Just a thought

 Hello!

    Been a while, How are you doing?  Can't begin to tell you what all has happened since the last post.  It would most likely crash Google.  I have went from the worst to the best (so far) in a matter of 4.5 years.

     To maybe help keep this post some what short..... I have been going to Bible study for a few years now. Pastor Joshua is my Shepard and best friend. Back a year or so ago he stumbled across this book written by a Oakland Fire Fighter whom is now retired.  His name is Jason Sautel. His book is "The Rescuer" Like many of us he has seen complete darkness in his life and has now found the Light.  Jason is kind of a different dude as he was called to write a book about his journey.  No not like the phone rang and some random person said "Jason, you should write a book" it was more of a long distance phone call. Like from God. 

Jason listened.

    It had to have been a struggle. To write a book was to revisit the dark times, over and over. Yet he held strong and did it! To our luck it was published and PJ (Pastor Joshua) stumbled across it.  We talked about it one night at bible study.  We both agreed we would read it and work through it. The book actually had what I would call a "study guide".  It was more like the author, Jason, wrote down questions.  You would read a chapter and then answer the questions. It was an awesome idea, as it helped put you understand why Jason wrote the book. Making the book a great way to self reflect, and not just read a book. 

    Sorry to say when PJ ordered his book it did not come with the study guide. So PJ emailed the Author and asked where to get a copy.  Jason replied to PJs email. A seed was planted. Flash forward and you will see that Jason and PJ and pretty good friends, even though they have never met!

    When PJ and I meet we always have a chat about whats going on in life.  Back when COVID hit PJ did a lot of sermons on YouTube, he even did Podcasts.  At the same time Jason also did podcasts. Both felt like Gods message wasn't getting out there like they both wanted.  And then one day....they both got together and did a podcast together called "Hey Pastor".  

    With all of this happening I have become Facebook friends with Jason.  He isn't your typical Michigan guy.  He surfs and skates.  He lives in California. In Michigan if I told you we surf and skate you would think surf the internet and roller skate. Not Jason, Bro.....he skates on a skate board and surfs the water. Strangely he has no "man bun" or dread locks......

Today on his FB page he posted:

"and...the winner of 'today's best message/email' is..."

    "Email-after reading your book, I visited your Facebook page and was disappointed. I thought your life would be more interesting but from the few public posts I could see, it isn't" 

That made me think, no it didn't hurt...but thanks for asking!

    This person, maybe they are hurting.  Jason's book really speaks to Fire Fighter and Medic's as that was Jason life. Many of us can relate to every one of his calls in some way or another. Perhaps this person related to how Jason felt before he was Saved by Grace. This person, lets give him a name! How about Monte?  So Monte, lets say, is still in the dark. Monte can relate to Jason's days in the dark.  After reading Jason's book he thought maybe Jason was still in the dark.  Maybe Monte felt they were in the same area of darkness, just a different shade. This thought gave Monte a little hope, he had Jason there as help. Who hates being in the dark alone? Who feels a little better in the same dark room with someone else? When Monte went to Jason's FB page, he didn't see darkness. To Monte that was disappointing, he felt like he was alone again.

    Ok, I know you have done this.  It is a magical thing that we all do, repeatedly. You find a cool looking flash light. What is the first thing you do? You find the power switch, then you point it right into your eyes and flip it on. Milli seconds later you feel the pain. and then you say to yourself. "You idiot, you do that every time".  

    Picture yourself in a very dark place.  Your pupils are wide open, trying to find light. It is just like your spiritual soul really, if your in the dark it longs for light. Now you're in that dark place and you turn on every light in the room.  You flinch, its to bright, shut off the lights quick. But what if you could turn a little light on?  Just a little light, let your eyes adjust, then little by little turn the other lights on! Soon that room is so bright you could wear sun glasses, and no pain!

    I want you to think of something.  You're back in that scary dark room. Alone. Scared. If you were to ask for help, most people, I know Jason, PJ and I would, we would help you the best we could.  Walk toward you, stand next to you in the dark. Then turn on that dim light, let your eyes adjust. Then turn on the next light. We have seen the dark, yet also we have seen the light. Going into the dark to bring you to the light is something we are called to do, just like stopping bleeding, starting a pulse and dragging a line into a house on fire. We can stand in the dark next to you knowing what being in the light is like and we can and we will get you there. Step by step, little by little.

    So if you look at someones life as disappointing....maybe take a deep breath. Evaluate whats going in your life.  Maybe the fact is that your in the dark, you can't find the switch, to scared to ask for help. Ask for help, the Light is there and it doesn't have to hurt.

Maybe, just maybe, they are in the dark and it is YOU that can help them find the light.

We know where the light switch is....

Mathew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

 

The little things

So here it is, summer. So happy for all of you that enjoy this. I find nothing more satisfying that walking out side in the morning, feeling good about the day. Yet before I get to the car parts of my body are already dripping with sweat. Not ever going to understand peoples love for summer, hell its so dam hot i haven't seen many skeeters around. Poor bastards are in the swamp, hiding under the shade of a fern.  So yah, you got me, one flipping good thing about heat. Still i set here, waiting for fall, and for winter.

I was out in the sugar shack tonight. Hung up a new poster, and just sat there. Thinking of the time and energy and sweat and worry and beer that have all been consumed in that little 14 x 16 garage. Then you pause and realize all the "stuff" was all well spent. No one in my family likes real maple syrup. I do it for others.

I looked at my fishing pole setting there, my one man ice shack, my 4 man shack, my propane ice drill. Above me were the sleds, all full of great gear. All of it, paid for with sweat and worry and a ton of energy. yet, only my Son and I like fish.

Guess if you have read this whole blog you may remember the one called something like "its about whats not there". All this time and energy and money and sweat and "sacrifice". Its about none of that. Anyone can spend those things, God knows many have done more. Its all about the joy that others get from it. The quick email saying "its the best maple syrup" they have ever tasted. Or the 20 mile trip out of my way to give some fresh fish to an elderly lady that cry's and says "thank you, since my husband has died I don't get much fish. We loved to fish.........." and a hour later she shuts the door.

It's being thanked by a middle aged man "Thank you so much for leaving your familys to come here and do this. i know you did everything you could" After you stop doing CPR on his Father the one he just talked about. "My Mother has ALS and its a full time job for Dad and I." As you cover his Father with a sheet. Another loss, so few wins. This man had no Idea the demons that we live with, his Father dead, yet he thanked us. Its a little thing, yet i will never forget it. I hope His "Thank You" fades the screams

 "You did your everything you could"

 But is it ever enough? I have to say standing in a door talking to an old lady about fishing is MUCH more satisfying than hearing "TOD 11:13".

The little things, splitting a chunk of wood to feed the evaporator. Fishing one more bait to give the fish away.  Spending a few more hours doing something. Just to maybe help someone have a better day.

It's the little things folks. Stop. Take a second. Maybe two. Say Hi to some one. Open a door for a Lady. Buy a Thank You card and write a small note, sign it, give to the next US Veteran you see. (yes, i do it all the time)

The little things you do today. May be some ones big thing tomorrow. 

ah...crap

So i missed it by a few days. You know that "at least one post a year" goal. But hey tomorrow it the 15th. I will catch up then!

yearly post

So a friend on Facebook talked about a blog. So here I am updating my blog! One year to the day. Yah I know I am a slacker. Been an ok year. Compared to other years.

Haven't screw my back up . Since. ....oh about 9 months. Which is awesome. Maybe this year I will fish a NAIFC tournament after all!

The hell is nite mares aren't around as much. I won't explain how nice that is. I am sure you understand. Lots of shit going on at the fire department.  It's kinda like a room full of adult 5 year old drama queens. But I guess that's part of life. I did get my letter from the big shots at the government. Only 12 more hours of doing training classes and I can apply for my State Instructors Permit. I don't ever see teaching classes for a living but, but it was a goal I have had for a long time. Since back in the days when my brother and I would respond to the fire house with Dad. We would wash the same truck everytime. The truck that never moved. We stocked the fridge with beer. Played pool. Slid down the brass pole. Back when you could have one. God only knows that the government thinks it's OK I go into a house fully on fire, but DO NOT slide 10 foot down a pole. Nice work.

My photography has stalled. So has my bike riding. And my hunting. And my fishing. Times change I guess. But ice fishing will be hot this year. Gonna keep my back in one piece and gonna fish hard. Hopefully get the kids out more. Get some other family's out fishing. Those that aren't so lucky to be set up as well as I am.  Get the kids out and have some fun. People may find it hard to believe that some guys will grill steak on a grill in the shanty!

Maple syrup season was insane this year. It started the end of February and ran till the beginning April. I put out 10 gallons.  Which is 9 gallons over last year. Gave it all away. I enjoy making it and my reward is seeing people enjoy it. I tapped 4 trees in my yard and oh about.....10 at moms. Made for long nights. Get home and start boiling at 7th and go to bed at 2am. Then repeat. 4 or 5 nights a week. But it was great.

So I guess that's it. Jamming to the new Eminem CO and texting a friend in North Carolina. Time for me to go to bed. I would love to say I will blog more. But most of my entries are of me saying I will blog more and it is obvious I dont.

Good night.
God Bless
And use a 3 mm jig and 1 lbs test line. If you want better fishing tips call me. I will take you out. 616.262.0376 (once we have safe ice)

I am a Rock

So here it is November the 12th. So if you happen to keep an eye on this blog you will be in shock! I think this may be my 3rd update this year! and the second in a few months. No the world isn't going to end, that happens in December, so You have to wait until January for that story!

The Iceman has come and gone. The weather was...well, it is called ICE-man for a reason. Took about 3000 pictures, and even sold a bunch.

I took a ride on a ladder and did well. Took it all the way to the ground and came up kicking. Well, ok I wasn't kicking, but i was able to walk on my own. Took a day off to relax and then back to work. but I got this back thing fingured out, I got the meds, I got the stretchs and I got the rehab all figured out. I just don't have the paper work on the wall so I can get paid to show others how to do it.

So this year, not counting shitty ice, my Brother getting whacked by an asshole in a car and blowing my back out twice, has been pretty good.

This is the time of year in Michigan you hear a lot of adds for the Male Strippers coming to the State. The DNR (department of natural resources) hears these adds and does all of us guys a HUGE favor and opens White Tail Deer season. I love the DNR. This time of the year I am little by little getting, how do they say it? I am "getting my poop in a group". It would suck to only plan for 30 hours and find out you had forgotten something important. Something like the latest "outdoor life" magazine, or your pop.

But his year I will be at the local hospital pacing back and forth. A great friend of mine found out that she has two Tumors. Her and her husband laughingly call them "the twins". The doctors for some reason decided to do the operation on the 15th. I guess they felt since they had to work they'd find a gal who had friends who hunt and pick her. The skinny vegetarian will have hers done and the 16th. But non the less, I will be there. Can't say I even thought twice about hunting. I need to be there, as she would be there for me. I have hunted since i was 12 or 13 (you do the math) so I have 32 years of "openers" under my belt. And I hope to have many more. So to miss one really isn't gonna hurt me. I'll miss it, sure as hell, but I will know I am right where I need to be. There in the hospital. Hoping and praying she beats the 10% odds.

I am a Rock.

That has been her saying for a year and a half. It all came about after a Medical call we both went to. A young beautiful girl ran to her Father for a ride on the mower. She slipped and fell and her Father struck her as he backed up. I do not have to give you much more details than that. I lost weeks of sleep, no need for you to loose any. But this call effected us, her and I. It sent us both into a spiral that I was sure would find us both in hell. But I made it with the help of some professional help and hers, and we got out of it. For the most part anyways. When people would ask her how she is doing she'd just answer "I am a rock". I always wanted to slap her for saying that. We both knew we were in hell, and just once I wanted to see her stop keeping it inside, to watch her explode into a screaming ball of terror and let someone have it. Would it have helped? Not the slightest, but Gad damn It would have been fun to see. Cuz I knew I wanted to. I was sick of being up all night, listening to the voices.

So this November 15th, enjoy the time you have in the woods. Send me a photo. 616.262.0376. I will be where I need to be......

I am a Rock

Hey look its September!

This is my every once in awhile blog post:

Hot summer, and I hope the winter is equally cold. I need some darn ice!

Last week my brother was whacked by some dude in a car. That story, although serious, is not something I have the time to write about right now. So I will do that tomorrow at work. As of right now I just uploaded some pictures of a race and we are off to the zoo.

See you tomorrow. 

Ice is gone!

Well, once again...i have not updated this blog in months.

My brother in law, Chase, and I signed up for a NAIFC pro fish tournament. I decided to pre-fish the lake on Feb 18th. Planned on meeting some pros from the Detroit area. But while I was getting onto the ice I had some back issues. I laid on the ice for about 20 minutes before some guys picked me up and carried me off the ice. After a long painful journey, to much to write down, i got home. Later that night the pain set in big time, had my son call 9-11. My brothers from the Fire Department showed up. Gave me great care, and a little bit of a hard time, but i end up in ER. Spend a few days at home in bed. The tournament ended up cancelled due to poor ice.

So here it is months later. I am pain free in my back. But the nerve damage is still there. It is great to be on your feet most of the day and have a part of your leg just fall asleep. But i'll take that any day!

Crap fishing is going pretty good. First trip out me took a mostly suckers and a few crap. But last weekend we spent all night on the lake. Took about 10 crap. The two biggest I shot and were both ounces from being 30 lbs, Brett shot some dandies, his biggest two were in the mids 20 pound range.

Ok, i have said it in all of my posts. I'll do better at updating. But you know I won't!

Be safe

Trained to survive, willing not too.