There will be times in your life, and yet in my future, when living fully alive will hurt.  Many of you have already suffered this.  You have suffered betrayal, physical affliction, character assassination and sleepless nights.  You have walked dark and lonely roads.  Some of you are walking this even now.  It is a direct result of bringing the life and glory of God alive in you, to a world in need.  This life and glory is fiercely opposed, both by the world and by the realm just beyond our physical senses (more on that another time).  Still others have suffered in these ways and you have not yet discovered the weight and the glory of your life.  You pursue it and it so often feels like something just outside your reach.  And, there are those of you reading this who are, honestly, still asleep.

Eighteen months ago, I was fully engaged in life, living free, living alive.  In the course of living alive, I suffered a devasting double-ankle injury.  Only in the past few months have I become aware of how much damage was done.  However, last summer, in the deepest part of hurt and questioning, two dear friends prayed with me and woke me up to the life I had lost and how to get it back.  I am so deeply and forever grateful to these two men.  (Mike and Morgan, thank you, truly).  It was in the morning summer storms of the Colorado Rockies that I wrote this.  For the first time, I recognized the depths of the Book of Psalms in the Bible.  As I sat under the eaves of my cabin, at sunrise, my gratefulness, God’s power and my transformation showed up in these storms.

I share it with you, especially as you battle the wounds of living.  I pray there’s blessing in it for you.

Truly,

Doug

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My King and my Lord.  The morning thunder echoes with your might.

Swift and bright, the lightning cuts the sky and does justice to your majesty.

You have felled my enemies.

Those who would sabotage me, clung to my back and refused to lift their claws.

Yet you, you placed your warriors on my right and my left.  Their swords ring out with your truth and my enemies fall.

Those who would destroy me,  broke my legs and felled me in battle.  They feasted on my home and all seemed lost.

Yet you, you sent your swordsmen and archers to me on swift and bright wing.  On my right and on my left you placed them.  On their lips they bore the words of your healing.

On the fallen bodies of my enemy, you rain pellets of ice after days of battle.  In the early morning, storms of your glory pass over the fields.

You make known to the mountains that you are the King of Glory and my heart sings as your steward.

It was just a split second. A blink. A quick breath. A pebble falling. A shifting breeze just beyond the eyelashes of the young warrior-in-training. Perhaps it was the subtle odor of oiled steel. Maybe the startled chip of the sparrow. Whatever cue it was, had he stopped to think about it, the needle sharp spike would have pierced him had he not dropped to the ground. He would like to have thought it was a graceful, cat-like dodge, but it was more of a crash and a stumble. He looked up as he lay on his back on the moist forest floor, to see a thin steel spike piercing the tree where he stood a moment before. Time stood still but the attacker pressed in. Leaping from his place of ambush, the grey-veiled assassin leapt an inhuman distance in the air above and drew his finishing dagger, dropping to plant the weapon in the young mans chest. Scrambling for his own blade, the young warrior capably rolled backwards over his shoulder into a low crouch just as the attacker landed where he had lay a moment before. The two combatants faced each other for what seemed like an eternity but only a moment in time. Though only his eyes showed, the dark assailant’s eyes betrayed a grin as they looked at the growing pool of blood below the boy’s ankle. He could feel the warm trickle from his lower leg. Stunned, he had not realized the cut until this moment. How and when were a mystery, as were so many of the tactics of the dark ones. He tried to restore his focus. His mind began to swirl as spots appeared before his eyes. Poison. And, as if in a dream, he sprung from his crouch, as high as he might, to reach the branch twice his height above his head. He knew he had once chance, one hope, before he succumbed to the toxin. His leap was strong still and his off-hand found the wrist-thick limb. Fingers closed around it, his full weight came to bear and the boy knew it was too late. His strength would not hold. His vision faded to black and his hand lost it’s grip.

His elders had often told stories of the mysteries of time and eternity. But he had not understood it until he fell from that tree. It had been just seconds since the beginning of the attack. Like lightning had both combatants moved. But now, as he fell, his thoughts turned to his teacher. Kneeling side-by-side, near the mountain stream by his home, he recalled these words.

“You must keep going! Forget your sadness, anger, grudges and hatred. Let them pass like smoke caught in a breeze. You should not deviate from the path of righteousness; you should lead a life worthy of a man. Don’t be possessed by greed, luxury, or your ego. You should accept sorrows, sadness and hatred as they are, and consider them a chance for trial given to you by the powers…”

He crashed to the ground, blind and exhausted by the venom coursing through his veins.

“Keep going!” was all he heard.

Good morning! Oh my Lord. There is SO much in my little ol’ pea brain right now! Right now, I wanted to share with you that if your group, company, church or other organization is in need of some renewal, focus, vision or bonding, Judy and I are available for a very limited number of speaking and facilitation engagements in the next year!

We want to hear from you and see if there is a place we can serve you and your mission. From one hour consultations to three day retreats.

Please contact us and book early!

We can cover any number of topics. Have a look around the blog and you’ll get an idea of our vision and mission.

E-mail me at intothewilderness@gmail.com.

Looking forward!

Doug and Judy