THE LAND BEYOND THIS POINT IS WILDERNESS—TRAVEL WITH CAUTION
This sign greeted us as we headed out that morning. On the board next to it were other warnings about bears, snakes, poisonous plants and insects, and one that said, “Between October 11 and May 1 hikers should wear bright colors. Whistling is also recommended.” Various hunting seasons began and ended during that period, bow hunting, black powder, rifle and shotgun, used during the various game seasons.
Still we hiked on. We had seen all these warnings before in the many years we have camped and hiked. The only dangerous game we’d ever seen was the back end of a black bear as he plodded steadily away from us—the best view of a bear there is in my opinion. Still we were careful.
The wilderness can be a scary place if you are careless or arrogant. Besides the bears, snakes, and panthers, paths follow the edges of steep precipices with no guardrails should you lose your footing. Limbs litter them, having died, rotted, and fallen at a slight breeze. Once one fell not ten seconds after I had walked that particular spot. Runs drivel down the slopes, ready to rush into a flash flood should a rain come up, as it often does. It does not take much to remind you how helpless you are.
Keith says that one of the Louis L’Amour westerns tells of travelers leaving piles of rocks to the Native American gods of the trail. No one with an open mind can spend any time in the outdoors without recognizing that it took Divine Intelligence to create it. Twice we passed piles of stones laid on boulders or stumps, a hundred or more, some carefully positioned on end, so they did not just happen to roll there. Our society, I have heard, has gotten more spiritual as of late, but why has that spirituality turned toward paganism like the gods of the trail, instead of Jehovah God? Is it more interesting, more fun? Or is it that paganism carries no moral responsibility to its gods other than a token nod to their supposed existence?
Jehovah God expects certain behavior from us. He requires our service. He demands our lives. And He deserves so much more.
Some day soon take a walk in the wilderness, or even just your backyard, and let it teach you all about Him.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse; because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God gave them up…Rom 1:18-24
Dene Ward
This sign greeted us as we headed out that morning. On the board next to it were other warnings about bears, snakes, poisonous plants and insects, and one that said, “Between October 11 and May 1 hikers should wear bright colors. Whistling is also recommended.” Various hunting seasons began and ended during that period, bow hunting, black powder, rifle and shotgun, used during the various game seasons.
Still we hiked on. We had seen all these warnings before in the many years we have camped and hiked. The only dangerous game we’d ever seen was the back end of a black bear as he plodded steadily away from us—the best view of a bear there is in my opinion. Still we were careful.
The wilderness can be a scary place if you are careless or arrogant. Besides the bears, snakes, and panthers, paths follow the edges of steep precipices with no guardrails should you lose your footing. Limbs litter them, having died, rotted, and fallen at a slight breeze. Once one fell not ten seconds after I had walked that particular spot. Runs drivel down the slopes, ready to rush into a flash flood should a rain come up, as it often does. It does not take much to remind you how helpless you are.
Keith says that one of the Louis L’Amour westerns tells of travelers leaving piles of rocks to the Native American gods of the trail. No one with an open mind can spend any time in the outdoors without recognizing that it took Divine Intelligence to create it. Twice we passed piles of stones laid on boulders or stumps, a hundred or more, some carefully positioned on end, so they did not just happen to roll there. Our society, I have heard, has gotten more spiritual as of late, but why has that spirituality turned toward paganism like the gods of the trail, instead of Jehovah God? Is it more interesting, more fun? Or is it that paganism carries no moral responsibility to its gods other than a token nod to their supposed existence?
Jehovah God expects certain behavior from us. He requires our service. He demands our lives. And He deserves so much more.
Some day soon take a walk in the wilderness, or even just your backyard, and let it teach you all about Him.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity, that they may be without excuse; because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God gave them up…Rom 1:18-24
Dene Ward
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