, she was squawking orders, guiding them but they were in the pattern of a "flying wing"! Yes the same shape we see them flying in during migration but this was in the water. They each had their place and it was her job to prepare them for the coming journey south! She squawked loudly at the other geese in the pond that might interfere with this training. This was not the only time we observed her behavior. On another occasion she was teaching them while on the lawn beside the house, it was an incredible experience with God's creation.

Well, my twist on this is our role as parents. Our kids are 26, 23 and 16. We spent our parenting years coaching them to walk, eat, dress themselves and be independent. We were charged with having "good kids"! But really what we were doing was exactly what this mother goose was doing. Teaching them a place in this world where they could fit in, showing them the value of family, cooperation and also companionship. We are proud of our kids and who they are but some are on their own path migrating together with their spouse. Life is a journey to and from many places. It is also a journey with family, friends and even predators. But mostly life is continuing a path, a journey or a trip started at a young point in our lives and traveling where-ever the wind takes us!

God is transforming!

A Butterfly is born in my wife's classroom

The Rut

I love Fall. The colors, the smell and the coolness in the air. Moose are incredible animals. I have had many encounters with this largest member of the deer family. The males are very active seeking mates and foes. Males are dominant but females unrelenting. My most memorable experience was on the Kangamagus Highway in New Hampshire. It was dusk and we were traveling to a Bible Study when a female came onto the road. She stood directly in front of the car, not moving. Moose are often viewed as dumb, stubborn or unaware but this is not true. My headlights illuminate her 7 foot shoulders and long legs. She looked directly at me standing her ground, this is often normal but they will lumber off into the deep woods. I knew something was wrong or very disturbing because she took a second to look left and then right in bewilderment. I belie5ve if i had not stopped, i would no longer have a car. Then out of the side of the road TWINS - on opposite sides. She was presenting her life to give to protect not one but BOTH!

Our Savior did the same for you and me! Selfless, deliberate sacrifice! WOW!

A little learning...

The rut is the mating season of ruminant animals such as deer, sheep, elk, moose, caribou, ibex, goats, pronghorn and Asian and African antelope. During the rut (also known as the rutting period, and in sheep sometimes as tupping), males often rub their antlers or horns on trees or shrubs, fight with each other, wallow in mud or dust, and herd estrus females together. The rut in many species is triggered by a shortening of the length of daylight hours each day. The timing of the rut for different species depends on the length of their gestation period (length of pregnancy), usually occurring so the young are born in the spring, shortly after new green growth has appeared (which provides food for the females, allowing them to provide milk for the young), and when the temperatures are warm enough that the young will not die of hypothermia.

Why start blogging now?

First, I am not really a writer.

I have just arrived at a new place in my spiritual walk and position with God and He wants me to share it with others.

I had taken the last 8 months and explored what God wants of me. I left my job and spent 5 weeks searching for guidance, well more like explored what I wanted to do. Failure! I dove into so called ministry only to be pulled back by an injury that derailed my so called good works. I thought God wanted me to do something BIG for Him and I got bitter when nothing happened. Well, long story short, I finally went back to work and realized that the "where and what" I was searching for was no further away than my own doorstep. My wife of 29 years, my kids and my friends were the MAIN focus and so was my personal time with God!

God = AWESOME

And I need to spend my time in a daily walk with Him. I do not need to worry about things outside my control, but focus on those things right in front of me!

AWESTRUCK!

I am AWESTRUCK by God!

My God, the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, the God of the Old and New Testaments, who has reveled Himself through history....is Awesome.

The Bible says we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" by Him! The Father, Son and Holy Spirit is a mystery yet a revelation of who He is.

My closest connection to my God is His Amazing Creations. Genesis records the summary of a 7 day creation and few details about "how or why". But still, no matter where I look, whether to the skies or into a microscope, I am blown away by my God!

So this blog is my way of telling the story of "My Awe of God!" I will share experiences in nature, in observation or even in ignorance of my journey with God!

So away we go, please join me!