From Sea Level To Mountaintop

August 30

After countless weeks patrolling off the Nicaraguan coast, our ship was released to go through the Panama Canal and sail into the Caribbean Sea. And what a treat it was. One of our port visits was to Willemstad, the capital city of the island of Curacao. It was once claimed by the Netherlands, whose people had left their cultural influences behind after the island gained its independence. The architecture was clearly Dutch, but the colors were undeniably Caribbean.

Back in the 17th century, it was nicknamed The Island of Healing. As the story goes, sick European sailors would be dropped off by their captains, so that they wouldn't be a burden to their ships. But most of the sailors would recover their health, and ships would pick them up before returning to Europe. It's believed that most of these sailors had scurvy, a painful disease caused by a lack of proper vitamins in their shipboard diet. But eating the fruit of the island would get them back on their feet.

A diet without the benefits of fruit won't keep us in good health for long. Their vitamins are critical to the proper function of our bodies. Likewise, there is spiritual fruit that is necessary for us to remain healthy. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22)

August 31

Mission Bay Park in San Diego is quite large, with some parts being remote and further away from areas that most people use. My group of boys was camping with several others, totaling well over 100 campers. There were lots of activities during the day, with lots of non-campers coming over to see what was up, but after dinner we pretty much had the park to ourselves. But, like it does, sound seems to travel better at night, and we could clearly hear traffic on nearby freeways.

It reminded us that we were still in the middle of a metropolitan area, with all that goes on in a big city. Including night sounds that are a bit unnatural for a campout, Well after midnight, there were distant gunshots. And if those weren't enough to wake us up, police sirens over the next 15 minutes were sure to do the trick.

It was the last time our organization scheduled a campout in an urban setting. While it may have been convenient and easy to get to, it certainly wasn't the peaceful setting we normally had. When man leaves God out of his life, it always ends up in violence. "Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other." (Psalm 85:10)

Sept 1

My wife and I were visiting her father, who had moved to Leavenworth, a small town in the mountains of Washington. The forested area was quite beautiful and a joy to spend time in. After catching up on the news, my father-in-law invited me to go fishing. He didn't have to ask me twice and we grabbed our gear and drove to a nearby body of water. The small lake was covered with a thick mat of algae, which gave way to the boat as we rowed.

It didn't take long to catch a half-dozen rainbow trout, which we cleaned and took back to his house. They were fried up for dinner and we all sat at the table with silverware in hand. After saying grace, we dove in. After the first bite, I had to eat each forkful with a generous addition of potatoes and whatever else was on my plate in order to get it down. The trout tasted like decomposing grass, as algae was a major part of its diet. I didn't want to cause offense by pushing the plate aside, so I continued to eat.

In a reverse, Paul says that we may need to refuse to partake of some items in order not to harm those we are in the company of. Our guest may have a religious restriction against, or a weakness for, certain things. "It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall." (Romans 14:21)

Sept 2

I was standing by the concrete quay wall, waiting for my new command to pull in. I had spent a few days flying around and was now on the island of Okinawa. I was to report aboard as Assistant Navigator, and I felt ready for the challenge as a new QM1. I had been well prepared for this by my last Chief, who had thoroughly mentored me. When the ship tied up, I came aboard and was escorted to the bridge. I was introduced to the captain, and that's when I realized the ship hadn't secured from the Sea and Anchor Detail. We were getting underway again in 10 minutes.

The butterflies got busy and I silently prayed. The Chief that I was replacing stood back in a corner to observe me. It was the only time I saw him in the coming days, as he was temporarily filling a manning gap and running another division. Our departure went well, and we were thrown into a busy schedule. So busy that it took me a week to unpack my sea bag and get settled.

It could have gone badly, but I was well prepared. Prepared by my past Chief and my ever-present God. Between the two of them, I didn't falter or fail. "It was he who...prepare(d) God's people for works of service..." (Ephesians 4:11-12)

Sept 3

On every ship that I served, and at most of the shore duty stations as well, I had painted alongside my shipmates. It didn't matter if I was fresh out of boot camp or nearing retirement. It seems that I always found an excuse to put a paintbrush in my hand. I just enjoyed dipping it into a can of paint and making something look better. It's one of the few jobs out there where you receive what I call "instant gratification."

Of course, chipping away the rust beforehand was a little less enjoyable. In the early years, all we had were hand tools, like a paint scraper and chipping hammer. But it was next to impossible to get into hard-to-reach spots, and the rust would bleed through again. Later, we advanced to using air-powered needle guns, which could do a better job of preparing the steel. But what was really cool was the development of chemicals that could penetrate and neutralize the rust from continuing.

Technological advances in a rather mundane area ended up saving sailors countless hours of preservation and maintenance, freeing them up to do other things. In our spiritual lives also, we find that failing to get at the root cause of our failing causes us to fail again and again. It's much better to get serious and use the tools that are available to us. "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:11-12)

Sept 4

My father-in-law had come to visit us for a while at our home on Treasure Island. We visited the usual San Francisco tourist traps, but now it was time to get away and hang out with the locals. It was fairly early in the baseball season, so the Candlestick Park crowd was a bit on the small side. We enjoyed sitting in the stadium, watching the Giants play another team. There was a breeze from the Bay, but the bright sunshine chased away any drop in the temperature.

In the middle innings of the game, I started to notice something. As the sun's position changed, so did the shadows over the seats. As people lost their direct sunlight, they got up and moved out of the shadows. It was like a slow-motion "wave," as thousands of fans kept changing their seats. When the shadow caught up to us, the cold breeze became an instant and uncomfortable wind chill, so we began to chase the sun like everyone else.

Generally speaking, if we're too cold we'll move around, searching for a little warmth to improve our condition. The same thing goes when we're too hot. We'll make a move to either find some shade, jump in the water, or turn the air conditioning on. But when we're in the comfortable zone, we tend to stay right where we are, and that's not always a good thing. "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16)

Sept 5

Our then youngest grandson had a somewhat unusual pet for a boy, a tortoise. He had a "dry" aquarium in his bedroom to live in, but the kids often took him outside to sun himself in the yard. We got a call one evening asking us to help find him. The kids had left the tortoise outside by himself, not for long, but now he was gone and the sun was about to set.

I knew that we'd find him pretty quick, since they can't travel very fast. We searched for hours that night with flashlights, but found no trace of him. And before going to work the next morning, I looked again. After more days of off-and-on searching, we finally gave up.

I still can't believe that a tortoise actually ran away from home. I suppose it's a reminder of how quickly someone can become lost, especially in the dark. People can also quickly lose their way in a world that celebrates immorality. Stay close to the Lord and know that He loves you more than we can imagine. "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine persons who do not need to repent." (Luke 15:7)

Sept 6

After years of squeezing in the odd class or two between deployments and other military commitments, I was getting real close to earning my bachelor's degree. It had been a long journey, working on assignments after getting home after night classes. I only had two more classes to go, but they would have to wait because I was going overseas again in a matter of days. That's when my wife called me at the ship.

"Your college sent us a letter. They say we owe them money and they're going to turn it over to a collection agency." It was the first I'd heard that I had an unpaid debt. I asked my wife how much it was. "Eight dollars." On my way home that afternoon, I stopped by the college and paid the debt, and gave them an extra two cents' worth, as well. Oh, and I decided not to pursue a Master's degree through them.

Financial advisors will tell you that there's good debt and bad debt. For my part, I avoid it like the plague, not liking it when others have a bit of control over me. But I still have one debt that I can never adequately repay. Jesus willingly paid the price for my sins. I owe him everything. "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8 )

Sept 7

It was the summer of 1965, and my family was enjoying a day at a nearby reservoir. After catching a "school" of perch, we were looking for something else to do. We noticed a man in the distance, who appeared to be standing on water. We went over and eventually saw that he was actually on a surfboard, which is an unusual thing to see in Idaho. There was also a curious box attached to the back of his board.

The man waved at us. In his other hand was a smaller box, with wires leading down to the board. He fiddled around with it and we heard a muffled sound. Water churned up and the board began to slowly move. Cool. A motorized surfboard. They probably weren't related, but three years later, the Sea-Doo personal watercraft was unveiled.

Tinkerers and inventors have always been around, otherwise we'd still be throwing rocks or making flint spear points. We have appreciated their ingenuity and brilliance over the centuries. And even Isaac Newton recognized the debt that he owed to others, when he wrote, "If I have been able to see farther, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants." And the biggest shoulders of all belong to Jesus Christ. "Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)." (John 19:17)

Sept 8

As we were nearing our time to return to the States, the crew of my ship had the opportunity to purchase items from the Navy Exchange at reduced prices. Scores of catalogs had been provided to the ship and I eagerly awaited my turn. I didn't find anything that I wanted for myself, but ended up ordering a few items for my wife, including a set of fine china. It was a little pricey for a junior enlisted guy, but I wanted something special for her. Everything was delivered to the ship the day before leaving Spain, but was kept under lock and key until we were back home.

On that final day, the storeroom was opened and everyone was supposed to go there and pay for their merchandise. I was working during that entire time, navigating through the Hampton Roads area. When I finally had the chance to get to my order, the storeroom was closed. Finding someone to open it up again, I was told that all the items that were left in there were to be sold at half price to anyone who wanted them. My untouched order was still in there.

It was a windfall that was completely unexpected, but certainly welcomed. Thank the Lord for what comes your way in any season. "I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season, there will be showers of blessing." (Ezekiel 34:26)

Sept 9

At the completion of our final visit to Alaska, our son and his wife were ending their 3-year stay and returning to Montana. I was the one who was going to drive the U-Haul truck on the Alaskan Highway, a 4-day journey back to the lower 48. One of our final treats before leaving was a halibut fishing trip, which turned out successfully. We had over $2000 worth of filleted fish, but worried about it thawing out during our days on the road.

The expensively-loaded freezer was placed in the back of the truck and we crossed our fingers. Each evening we stopped at a Canadian motel on the side of the highway and breathed a sigh of relief. There were multiple power plug-ins, normally used during the winter months for engine block heaters. They provided all the power needed to keep the fish frozen.

The lifestyles that we enjoy today require a lot of energy to sustain. Imagine the power that is required to maintain everything that happens in a city...in a country...the world...the universe. "Yours, O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours." (1 Chronicles 29:11)

Sept 10

During a port visit to Cartegena, Columbia, I had no idea that an ancient stepped pyramid was right outside the city. I missed it, but I did make sure that I took advantage of something else that the country is number one in the world for: emeralds. I found a small jewelry store and the owner took the time to teach me about these gemstones. The best emeralds can cost more than diamonds with the same carat weight, but I wasn't going anywhere near those.

I picked out a stone and it was combined with a ring. While the work was being done, the owner was the perfect host and I really enjoyed my time there. One of the interesting bits of information that I learned there had to do with how ancient Egyptians viewed emeralds as an item that protects marriages. Now, I have a pretty good marriage to start with, but giving her a gemstone sure didn't hurt.

For you guys that are out there, I would encourage you to read the rest of the chapter that comes after this verse. This is what you look for in a wife in order to be blessed with a wonderful partner for life. "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." (Proverbs 31:10)

Sept 11

Life is full of uncertainties, whether they be caused by man or nature. Our home, while in a beautiful location, does have its share of things that cause turmoil. Since living here, we've had a very near-by forest fire and a few minor earthquakes, not to mention snow-melt flooding down in the valley. Because of that, I've long had an interest in prepping, which involves stocking up on essential items...just in case.

Among my friends, it's about 50-50 whether they agree with the time and money that I have put into being prepared. A couple of them make fun of it, but I've always just smiled. I always figure that it's better to be safe than sorry. Then the big pandemic of 2020 hit. I didn't have to dip far into my non-food supplies for my own use, but gave liberally to friends and family. Funny how people don't make fun of preppers anymore.

There needs to be a balance between preparing for the future and relying on the Lord for your future needs. Joseph was a prepper, and we should be, too. "This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine." (Genesis 41:36)

Update: Our church has long held food drives, giving to the local food bank and Salvation Army. With high inflation and the looming shortages that the world now faces, our church has started a food pantry for the benefit of our own church family. It's being used.

Sept 12

It had taken many months of study and sitting under the tutelage of shipmates from different departments to get to where I was. My qualification board was at hand and I was more than a little anxious about it. Receiving the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist pin is a goal for most sailors, but not all end up with one. Arriving at the appointed time outside the Wardroom, I found myself waiting with 6 other guys. Even more surprising, the ship's captain was present.

For the next two hours, we were tested on our knowledge. But it was far more comprehensive than a question and answer session. The seven of us were teamed up and run through a variety of scenarios that were designed to test if we knew how to apply our knowledge to them. It was more than challenging. It was inspiring and confidence-boosting, and allowed the captain to see if we really knew our stuff. When it was over, we asked for just one more scenario, but were told, "The next one will be for real, and you'll do just fine."

The pinning-on ceremony was almost anti-climax, as the adrenaline-fueled excitement had worn off. As important as that knowledge was to our professional lives, it actually pales in comparison to the knowledge that will serve us every moment of our lives. "Oh, the depth of the riches of that wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33)

Sept 13

There's an expression in Montana: "If you don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes." Regardless of the season, we can get extreme changes in the blink of an eye. My wife and I had taken four of our grandchildren on a multi-day camping trip to the east side of the state. We brought along our fifth wheel trailer instead of a tent, so we were definitely not roughing it. Summers can get pretty hot, though, especially in the Plains region.

Leaving the trailer at a state park, we took a side trip in our truck. A few hours later, we were on our way back and could see the dark storm clouds over the park. While we were still a couple of miles away, the rain hit, and hit hard. And as we got close to the trailer, my wife exclaimed, "We left the roof vents open!" Not wanting the trailer to get overly hot earlier, now water was coming in. I parked and told everyone to wait in the truck. I was thoroughly drenched by the deluge before I even got into the trailer. I closed the vents and cleaned up the water before the family joined me.

It's amazing how quickly it can go from hot and dry to splashing through deepening water. It was only a minor inconvenience for us. But I can imagine the horror of the people who ignored years of warnings, only to find the ark's doors closed to them. "For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth." (Genesis 7:11)

Sept 14

One of my earliest memories is accompanying my father to an indoor swimming pool. He had recently acquired a small dredge on pontoons to look for gold in California rivers. But before he could strike it rich, he needed a few lessons with the scuba gear that would allow him to remain under the water. While the instructor was working with him, I was playing with my brother at poolside.

Our game was interrupted by our father breaching the surface of the water like a humpback whale. He ripped his face mask off and sputtered loudly, coughing water. I don't recall what had happened, but it wasn't something he enjoyed. In a way, it may have been a good thing. In the controlled environment of a pool with an instructor handy, he must have learned a valuable lesson and a healthy respect for the equipment.

There are a lot of things that are just extras in our lives, not really necessary for life, but more for just making life more comfortable. Simpler lives can make for happier lives, as long as you focus on what's really important. Just like air, I can't imagine the absence of God from my life. "...the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7)

Sept 15

As I sit here typing this on the computer, there are 4 elk grazing along my fence line. One spike bull along with 3 cows, seemingly without a care in the world. It's snowing right now, and they're pushing 4 inches of snow away from the grass. Just yesterday, the thermometer topped out at 68 degrees. Montana is a wonderful place with so many surprises just around the corner. But the older and wiser bulls are higher up in the mountains, away from civilization and its hazards.

During Old Testament times, danger was around every corner, ranging from warfare to lions to idol worship. Issachar was a son of Jacob, and his descendants became one of the 12 tribes of Israel. The great judge Deborah came from them, as well as the wisest of the Sanhedrin. They turned towards God in order to gain that wisdom. They knew their roles in light of the times in which they lived.

It is one thing to know and understand the times, and quite another to know what to do about them. The dangers of our culture are all around and we hope that our families are not harmed by it. If only we were a little better at learning from our mistakes, pressing in to the Lord and asking Him for wisdom. "...men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do..." (1 Chronicles 12:32)

Sept 16

Just before going to bed one night, my back started to itch. For a while, I was able to ignore it, but found myself giving in to the relief of scratching. And then I felt it elsewhere. I pulled off my t-shirt and saw it...the dreaded hives. Large splotches of slightly raised skin, as if a thousand mosquitoes had attacked a single spot. As a child, I had once had them, due to eating an insanely high numbers of tomatoes at my grandmother's home. But that wasn't the cause this time.

Remembering the remedy, I poured a generous amount of baking soda into the bath tub and got in. But it didn't help at all. In fact, it was getting worse. Finally, I went to the base dispensary for relief. After getting a special cream, which was working, the corpsman asked if I was stressed out about anything, as it could cause hives. I told him that everything was fine and I was a pretty mellow guy, and I was deploying in a couple of days, and...The corpsman nodded his head.

Without even being aware of it, the stress level had risen to the point of affecting me physically. I had assumed that it was just another deployment, but family circumstances and needs change with each one. I took the time to pray and was reminded of its importance. "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)

Sept 17

On my first visit to my brother's home in Arizona, he took us to see all the sights. Not too far away were ancient cliff dwellings, beautiful to see, although tourists were kept at a distance. But right outside his town, next to the river, was a hill that was completely wide open for anyone interested in bringing artifacts home. Without much effort, you could see hundreds of pieces of broken Indian pottery.

Right after a rainfall was the best time to look, as the water would wash away layers of dust and sand, exposing more pottery. The vast majority of it was just a natural clay color, and not likely to end up in someone's collection. But once in a while, your eyes would be rewarded with the remains of colored designs. And one of those pieces had a hole drilled through it, likely for the handle. In the years since, though, laws have been passed making it illegal to collect artifacts.

Most of us have some kind of collection, whether its baseball cards, heart-shaped rocks, or antique duck decoys. We place a lot of pride in what we've gathered, and get a joy boost when something is added. But it all pales in contrast to the greatness of the Lord's collection. He doesn't care if a piece is broken, because He heals and fixes those who are broken. And His desire is for everyone to work towards the same goal. "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12:30)

Sept 18

After a flight from Seattle to San Diego, I boarded a special bus at the airport that took me straight to Recruit Training Center, otherwise known as Boot Camp. I was thrown into a group of mostly long-haired men and we were loosely marched off to the base barbershop, where everyone was made to look the same. Right after that we got a hot meal as the sun was going down, and we were bunked in the Indoctrination Barracks. We were told that the next day we would be divided into our companies. But first, a good night's sleep.

Which was abruptly ended by the noise of empty trash cans being thrown across the room. There was no leisurely waking up and stretching. Although it was still dark outside, it was time to start our first full day of indoctrination. And boy, did they ever indoctrinate us. Orders, physical examinations, orders, shots, orders, uniforms, and more orders. Did I say orders?

We recruits came from a variety of backgrounds and with different experiences. The quickest way to get us all on the same page was to keep us extremely busy until we fell into a routine that we all shared. Left to ourselves, we might have all stood apart and not been able to blend into a working unit. For those of us who have been in church for a long time, we've likely seen how disorder can keep the body of Christ from making any progress. So we keep an eye out for it. "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way." (1 Corinthians 14:40)

Sept 19

In the early Navy, especially when there wasn't a war going on, it used to take a very long time for an officer to be promoted to a new rank. Because of that, the new "stripe" on the cuff of the coat sleeve would be brilliant compared to the older stripes. So the officer would soak the new stripe in a bucket of saltwater to age it. Fortunately, promotions in the modern Navy come a little quicker.

But in honor of the past, today's naval officers have a tradition called "Wetting Down." Whenever officers are promoted, they host and pay for a beverages-only gathering for all ship's officers, usually at a club or bar. Even though I don't drink alcoholic beverages, I would always pay my fair share of the tab. I paid for 3 of these gatherings over the years. But at the beginning of the event I would always share how my in-laws had been delivered of alcoholism through an instantaneous healing from Jesus. You'd be surprised by how many soft-drinks were ordered afterwards.

Why wait until things have gone badly before learning a lesson? It's much easier to learn from the mistakes of others. Even better, we can learn from their victories. "...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance..." (Proverbs 1:5)

Sept 20

My ship was scheduled to arrive the next day at Guam, an island in the Pacific. It would only be a short stop to pick up supplies, though. Just a few hours pierside and then off again. But it still took the same amount of care as a long stay. Learning about the navigational buoys, tides and currents, and water depth was just a part of it. Expected courses to travel were then put on the chart and everyone was briefed on the plan.

Everything went well the next day and the arrival and departure went off as planned. One of the charted features was the quick and extreme depth change in the channel. In the blink of an eye, the depth went from thousands of feet to about 50 feet. It was amazing to see it traced on the paper of the fathometer, which recorded the depth.

A too-quick depth change of that magnitude could easily overwhelm the operator if he wasn't watching closely. Using the fathometer took close attention in order to get true readings. The conduct of our daily lives requires the same diligence. "However, as it is written: 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him' - but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God." (1 Corinthians 2:9-10)

Sept 21

I had been a leader in a national boys' camping ministry for several years now, and had recently been invited to join a fellowship within it. I had long admired its members, who wore the ensemble of early 19th century mountain men. Although I agreed to join, there was a lot more to it than just signing on the dotted line. My older son was joining at the same time, so we helped each other in preparation.

On a special final campout, we demonstrated our expertise at mountain man skills, such as throwing a tomahawk and starting a fire with flint and steel. It culminated with an all-night vigil and a welcoming ceremony. We each earned designation as a "tenderfoot," the first step on a long advancement climb. I was later given my name, which I had already picked long before and now finally had a chance to use. In honor of long-ago sailors who carved beautiful pictures into whalebone, I was now Bone Cutter.

Through this art, called scrimshaw, dry bones get new life and purpose. God showed the prophet Ezekiel a remarkable series of events as a sign that Israel would regain its former strength and beauty. Out of the ruins of poor choices, we can be rebuilt as well. "This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life." (Ezekiel 37:5)

Sept 22

My brother and I were on our first visit to our parent's new home in central Washington. I was glad they were out of the big city and in a rural setting, enjoying a slower pace of life. My father had dreams of being an outdoors guide, which were never realized, but he had fun taking steps towards it. In fact, he set up my brother and I for a hike up the side of a steep hill, saying that we were likely to find something interesting.

Halfway up the grassy slope, we paused to catch our breath, looking around for anything interesting. Nope, nothing. We went further up, looking for anything out of the ordinary, but it was starting to feel like our father sent us on a wild goose chase. At least, we spied a single flaw in the landscape and moved closer to it. At first, it looked like an outcropping of rock, but as we cleared some of the dirt, we excitedly recognized what it was: a partially exposed petrified tree log.

It had been there since before man migrated into the area, but had escaped most people's attention. My frustration turned to elation and I quickly lost the feeling of being on a fruitless chase. It's always easier to find fault in someone else, rather than ourselves. Even when the fault is as big as a log. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3)

Sept 23

The first time my family floated the Missouri River, it was exhilarating. Not only because we could see numerous trout below us, but because the water was exceedingly cold. It was early summer and the river was still being fed by snow-melt from our Montana mountain ranges. The inner tubes allowed us to relax as we traveled for miles, but part of our bodies were numb while other parts got sunburned.

The next float was saved until late summer when the water was much warmer. It was definitely more comfortable, but the vertical scenery was greatly changed. It was difficult to see more than a few inches into the water, due to an abundance of algae. Yes, it's a natural occurrence when it warms up, but green-tinged water just isn't my cup of tea.

It's normal for us to want visual clarity, for beauty is in the details. When things get in the way, we know we're missing something important. If only our appreciation of the supernatural matched our love of nature. We might find ourselves surrounded by the beauty of eternal truths. "Even the angels long to look into these things." (1 Peter 1:12)