Absorbed in God's song

I love these theme in Psalm 147 of being absorbed in God's song.  As Meg and I hiked this Routeburn Track, we were reminded once again that God is both in the vastness of His sky and mountains, and in the smallness of His flowers.  And we are His children, ever part of His eternal love.  

Once again, Henri Nouwen says it well, "one thing we know for sure about oour God: our God is a God the the living, not the dead.  God is life. God is love. God is beauty. God is goodness. God is truth.  God doesn't want us to die. God wants us to life.  Our God, who loves us from eternity to eternity, wants to give us life for eternity through the Son who is God's Word incarnate, who came to earth to reveal dramatically Who God is."

Routeburn Track, NZ. Harris Lake

Mt Cook lily. Meg hiking toward Harris Saddle

The Routeburn Track, Day Two

Meg and I and our small group of hikers left the Mackenzie Lake Lodge midmorning on the second day of our hike.  We hiked through red birch forest until we reached the open country above the lake.  Then the trail continued upwards, far above the Hollyford River which flowed into the Pacific Ocean barely visible in the distance. Lunch was at Harris Saddle, a divide that separated the peaks between us and Milford Sound and Harris Lake, out of which the Routeburn flows.  Vistas were as vast as the day before, and each step, a moment of wonder.

Above Lake Mackenzie

Harris Saddle

Mackenzie Lake

Ocean Peak and Emily Peak

Maori onion

Mt Cook Lily, really a buttercup

Mt Lyttle

Trail out of Mackenzie Lake

Routeburn Falls Lodge and river valley below

Meg hiking through birch forest in hopes of Hobbits

The Routeburn Track, Day One

Meg and I left Ohope on Monday, NZ time, and flew to Queenstown on South Island.  From there, we joined a group of three additional hikers and two guides, and enjoyed one of the premier hikes I have ever done.  "Burn" actually is the Scottish word for river, and the route follows high above several rivers before dropping down into the Routeburn itself.

This hike has been rated in the top fifteen of the world by National Geographic.  The views of the peaks are awe inspiring, and the trail through quiet, ethereal beech and fern stretches the imagination.  The trail is about twenty five miles, and traverses both Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks.  We did it in three days, each one unique and lovely.

Earland Falls

Key Summit

Mt Lyttle

Mackenzie Lake

Hiking into the Lake MacKenzie Lodge

Guides for Ultimate Hikes

Called back

Henri Nouwen writes, "I trust in you, Lord, but keep helping me in my many moments of distrust and doubt. They are there and will be every time I turn my eyes, ears, or hands away from you.  Please, Lord, keep calling me back to you, by day and by night, in joy and in sadness, during moments of success and moments of failure. Never let me leave you.  I know you walk with me.  Help me walk with you today, tomorrow, and always."

Over the years I have I come to realize how amazing God is:  I think I am seeking Him, whereas He is always seeking me.  Indeed, He is the good shepherd who seeks all of us who have gone false, separate directions!

Ohope Beach sunrise, North Island, NZ

Below Hat Point in Hells Canyon, OR

First days with family in New Zealand

Meg and I arrived on Friday, December 7, New Zealand time.  We enjoyed an easy flight from Portland to Vancouver, BC to Auckland to Whakatane, on the Bay of Plenty, southeast of Auckland.  Ambien makes sleeping the plane very easy, particularly after a glass a great New Zealand pinot :) As always, Meg and I are amazed not at the miles we have come to get here, but at the complete change of geography and seasons.  Instead of snow in La Grande, we are enjoying surf, sand, and sun in Ohope.

Landing at Whakatane.  Whale Island

Norfolk Pines

Ohope Beach

He has caused His wonderful works to be remembered

" Lord, we are grateful for memories of joyful times, of beautiful experiences, of graces You have given.  May we wisely use the gift of awareness and memory You’ve given us; help us to notice and remember the beautiful sights we see, the kindness of our neighbors, the encouraging words we hear.  Guard us from dwelling on worries and committing unhealthy thoughts to our memories.  May we always remember the good around us, just as we say and do good things for others to happily recall."

Mt Emily and horses

Kancamagus Highway

Between Memory and Hope

Thanksgiving for me always has a certain bitter-sweetness to it.  I am overwhelmingly grateful for the many blessings I have received, but I am also reminded that my "highs," like my "lows," are transitory.  As I ponder Christ's statement that the Kingdom of Heaven is near, I wonder why it still seems far away.  And so I live between memory and hope, grateful for my past, but also looking forward to an eternal life in the future. "Let nothing disturb thee;
Let nothing dismay thee: All thing pass; God never changes."  Teresa of Avila

Wallowa Lake

Powder Valley sunrise over the Wallowas