May. 4, 2022
In the spring of 2021, I drove home from work one evening to find an intruder at the entrance to our farm. It was down in the ditch and I got out of my truck to see if it was hurt. He was as white as snow with the bluest eyes I have ever seen. It did not make a sound but looked up at me with a silly look that made me feel like I was bothering him. At the supper table, I shared my story and both my wife and son. They had also seen him as well and we wondered were in the world he had come from.
In a few days he showed up around our horse barn ,and again made himself very much at home. He was very smart and quick to learn that our red Rhino side by side was to be associated with good things to eat. He loved eating the horse feed we would put on the ground and loved carrots as much as the horses. We were quite amused as he waddled into the horse barn in front of us at times keeping us from working. If we yelled at him, he would get honked off at us and honked loudly right back at us. We knew he was gonna fit in real well around our place. He made us laugh many times as the summer went by.
I looked forward to seeing him as I went over to check in and on the horses. As we filled the horse water trough he soon taught us to fill a nearby puddle up and he would take a bath in the dirty water even though a pristine lake was close.
The lake was where he spent his nights At dark, he was very sure to go down and spend the night on the water as not to be easy prey to a bobcat or coyote. I feel silly telling you this but I worried about him and prayed for him along with our other critters.
The horses seem to like him as well. it looked silly but Silly would be right there a few feet from 4 or 5 horses. I think he knew nothing would dare to come around or after him when he was with his strong and powerful friends. His best friend was an older mare named Wish. She loves her grain and is quite selfish about sharing and shows great hostility as another horse tries to eat her fair share. She allowed Silly time after time to be eating with her and his bill would be inches from her mouth as they dined happily together. I will always wonder why this old gal took him under her wing . It sure went against the grain( pun intended).
He was with us all summer long. it was a Saturday evening the last time I saw him. I fed him and as I drove down to the lake he waddled down the hill. I was needing to get up the hill and to our house to get dressed for a wedding reception. As my wife and I were driving there , I told her I might have to build a cage for him for protection when our lake freezes over. The next morning I was sad when he did not come to meet me. I had yet a little hope as I thought he might be in the barn asleep in the hay . I saw a beautiful long white fluffy feather on the ground by the overturned boat he used often as a podium. In my office I have a fake book in which I keep things precious to me . In there are things such as pictures my sons drew or even notes they sent to me years later when far from home. Yes, that is where keep that Silly thing.
I am not sure what ever happened. We had seen an eagle near our farm a few days earlier. my heart sunk when I goggled that as a possible explanation. I still have hope that that maybe it was just time for him to move on . Online I learned that that is about the time when geese migrate south. We all talk about him from time to time and discuss just how awesome if he is alive and well and hope that he remembers us with fondness as well. It would be even better if he would bring his family or friends back here to spend the summer.
The other day I was up at the horse barn. I was bending over at the waist about to pick up a red bucket. I stood up and listened . My heart skipped a beat as I was sure what I had heard. The honking got louder and louder. Do you think ?
I prayed for him if he is still alive. I then thanked him not only for Silly but for all the critters he has allowed us to have known and loved down through the years. I thanked God then for all my human friends. I praised Him for the ones I have now as well as for those who have passed on or those who were a part of my life for even a short while. They are are a part of us and are a part of who we have come to be so far. I believe that anything that makes you think of God is a good thing.
I watched two Canadian geese come low over the barn flying low and in close formation and make a perfect water landing in unison down on our lake. They had came out of the blue and I enjoyed their air show , I felt a little blue and my heart remembered our own family friend.
After I raised my head and opened my eyes , I saw the coolest thing. I wish I had a picture to show you. All the other horse were grazing. Wish was still watching the geese, perhaps wishing her old buddy would come back as well.
Keep some souvenirs of your past, or how will you prove it wasn't a dream.
Ashleigh Brilliant
If fate clips your wings and cast you on the humbler plains of life, be a hero there. Billy Sunday
Certain thoughts are prayer. There are moments when, whatever the attitude of the body, the soul is on its knees.
Victor Hugo
As you come up our drive and after you cross the small creek,you pass between two field stone
pillars that match the stones on our home. There is a light atop both of them . Right now, one is green and the the side is white. The green light is to show support for all the people who serve our military as well
as those who have done so in the past.
At Christmas i hang white lights along the 4 rail horse fence. We change the white one to red and
The entryway is good to go. The placement of the red and green has a reason behind it as well.
It may seem to be be random but Iassure you is not the case.
On a plane the red light is always on the left side and the green is on the right side. green and right both
have 5 letters and this was how I was taught to remember as a boy. This applies to boats as well.
Our oldest son, Josh, is a navel aviator. He and his wonderful wife , Christina, are a week or two from going
to Japan. They have lived in several places over the last few years. They lived in Fallon Nevada
most recently and we were blessed to have all of our boys and their girls under our roof and together
the holidays.
Since they aproached our farm from the west the right light was green and the left one was on the left
came home. When they were out east in Va it was the reversed. Japan is on the other side of the world
so I am not sure what I will do. I have not stepped it off but am told it is about as far east to west as it is
west to east.
God is a concerned loving Father who loves you so much! He has made a way for you to come
home through his son Jesus. The porch light of heaven is on . You have a green light my friend.
Because of the red blood of Jesus ,your sins are forgiven . Your approach is cleared as well as all your sins.
As far as the east is from the west,so far has removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12
ENTRY
Yesterday I went out to check on the horses. It has again been vey hot here of late and a daily chore
to top off the water troughs will cool clear water.As I make my rounds the horses ususlly get excited when they hear the sound of our old red ATV. Because this vehicle usally has horse feeds as well as carrots, we c call it "Chuck" short for chuck wagon .
There is a mare and two young ones in the south pasture. I whistled and they did not come. I banged on the
red tubes on the gate with the scooper. It makes a sound that sounds like a hillbilly dinner bell. I had seen them the evening before and knew they were ok. I surmised they had found a place with a breeze and had it made in the shade.
I set the bright orange bucket filled with feed and carrots in front of the gate. This bucket was a physical reminder for me to "lets do this later". I had some mowing to do and that filled several hours of the afternoon. I kept looking down at the water tank seeing they had not yet drank from it and for the first time became a little concerned.
I went down to the gate and did the two tone whistle my dad taught me. I do this in honor of him and have taught my sons to do the same. They all would turn and prick up their earsand know it was me if I did this even in a crowd.
I banged again on the gate and in no time flat heard the three of them flat out running as hard as they could
go. They seemed happy to see me and even more to see Chuck .They were breathing heavy as they devoured their snacks.
My friend I believe God is calling all of us. As we read Scripture, we learn he calls us all differently . Many people tell me after I speak that I missed my calling. I would quite my practice and enroll in seminary school tomorrow if I felt in my heart that is what God wanted for me. I answered my "call to the see" many years ago. I love the interaction I have with patients for the most part. I never would have believed God would and could could use me to write these stories for his glory.
He has blended and used the very things I love and hold dear such as horses, hunting , and rivers . I am often very surprised at how stories and lessons come together in such a way that I know it is not me but him working through me. Here is the exciting part, he wants to do the same with you. You may not be called to write or do eyes but you are being called . What do you do that gives you joy and satisfaction? There is your best clue in regard to what God is calling you to do.
I pray that at times this website feeds you. I write for all God's people and not just those who gather under the steeple. All I know is when I do this with the hope of pleasing my Savior, it just feels so "write"!
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things
you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3
When you empty yourself, God rushes in.
A.W. Tozer
For the man who prays in his heart ,the whole world is a church.
Sylvain of Athos