Land of the Midnight Sun

Circadian rhythms notwithstanding it's difficult to comprehend so much light late at night. This photo was taken from the window of my room at midnight. It's a good thing I've gone to sleep with the lights on for so many years or I might have had difficulty falling into restful bliss. No, I don't need a night light. My pretty wife likes to read at night. I like to sleep at night, so I've learned to adapt. I think there's a conspiracy going on. Whenever I go fishing or camping it usually turns into something unexpected. I heard today that this is the coldest July on record. It can't be me bringing this bad luck, so somebody else must be following me! I'll try and ditch him tomorrow. Some venturing today, a little fishing and a couple of really expensive burgers rounded out this day. Tomorrow, a little more fishing then off to Anchor Point, around 35 miles north of Homer. Why is it named Anchor Point? Glad you asked. Captain Cook, the same guy who explored Our Favorite Paradise, also explored this area hence the name Cook Inlet. Caught in a storm they lost their anchor near the point where the river flows into the inlet. Nifty how them cartographers came up with names for all those places, isn't it? Thank goodness it's cloudy tonight. Time to catch up on lost sleep!

Gray Skies Up North

Well, it's not quite the top of the world, but it sure is closer than Reno. After a long day of flying we are finally in Homer Alaska, the land of something or other. We are staying at the Land's End Resort on the extreme tip of Homer Spit. By the way, the "we" I'm referring to consists of me and Emmitt, another superintendent that I work with. My beautiful wife had to remain behind as Emmitt and I were awarded this 8-day trip, by our company, to fish Cook Inlet. Gray, drizzly skies arrived about the same time as we did. The temperature is 52 degrees, a little cooler than back home. But hey, this is Alaska. Another thing I've noticed is the color green. It covers most of the ground at the lower elevations. Snow is still present throughout the higher elevations. Across Kachemak Bay lie the Kenai Mountains and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, home to many glaciers. Some of these are visible in the photo taken from the shore outside the resort. If you're wondering where Homer is, break out a map of Alaska. Locate Anchorage, then follow the southern shore of Cook Inlet until you see a very narrow peninsula jutting into Kachemak Bay. That's us and I'm the one waving. Just kidding. More tomorrow.

Holy Ground

I wasn't really thinking about it, but the realization struck me anyway. There was something different about where I was standing. And no, it wasn't at church. I'm currently working on a military base. We were walking outside taking a visual survey for some upcoming work when it dawned on me. There is something different about this place. There is no doubting it. You don't just appear on a military base. No indeed, you must actually go through some procedures just to get on as a civilian. There is evidence all around of the military's presence. The uniformed personnel. The armed guards. The C-130 aircraft. The fences. Yes, you know when you're on a military base. Let me digress a little for a funny story. Today I was driving on the base and coming up to a pedestrian crosswalk in the middle of the block. There is a tree-lined center landscape strip dividing the traffic lanes that the crosswalk bisects. As I drove through the crosswalk a man "appeared" next to my truck. I didn't see him until it was too late to stop. No, I didn't hit him, and no, it wasn't an angel. The reason I didn't see him was because he was walking through the trees wearing a camouflage uniform. I thought about what I would have said if I did strike him with my truck. I would have said, "The camo works great! Sorry." Anyway, back to my blog. Knowing I'm on a military base is reassuring, if you mind your P's and Q's. There is quite a safety factor. Virtually all the personnel are courteous, professional and nicely attired. The streets are clean, and aside from the occasional aircraft arriving or departing, it's very quiet and peaceful. Just like Holy Ground. There is no mistaking it. There is peace and safety. There you find power and might, though it is the Lord's and not the USAF. You know you're fenced in and protected from the ordinary elements of daily distraction. Hell's riffraff doesn't get in. You don't have to continually watch your back. You are in a special place. A place designed with a purpose. You have a mission. You have access to the ultimate Commander-in-Chief. He's letting you know that He's there with you, and for you. Next time you sense that you're in the presence of God, realize these things. Enjoy the experience.

Get a Clue

Clues are all around us. So is cluelessness. What's the difference? Probably just not paying attention. Not seeing the clues. Not really looking for them. I remember as a child looking for 4-leaf clovers. They were supposed to bring good luck, and as every 10 year old knew, we definitely needed good luck. So there we were, a handful of us searching ours and the neighbor's yards looking for that which would supposedly change our prospects. What did we need good luck for? I don't think I ever really remember identifying a situation or circumstance that cried desperately for change. Maybe my grades. Those were always challenging. I never thought it was a good thing to limit grades to A through F, so I became what may have been the first student in history to actually come home with a K on my report card. (Just kidding... I never got worse than an H!) In reality the only luck I needed when I got my report card was that my dad would be away on business. Since he worked locally, and was home everyday before 5, I knew that would never happen. I think our parents enjoyed us being in the yard seeking 4-leaf clovers. The reasons would be obvious to any parent and especially to our two families with their combined 11 children! So where am I going with this? Clues are all around us. Yes I know I said that earlier, but I want to restate it now. Being surrounded by clues should make us more aware of all things, but I don't see that being the case. Look at your children. Do you see what's troubling them? The clues are all around. If they're happy children, do you know why? If not, look around. It'll be easy to see the things that bring them joy. Consider your spouse. You know what makes them tick, but do you know the source of an insecurity? The clues are there. If you know what they like, and most of us do, it's because early in our relationship we spent considerable time and energy studying their likes and dislikes - looking for the clues to winning their hearts. Now consider the poor, unfortunate souls that lack love. It's all around them. Some goes toward them, some from them. But it's truly there. Someone once said, "Love is in the air." They noticed it, so why doesn't everyone? A deep mystery is unraveled only by discovering many clues. A constant search is required. One clue leads to another, then another, and before we know it we're hot on the trail to the answer. Where does this bring us? Simple. God is love. God is omnipresent. His clues abound. His love is everywhere. His grace abounds. He has given us so many clues. The easy ones start the relationship. If we are diligent in our searching we will find greater clues that unravel the deep mystery of His love for us. Quit searching for good-luck clovers. Start noticing His clues.