Hope Deferred
Journal 2006 08 07
Hope Deferred
“It began to rain about midnight and continued with but little intermission until 10 A. M. today. the air was cold and extreemly unpleasant. we set out early resolving if possible to reach the Yelowstone river today which was at the distance of 83 ms. from our encampment of the last evening; the currant favoured our progress being more rapid than yesterday, the men plyed their oars faithfully and we went at a good rate.” After a cold wet night Lewis sets his mind on reaching the mouth of the Yellowstone River and his good friend. He estimates the distance at 83 miles, notes that his men are plying the water with strength, the current is helping them and the distance is within their reach today.
Lewis had several days earlier told the men to dry enough meat at night to take them through the following day that they might make an additional fifteen miles per day. They did and they have. Lewis notes that the soil is much more fertile and he notes a number of birds and plants that he hasn’t seen since they were in this region last May. He also notes the abundance of bears and their tactics. “…they had killed 2 bear and seen 6 others, we saw and fired on two from our perogue but killed neither of them. these bear resort the river where they lie in wate at the crossing places of the game for the Elk and weak cattle; when they procure a subject of either they lie by the carcase and keep the wolves off untill they devour it. the bear appear to be very abundant on this part of the river.”
“…at 4 P. M. we arrived at the entrance of the Yellowstone river. I landed at the point and found that Capt. Clark had been encamped at this place and <was gone> from appearances had left it about 7 or 8 days. I found a paper on a pole at the point which mearly contained my name in the hand wrighting of Capt. C. we also found the remnant of a note which had been attatched to a peace of Elk's horns in the camp; from this fragment I learned that game was scarce at the point and musquetoes troublesome which were the reasons given for his going on; I also learnt that he intended halting a few miles below where he intended waiting my arrival. I now wrote a note directed to Colter and Collins provided they were behind, ordering them to come on without loss of time; this note I wraped in leather and attatced onto the same pole which Capt. C. had planted at the point; this being done I instantly reimbarked and decended the river in the hope of reaching Capt. C's camp before night.” Do you think he was happy to see Clark’s note complete or not? He takes up the canoes and “…instantly reimbarked and decended the river in the hope…” He didn’t have hope in the hope that all were alive ahead of him. He had proof that at least his dear friend was alive. His hope was no longer deferred. In this instance all that Lewis had been pursuing and hoping for was just beyond his reach yet very much fulfilled.
“…about 7 miles below the point on the S. W. shore I saw some meat that had been lately fleased and hung on a pole; I directed Sergt. Ordway to go on shore examine the place; on his return he reported that he saw the tracks of two men which appeared so resent that he beleived they had been there today, the fire he found at the plce was blaizing and appeared to have been mended up afresh or within the course of an hour past. he found at this place a part of a Chinnook hat which my men recognized as the hat of Gibson; from these circumstances we included that Capt. C's camp could not be distant and pursued our rout untill dark with the hope of reaching his camp in this however we were disappointed and night coming on compelled us to encamp on the N. E. shore in the next bottom above our encampment of the 23rd and 24th of April 1805.”
Ever been so close to something you could smell it, taste it and almost touch it? Find an elk hunter and ask him that question. Fresh tracks, barnyard smell of “scat” and you know you are within reach of your prize. Sgt. Ordway finds tracks, a blazing fire and Gibson’s hat. Close! Really close. But not today. The eternal cycle of day and night set in place at Creation overcomes the day and the men set in for the night at an old camp.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick; But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”
(Proverbs 13:12 ASV)
Meriwether Lewis was feeling hope deferred. Not to the point of being heartsick. Yet. Can you imagine how he would feel if for the next two weeks his daily pursuit of Clark left him a blazing campfire away? That would be hope deferred!
Hope, or desire, fulfilled is said to be a tree of life. Abundant with fruit for living. Providing shade and comfort. Standing strong against all elements. Maybe even suitable for transformation into a canoe.
What are we pursuing today? Where are our desires focused? Are we in hot pursuit of something? Are we hoping in hope that a situation may be all we envisioned?
Or have we like Meriwether Lewis found evidence this very day that our hope is not in hope but is within reach and about to be fulfilled? Will our hearts will rejoice rather than become sick? And will we see the fulfillment of that deferred hope as a tree of life where we that we can be grafted into?
Jesus said, “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.” (John 15:1-8 MKJV)
My final thoughts today turn to this concept of being grafted into the Tree of Life by the One who planted it. If you, like me, have hope deferred it is for His purposes. It is to lead us to the tree of life where He can graft us into the vine of His choosing and bring us life.
Proceed on.
Hope Deferred
“It began to rain about midnight and continued with but little intermission until 10 A. M. today. the air was cold and extreemly unpleasant. we set out early resolving if possible to reach the Yelowstone river today which was at the distance of 83 ms. from our encampment of the last evening; the currant favoured our progress being more rapid than yesterday, the men plyed their oars faithfully and we went at a good rate.” After a cold wet night Lewis sets his mind on reaching the mouth of the Yellowstone River and his good friend. He estimates the distance at 83 miles, notes that his men are plying the water with strength, the current is helping them and the distance is within their reach today.
Lewis had several days earlier told the men to dry enough meat at night to take them through the following day that they might make an additional fifteen miles per day. They did and they have. Lewis notes that the soil is much more fertile and he notes a number of birds and plants that he hasn’t seen since they were in this region last May. He also notes the abundance of bears and their tactics. “…they had killed 2 bear and seen 6 others, we saw and fired on two from our perogue but killed neither of them. these bear resort the river where they lie in wate at the crossing places of the game for the Elk and weak cattle; when they procure a subject of either they lie by the carcase and keep the wolves off untill they devour it. the bear appear to be very abundant on this part of the river.”
“…at 4 P. M. we arrived at the entrance of the Yellowstone river. I landed at the point and found that Capt. Clark had been encamped at this place and <was gone> from appearances had left it about 7 or 8 days. I found a paper on a pole at the point which mearly contained my name in the hand wrighting of Capt. C. we also found the remnant of a note which had been attatched to a peace of Elk's horns in the camp; from this fragment I learned that game was scarce at the point and musquetoes troublesome which were the reasons given for his going on; I also learnt that he intended halting a few miles below where he intended waiting my arrival. I now wrote a note directed to Colter and Collins provided they were behind, ordering them to come on without loss of time; this note I wraped in leather and attatced onto the same pole which Capt. C. had planted at the point; this being done I instantly reimbarked and decended the river in the hope of reaching Capt. C's camp before night.” Do you think he was happy to see Clark’s note complete or not? He takes up the canoes and “…instantly reimbarked and decended the river in the hope…” He didn’t have hope in the hope that all were alive ahead of him. He had proof that at least his dear friend was alive. His hope was no longer deferred. In this instance all that Lewis had been pursuing and hoping for was just beyond his reach yet very much fulfilled.
“…about 7 miles below the point on the S. W. shore I saw some meat that had been lately fleased and hung on a pole; I directed Sergt. Ordway to go on shore examine the place; on his return he reported that he saw the tracks of two men which appeared so resent that he beleived they had been there today, the fire he found at the plce was blaizing and appeared to have been mended up afresh or within the course of an hour past. he found at this place a part of a Chinnook hat which my men recognized as the hat of Gibson; from these circumstances we included that Capt. C's camp could not be distant and pursued our rout untill dark with the hope of reaching his camp in this however we were disappointed and night coming on compelled us to encamp on the N. E. shore in the next bottom above our encampment of the 23rd and 24th of April 1805.”
Ever been so close to something you could smell it, taste it and almost touch it? Find an elk hunter and ask him that question. Fresh tracks, barnyard smell of “scat” and you know you are within reach of your prize. Sgt. Ordway finds tracks, a blazing fire and Gibson’s hat. Close! Really close. But not today. The eternal cycle of day and night set in place at Creation overcomes the day and the men set in for the night at an old camp.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick; But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”
(Proverbs 13:12 ASV)
Meriwether Lewis was feeling hope deferred. Not to the point of being heartsick. Yet. Can you imagine how he would feel if for the next two weeks his daily pursuit of Clark left him a blazing campfire away? That would be hope deferred!
Hope, or desire, fulfilled is said to be a tree of life. Abundant with fruit for living. Providing shade and comfort. Standing strong against all elements. Maybe even suitable for transformation into a canoe.
What are we pursuing today? Where are our desires focused? Are we in hot pursuit of something? Are we hoping in hope that a situation may be all we envisioned?
Or have we like Meriwether Lewis found evidence this very day that our hope is not in hope but is within reach and about to be fulfilled? Will our hearts will rejoice rather than become sick? And will we see the fulfillment of that deferred hope as a tree of life where we that we can be grafted into?
Jesus said, “I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered. And they gather and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. In this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you shall be My disciples.” (John 15:1-8 MKJV)
My final thoughts today turn to this concept of being grafted into the Tree of Life by the One who planted it. If you, like me, have hope deferred it is for His purposes. It is to lead us to the tree of life where He can graft us into the vine of His choosing and bring us life.
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 11:20 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home