Fire and Ice
Journal 2005 03 09
Fire and Ice
Clark walks five miles up to the canoe building camp to see how the work is progressing. On the way he encounters five Hidatsa’s heading to Fort Mandan. Turns out it is the tyrannical Chief Le Bourgne who has refused to visit Fort Mandan until now. The chief is known to favor the British, but pressure from the rest of the members of his tribe (who are enamored with the American soldiers) forces him to visit. Clark welcomes him, commends him to Captain Lewis and sends his interpreter with the chief to Fort Mandan.
The change in activities in two weeks amazes me. The men move from struggling to free the boats from the ice before they are destroyed to watching the Indians set fire to the prairie to encourage the growth of grass for the buffalo. (Agricultural researchers today think that it was these fires that kept the Great Plains as grasslands with no hardwood growth.) We see similar practices in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Drive I-5 at certain times of the year and smoke fills the air as fields are burned to allow the harvested crop to quickly become food for the next.
One week ice, the next fire. Amazing.
I wanted to talk about hospitality with this morning’s message, because it is obvious that even Chief Le Bourgne, who is described in other writings as a vicious, violent madman, is worn out and won over by the good reputation and warm hospitality exhibited by the young Americans during their winter among the tribes. I can easily imagine the same transformation of prejudices taking place throughout Iraq as the Iraqi people have opportunity to see the children of “the Great Satan” put their lives on the line for them day after day. And although we see little of it on the evening news, we know that young American soldiers are helping to rebuild water, sewer, power and schools throughout their land. Let’s hope and pray that the “Le Bourgne’s” of the Middle East are transformed by the overwhelming good reports of their people and are forced by them to engage the truth about who is living among them.
I am compelled to talk about recognizing the times. We can so insulate ourselves from the impact of the natural world that we can homogenize our existence and lose all identity and sense of purpose in the process. We literally become like white milk. Bland and unchanging. Homogenized.
When we in turn so insulate ourselves from the spiritual world that we can no longer see and feel fire and ice we become homogenized in our spiritual life. We become bland and unchanging. Hot or cold. Fire or ice. That is what Jesus is after in us. Lukewarm milk? Quickly soured, poured out and discarded. Cold drink? Refreshing on a hot day. Hot cup of coffee? Just what the doctor ordered on a cold, crisp morning to warm our being.
Hot or cold. Fire or ice. These are the choices before us every day. Don’t make a choice to be hot or cold. Fine, you get lukewarm eventually. And lukewarm, in the middle, compromised, is the place for those who cannot discern the changing seasons and activities that accompany them.
Lord let us see and feel and respond to the changes He brings on the Winds of the Spirit as you advance His plan of exploration, conquest and acquisition of souls as we march through the unexplored land He has placed before us!
Choose Fire. Choose Ice. Do not wait for either to become lukewarm and useful for nothing.
Fire and Ice
Clark walks five miles up to the canoe building camp to see how the work is progressing. On the way he encounters five Hidatsa’s heading to Fort Mandan. Turns out it is the tyrannical Chief Le Bourgne who has refused to visit Fort Mandan until now. The chief is known to favor the British, but pressure from the rest of the members of his tribe (who are enamored with the American soldiers) forces him to visit. Clark welcomes him, commends him to Captain Lewis and sends his interpreter with the chief to Fort Mandan.
The change in activities in two weeks amazes me. The men move from struggling to free the boats from the ice before they are destroyed to watching the Indians set fire to the prairie to encourage the growth of grass for the buffalo. (Agricultural researchers today think that it was these fires that kept the Great Plains as grasslands with no hardwood growth.) We see similar practices in the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Drive I-5 at certain times of the year and smoke fills the air as fields are burned to allow the harvested crop to quickly become food for the next.
One week ice, the next fire. Amazing.
I wanted to talk about hospitality with this morning’s message, because it is obvious that even Chief Le Bourgne, who is described in other writings as a vicious, violent madman, is worn out and won over by the good reputation and warm hospitality exhibited by the young Americans during their winter among the tribes. I can easily imagine the same transformation of prejudices taking place throughout Iraq as the Iraqi people have opportunity to see the children of “the Great Satan” put their lives on the line for them day after day. And although we see little of it on the evening news, we know that young American soldiers are helping to rebuild water, sewer, power and schools throughout their land. Let’s hope and pray that the “Le Bourgne’s” of the Middle East are transformed by the overwhelming good reports of their people and are forced by them to engage the truth about who is living among them.
I am compelled to talk about recognizing the times. We can so insulate ourselves from the impact of the natural world that we can homogenize our existence and lose all identity and sense of purpose in the process. We literally become like white milk. Bland and unchanging. Homogenized.
When we in turn so insulate ourselves from the spiritual world that we can no longer see and feel fire and ice we become homogenized in our spiritual life. We become bland and unchanging. Hot or cold. Fire or ice. That is what Jesus is after in us. Lukewarm milk? Quickly soured, poured out and discarded. Cold drink? Refreshing on a hot day. Hot cup of coffee? Just what the doctor ordered on a cold, crisp morning to warm our being.
Hot or cold. Fire or ice. These are the choices before us every day. Don’t make a choice to be hot or cold. Fine, you get lukewarm eventually. And lukewarm, in the middle, compromised, is the place for those who cannot discern the changing seasons and activities that accompany them.
Lord let us see and feel and respond to the changes He brings on the Winds of the Spirit as you advance His plan of exploration, conquest and acquisition of souls as we march through the unexplored land He has placed before us!
Choose Fire. Choose Ice. Do not wait for either to become lukewarm and useful for nothing.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 10:24 PM
|
1 comments
