Wisdom and Philanthropy
Journal 2005 08 06
Wisdom and Philanthropy
The Expedition sets out again, “proceeding on” in their words. Lewis takes a party overland in search of the Shoshone, or Snake, Indians. Clark brings the canoes and rest of the party up the Jefferson River. The going is extremely tough and at this point the journey would be easier overland. Thus their search for Indians with horses.
It continues to amaze me that these guys cover over twenty miles daily in these rugged conditions. I’m compressing about a week in today’s entry because of the similar work and observations. The work of pulling the canoes upstream is so difficult that the men prefer walking through the prickly pears and bearded, barbed grasses than traversing the river bottom. And remember that the prickly pears were included in their list as one of their “three plagues”!
One fresh footprint is discovered and tracked to a mountaintop where the party concludes a Shoshone observed them. The hope of the Captains is that the tribe won’t retreat into the safety of the mountains depriving them of the opportunity to trade for horses.
The overland party and river party meet up at a critical junction of the river and a stream flowing into it. The overland party came upon a herd of elk two days ago and secure fresh meat. Lewis again regards the good fortune that has accompanied them on their journey as he recounts a near mishap to Private Whitehorse while pushing a canoe through shallow rapids. Whitehorse slips, falls to the bottom of the river and the canoe slips back over him nearly crushing him. Clark tells Lewis that had the river been only an inch or two shallower that the weight of the canoe and its cargo would have surely crushed Whitehorse. As it is, he suffers only a scraped and bruised leg where the canoe passed over him. Several of the men, including Clark, are nearly lame with aggravating foot and leg cuts, bruises and boils from their extended and extreme exertions. Yet they continue on with little complaint. Tough.
If you’ve ever attempted to make your way in the wilderness you have without doubt at some point had to observe your surroundings, evaluate your circumstances and then formulate a course of action. The Captains and men read the signs at this joining of the rivers. They read the grass on the river bottom; observe the channels for signs of yearlong stream flow and the possible source of increased water during this hot season. Much thought, discussion and reasoning must have filled the process causing the men to name the bold, rapid and clear stream Wisdom and the more mild and placid one Philanthropy “in commemoration of two of those cardinal virtues” that have marked President Jefferson’s “deservedly selibrated character though life.”
Meriwether Lewis served as aid and secretary to Thomas Jefferson to be schooled and prepared for this undertaking. In today’s language Jefferson mentored his protégé Lewis. Lewis took on the “flavor” of his teacher and mentor. That “seasoning” is seen here as Lewis, deep into the wilderness, exercises wisdom and reflects on philanthropy and marks these virtues in the naming of two rivers.
Many streams of thought come to mind as I process my “mentoring” for today from the Spirit of God, sent to teach, counsel and guide me. Primary among them is the reflection, “Am I being seasoned and allowing myself to receive the flavoring of my Mentor, the Lord Most High, the Captain of the Host of Heaven, the Prince of Peace and Lamb of God?” Do I approach all problems with the deductive reasoning that I’ve learned from the work of the Spirit of God on my life? Do I look at the world through Kingdom eyeglasses? Is my vision clouded or shifted because I’ve allowed some other “teacher” to flavor me?
Job 28 tells us it is man’s work to explore the depths of God where no predator or other being can go and find the riches of His treasures in the deepest, most remote areas of our search. I believe we are seeing an example of this throughout this journey as these young men apply what they have learned and taken on in their spirits as they proceed on to complete the mission they have received from those with authority to send them.
Do I, do you, see your life and work in this perspective? It is His divine purpose to press and pound into us His seasoning that we may take on His flavor and be consumed in Kingdom work. May we all be vessels fit for His honor this day.
Wisdom and Philanthropy
The Expedition sets out again, “proceeding on” in their words. Lewis takes a party overland in search of the Shoshone, or Snake, Indians. Clark brings the canoes and rest of the party up the Jefferson River. The going is extremely tough and at this point the journey would be easier overland. Thus their search for Indians with horses.
It continues to amaze me that these guys cover over twenty miles daily in these rugged conditions. I’m compressing about a week in today’s entry because of the similar work and observations. The work of pulling the canoes upstream is so difficult that the men prefer walking through the prickly pears and bearded, barbed grasses than traversing the river bottom. And remember that the prickly pears were included in their list as one of their “three plagues”!
One fresh footprint is discovered and tracked to a mountaintop where the party concludes a Shoshone observed them. The hope of the Captains is that the tribe won’t retreat into the safety of the mountains depriving them of the opportunity to trade for horses.
The overland party and river party meet up at a critical junction of the river and a stream flowing into it. The overland party came upon a herd of elk two days ago and secure fresh meat. Lewis again regards the good fortune that has accompanied them on their journey as he recounts a near mishap to Private Whitehorse while pushing a canoe through shallow rapids. Whitehorse slips, falls to the bottom of the river and the canoe slips back over him nearly crushing him. Clark tells Lewis that had the river been only an inch or two shallower that the weight of the canoe and its cargo would have surely crushed Whitehorse. As it is, he suffers only a scraped and bruised leg where the canoe passed over him. Several of the men, including Clark, are nearly lame with aggravating foot and leg cuts, bruises and boils from their extended and extreme exertions. Yet they continue on with little complaint. Tough.
If you’ve ever attempted to make your way in the wilderness you have without doubt at some point had to observe your surroundings, evaluate your circumstances and then formulate a course of action. The Captains and men read the signs at this joining of the rivers. They read the grass on the river bottom; observe the channels for signs of yearlong stream flow and the possible source of increased water during this hot season. Much thought, discussion and reasoning must have filled the process causing the men to name the bold, rapid and clear stream Wisdom and the more mild and placid one Philanthropy “in commemoration of two of those cardinal virtues” that have marked President Jefferson’s “deservedly selibrated character though life.”
Meriwether Lewis served as aid and secretary to Thomas Jefferson to be schooled and prepared for this undertaking. In today’s language Jefferson mentored his protégé Lewis. Lewis took on the “flavor” of his teacher and mentor. That “seasoning” is seen here as Lewis, deep into the wilderness, exercises wisdom and reflects on philanthropy and marks these virtues in the naming of two rivers.
Many streams of thought come to mind as I process my “mentoring” for today from the Spirit of God, sent to teach, counsel and guide me. Primary among them is the reflection, “Am I being seasoned and allowing myself to receive the flavoring of my Mentor, the Lord Most High, the Captain of the Host of Heaven, the Prince of Peace and Lamb of God?” Do I approach all problems with the deductive reasoning that I’ve learned from the work of the Spirit of God on my life? Do I look at the world through Kingdom eyeglasses? Is my vision clouded or shifted because I’ve allowed some other “teacher” to flavor me?
Job 28 tells us it is man’s work to explore the depths of God where no predator or other being can go and find the riches of His treasures in the deepest, most remote areas of our search. I believe we are seeing an example of this throughout this journey as these young men apply what they have learned and taken on in their spirits as they proceed on to complete the mission they have received from those with authority to send them.
Do I, do you, see your life and work in this perspective? It is His divine purpose to press and pound into us His seasoning that we may take on His flavor and be consumed in Kingdom work. May we all be vessels fit for His honor this day.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 12:56 PM
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