Born in the Big Sky Country of Montana and now living in the Buckeye State of Ohio, Richard is the creative mind behind Big Sky Buckeye. Retired after 40 years of teaching, I enjoy writing, photography, traveling, and following a healthy lifestyle.
Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leadiing.
From Hebrews 11:8: “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.”
This short story was written in December, 2019, and it encourages each reader to draw upon his or her thoughts. The ending paragraph speaks from the heart of a writer who looks for a future filled with hope.
There was once a leader in a far-off land in the “Make Believe” world of a toy box. This leader was made of wood, and featured the well-crafted workmanship of his Creator.
Despite appearances, there were flaws in the leader’s character. He was dishonest and bullied everyone around him. His actions as leader led to friction and decisiveness in the toy box. The leader continued to govern with a misguided mind and agenda. His heart seemed hardened to the point that other toys really wondered if he even possessed a heart.
One day, the boy who played with the toy box every day asked the leader, “Why is your character so bad?”
The leader ignored the question, and the boy played with his other toys. Perhaps being made out of wood had made him inflexible with a hardness of attitude. Everything the other toys did or said seemed to go against his grain.
Meanwhile, more and more heat came from some of the fiery citizens in the toy box. Their patience was wearing thinner with each passing day. A few toys even threatened the leader with more than just words. The leader was paranoid about being literally “put on fire” from some of the other toys’ actions. After all, he was made out of solid wood.
After observing the crippling turmoil in his toy box, the boy told the other toys, “I will ask the Creator to help us with this mess.”
The boy prayed a special prayer to the Creator:
Dear Creator, the toys and I ask for your help. Our leader needs to change his bad ways so that all of the toys will enjoy a better life here in this toy box. We look to you for aid and support. Amen.
The Creator heard the boy’s prayer-filled words. Overnight, he came into the toy box and removed the leader, who was sleeping soundly. He remolded the leader into a better person with a benevolent and caring heart, which had been missing all along.
The leader was returned to the toy box with a heart no longer as hard as wood. He was transformed into a Gospel-led leader.
There are a hundred paths through the world that are easier than loving. But wants easier?
Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.
Mary Oliver (1935-2019) was a best-selling American poet, who received many honors for her work. Her love of nature can be found in much of her writing, and it resulted in honors from the National Book Award in 1992 and Pulitzer Prize in 1984.
From 1 Timothy 4:4-5: “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.”
A Christian life is an unending engagement on the battlefield.
From Ephesians 6:10-11: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher. He authored a collection of Christian books, and he endured persecution for his beliefs. Ultimately, he died while being imprisoned for the final twenty years of his life.
Few people have heard of the famous naturalist and wildlife photographer William Xavier Knox. His life has been one amazing adventure of finding the unexplored, the unexplained, and the unusual. Billy’s dreams have become quite legendary.
A few winters ago, Billy survived a scrap with a polar snake up in the Great White North. He had been hoping to finally capture a picture of the elusive Arctic snake crossing the frozen tundra. Instead, he nearly fell to his death in a large crevice in the ice. Fortunately for Billy, his pick axe held firmly while he pulled himself up to safety.
Emulating some of his shutterbug heroes, Billy harbors hopes of becoming a revered wildlife photographer. With his treasured camera, he is still waiting to capture that “once in a lifetime” shot.
None of Billy’s photography has been published yet. He relies on “word of mouth” to carry the message of his work. After all, he figures this is the best approach because he doesn’t want people stampeding into nature’s quiet landscapes.
Unfortunately, few people have met up with Billy. Even fewer people have ever heard of this almost forgotten wildlife photographer. Nonetheless, he has huge plans for the future of his work.
A determined Billy is currently traveling across the eastern third of the “Cowboy State” of Wyoming. The upper plateau and plains are home to many exotic animals.
A freak of nature, this fearsome critter has never been captured on film. A cross between a jack rabbit and an antelope has produced a mysterious creature called a Jackalope. Unfortunately for Billy, someone else has successfully photographed this Jackalope a few days ago. All Billy can say is, “Geez, another one got away!”
Billy’s next appointment takes him to the Pacific Northwest. He plans to search the thick rainforests of the mountains for the elusive Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus.
Left: Wyoming’s Jackalope. Right: Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus. (Courtesy of Pinterest)
As Billy arrives in the area, he is informed that a website already features his prized target. When interviewed, Billy disappointedly explains, “Why am I always coming in second when trying to capture these prizes of nature?”
Winking at him and smiling, she smartly asks Billy, “Do you really believe in these odd species of nature?”
Billy pauses and thinks for a second or two before smiling back, “Well, if I didn’t, there goes my photography career. Right down into my musty basement, filled with old photographs.”
Billy’s mind is beginning to stir to semi-consciousness. A gloomy vision clouds his mind, and he begins to wrestle with it.
He is busy photographing school children across the country for those dreaded school portraits. Someone adds, “You’ll know when he has reached your school. Just look for his personalized license plate: CRZYPCS.”
Waking up from his long, overnight nap, a sleepy-eyed Billy wanders out into the kitchen of his family’s Wyoming ranch house. His grandfather is browsing a book, and he welcomes Billy to their usual morning time together.
Grandfather asks, “How did you sleep young man?”
“Just terrible!” replies Billy as he rubs his ten-year old eyes. “I had a horrible dream about being a school photographer. You know . . . the one who takes those awful photos for school yearbooks and student portrait packets to send home.”
His grandfather pauses and places the book on the table, “You don’t say!”
Billy glances at the book, and he smiles up at the author of the book, William Xavier Knox. His grandfather is a world-renowned wildlife photographer.
This informative post will be posted on Saturday along with my usual writing. We can all appreciate some of the lesser known facts from around the world.
One pound of tea yields about two hundred servings.
Techno-musician and singer-songwriter Moby got his pseudonym honestly–his real name is Richard Melville Hall, and he’s the great-great-grandnephew of Herman Melville, author of MOBY DICK. Hall freely admits he never got through the book.
These facts have been discovered in I NEVER KNEW THAT by David Hoffman (2009).
