Great…um…Expectations

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, accountability, Dangerous snow conditions, deadly spiritual perspective, deception, end of life, eternal, expectations, Faith, Gary Fultz, Gary Fultz Blog, goals, nature pictures, perspective, Photography, relationship with God, snow conditions, Spiritual Perspective, story telling.Tags:, , , , , , , , , ,

I should know better then to follow the weather forecast too close. I end up with a narrow band of expectations. I saw the huge system on screen that would hang over us for quite a few hours. I heard it could produce on average an inch of snow per hour. I did the math and that’s a lot of snow. If my math was correct we would get over 20″ of snow. The weather person predicted 4-8″.

After 4 hours of snowing I took a picture of our 25 pound dog exploring 7″ of new snow and the storm was just starting. After lunch three hours later I shoveled off both decks and took some pictures at 16″ and still coming down heavily. The weather person really should have done the math. We are now close to 20″. I will readily admit, the snow is beautiful but I had different plans and expectations for the day. After all don’t expectations affect reality somehow??

Expectations really are one of life’s themes. Some people come much closer to reality in their expectations than others.

I still tell the story (I’m retired now) of a person who walked into our work place and said “I’ve decided I really want to work here.” I walked them over to our operations manager and introduced them. Knowing I would be in on the interview process, I stuck around as this person repeated they wanted to work at our facility.

When asked to supply a resume and be open to three interviews they simply said “no need to do that because I have decided I want to work here“. The hiring manager said “Thanks, we will call you when we need you, we will need to talk!” This brought on an obvious question by our wana-be new hire “you don’t even know my number”. A big smile and reply “exactly, have a nice day”

Expectations: A friend of mine asked an 18 year old last week what kind of job field he would like to go into after college. Response: I’m not going to college or get a job, the government will give me money. My friend: “We need to talk”

Expectations: I reacquainted with a retired friend I used to work with in our younger days. I asked how his retirement was going. This was his sad answer; “I retired with a lot of money so my wife and I could do things together and have fun doing things we didn’t have time for when we were working all those years. She doesn’t want to do anything with me. I’m not having fun and it’s her fault!” I said, “about that, we need to talk”

It seems every day I fuel my tank with present and future expectations. The vehicles I own, the food I eat, friends and family fulfilling promises made, safety, health, prayers fulfilled and going to heaven when I die. Yep Lord, “I’ve decided I really want to live in heaven when life is over and I’ve had a great life.”

God: “We need to talk!“

Gary

Published by Gary Fultz

Outdoors Man, Hunter, Fisherman, Guide, Writer / Author, Photographer, Public Speaker, Musician, Song Writer, Story Teller, Follower Of Jesus. Love God and family and total strangers

74 thoughts on “Great…um…Expectations”

      2. Tomorrow we get a cold front. 20’s today. 30 degrees colder tomorrow.
        My reader says I’m not following your blog again as I didn’t get the last post in email. fixed again…sigh
        I have 4 others that kicks me off so I have to check often.

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  3. Oh great! Now I can’t complain about any snowfall we get here until it’s more than twenty inches. You have ruined one of my favorite blog topics.
    It does sound like you have great neighbors though.
    I still plan to post sad photos of me and my new roof rake

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    1. Oh ya, do the roof rake. I’m breaking mine out this week for sure.
      I live in the Bemidji Minnesota area, close to Itasca state park where the Mississippi river starts. Kind of a wild wilderness area.

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  5. Ah yes, expectations. So many disappointments in life happen because of them. It always helps to have one’s ladder leaning against the right wall. That’s why your “We need to talk “ phrase rings true.

    Thanks for another thought provoking post, Gary.

    PS. 20” is more snow than I’ve ever seen in real life.

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    1. 20 ” is not often David but I have seen 36″ over three days in one solid system. No lake effect here so can’t compete with places that get 50″ at a time. So true about leaning one’s ladder, So many choose the wrong wall.
      The 20″ is fluffy snow so that’s one good thing, although I had to use a small shovel on the decks as the big one I couldn’t lift that much snow continuously over the deck railings. Burnt out my electric snow blower I use on the decks…ya, expectations.

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  6. Awesome post, Gary! Beautiful snow picture! I will confess, at first I wasn’t paying attention and thought “ was ‘ and I felt way better when it wasn’t feet!!! Your dog is adorable, goldendoodle?! I have great expectations that Nathan and I will agree or somewhat find something in common to watch whether tv or movie. Tonight was Nathan’s turn to pick and I said to myself, “that’s it. I am getting us a second tv!” Thank you for pointing me to God because He is the One who needs to convict me of my expectations, pride etc. I loved your work story. That is priceless. Love and blessings to you and your wife!!!

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    1. Thanks Mandy. Little Buddy is Cavalier- King Charles spaniel bishon blend. He is long enough to take food off the table so he grew bigger than we thought he would.
      Ya, only 20 inches. The skidsteer piled snow 10 feet high. Now I can pull the grandkids behind the ATV on their snow boards and they can get some air.
      My wife and I go through the same thing with the TV so we just watch the news mostly.

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      1. Glad to hear that Nathan and I are not the only ones! Aw we have friends who have a cavachon, what nice dogs! We have a cavapoo (cavalier and poodle), he was the runt of the litter. Normally they are 16lbs and he is 9.2. PQ loves the snow when it crusts over so then he doesn’t get lost in it! Thank you for sharing about your doggie!!!!!

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      1. Gary, you are amazing to live in such temperatures. I am not sure if I ever shared this in passing. The one year I had a conference in Minneapolis in December and it was like record cold. My mom being the awesome and amazing woman of God she is came with me. The hotel staff were kind to us and allowed us to turn the heat up in our room past 72! When I heard that kids only got a school delay when the wind chill was -40 I was terrified! Anyway, we got to Minneapolis early Friday morning, my conference was Saturday (at the hotel we were staying) and we were leaving Sunday. Gary, every 15 minutes my mom and I would check the window to see if people were outside because we saw no one. It was not until 10am on Sunday that we learned about the above walkways in Minneapolis. No wonder people were not outside!!!! All this is to say that when I hear you stories and see your pictures I am amazed at God’s Beauty and how He has equipped people to endure the cold because that is not my gift! I hope your buddies hair grows back VERY quickly!!!!!!

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    3. The strange thing about weather temps. In October 40 degrees feels cold. In November 20 degrees is cold (I’ve seen it-20 by then.)
      In December-zero. January and February -20 and colder. Anything over -20 is balmy in those really cold spells.
      The moral of the story is…you should have stayed a little longer…LOL

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  7. Love your present and future expectations Gary. The only sure certainty in this life is uncertainty.
    PS – Living in snow country, perhaps getting a 75 pound black lab would be a more appropriate companion for snow-walks 😀

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    1. That would be my choice Fred but it’s my handicapped daughters dog that can sit on her lap once in awhile. The little guy sure has pulling power…I’m thinking a small sled with my ice fishing stuff?? maybe not.

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  8. Well Gary, if that isn’t a zinger I don’t know what is and when you come right down to it, it is oh so true. Our expectations so often fail to even come close to considering that which really needs to be comprehended, before we make a decision and then move forward. Asking God to direct our steps can literally take on a whole new meaning and committing OUR WAY to Him FIRST and trusting in Him and then He shall bring it to pass, is another. Excellent post Gary, thank you! Blessings!

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    1. Thanks. It does not take much snow in the air to shut down roads and decrease visibility. It’s not snowing anymore but today is very windy and is blowing our snow everywhere…especially where I just shoveled.

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      1. Yes very true! I’ve seen snow bring everything to a standstill in the UK, even if its just a little snow. Hope the weather calms down soon for you!

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    2. I think it will, sometime in April. Actually I see the weather is forecast to be above zero and sunny with less wind in a few days if one can trust the weather forecast…flip a coin??

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  10. Thank you for this post, Gary, and the superb photos. Excellent work. I’ve heard that sort of winter scene is much more appreciated while in close proximity to a wood stove. Blessings

    Great Expectations. We Need To Talk. Do The Math. It Doesn’t Quite Work That Way. Not Clear On The Concept. I Didn’t Think I Would Need My Coat. Should Have Read the Instruction Manual. By Failing To Prepare You Are Preparing To Fail. Famous Last Words. Many Will Say To Me On That Day.

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    1. Thanks RJ. Ah yes the wood stove is even more appreciated after spending 4-5 hours clearing snow. I jumped on the skid steer and tried to find my driveway. Snow covered so much I has to guess where it was. I bumped a spruce tree with the loader piling snow under it and all the snow came off the tree. Buried me. Stoves are good. Really good.
      Yes, The world is very unclear on the concept and getting buried by all the lies out there.
      You do realize your mind goes into hyper-drive RJ….thats a gift

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    1. Thank You Alan. Buffalo has the lake effect snow, I see it in the news all the time. Sounds like either a good place to be from or a good place to own some great snowmobiles. Beauty costs us sometimes. I was reminded of the beauty this morning at sunrise with the gorgeous sun dogs at -15 degrees.

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  14. Gary, could you send some of that snow our way. My daughter is eager to see her puppy’s reaction to snow. They are forecasting 1-3 inches later this week. Seeing temperatures hit an unseasonable 70 today, I don’t think much will accumulate on the ground. That said it will be fun to watch Summer snatch flakes out of the sky like she did the leaves falling from the trees. Looks like Buddy is about to disappear in the snow. His white coat gives him the cover of arctic camo. I guess one thing I’ve learned is not to hold too tightly to expectations but rather be pleasantly surprised.

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    1. Well Beth, I hope your forecasters are better than ours. Our 1-3″ o 4-8″ on the forecast and it proceeded to snow 20′.
      Then our zero temps following the storm turned to -15 with 30 mph winds.
      I hope you get that 1-3. Being it’s been warm the ground will melt it right away but the puppy will have fun in it…seems most dogs love it.

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  15. I didn’t expect my internet to be down today and keep my zoom bible study group from meeting with the rest of us but last night’s storm changed my reality today – not nearly as much as your 20 inches of snow! Over all God is still sovereign.

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  16. Love the pictures. One of the reasons we live in the northern states is because we like the definite change and variety of seasons.
    “I’ve decided I really want to live in heaven when life is over and I’ve had a great life.” – A great expectation, promised to be fulfilled through faith in Jesus Christ!

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    1. Yep, I was hoping a few people would take up on that expectation. Many have that expectation without knowing Jesus…Huge mistake. Faith is one thing (the only way) and entitlement is another (which doesn;t work)

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  18. Pingback: A Day Away – Gods Ways are…Different

  19. I’m missing good snow storms like this! I grew up in the Colorado Rockies and storms like that were normal. =)

    And well said about expectations. It’s amazing how our view of things gets skewed because life doesn’t turn out as we expect!

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  20. What a beautifully written post about expectations vs. reality. “They” say people’s reality is what they make it. In this truth-tossing world, and after many falls that did not have me landing in 20” of snow, I’ve learned the only expectations and reality I can truly “bank on” (like a snow bank? 🙃) is meeting God’s expectations of me and living in his truth alone! Oh what messes us humans can make when we set ourselves up to meet those things NOT expected from our God. Particularly the stories you shared about the young man speaking his destiny without doing the work. It’s sad that entitlement trumps faith and hard work!

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    1. Thank You K.L. for your insightful comment.
      . I like your phrase “Truth-tossing world”. That describes it.
      Living in God’s Truth and living out living out god’s expectations of me are all wrapped up in the invite by Jesus “follow me” is our rock and should be our reality.
      I will readily admit, when I fall behind in following Jesus I fall through the thin ice I have strayed on.. When that happens is “I blame him” My expectations of God helping me out of the messes I create is a vicious cycle.
      I guess there are many roads to entitlement…That young man needs his video games taken away.

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      1. You’re welcome, Gary. I appreciate your words and wisdom. Falling through the ice is no fun. I gained a new expression before I started blogging,…”I fell flat on my faith!” As a Father should, I hear God say, “You did it again! Have you learned? I still love you now use that brain and heart I gave you and follow me!” Video games–I know very capable people who spend a lot of time on these. Very smart and gifted people. I’m sure they look at me and wonder at my habits. Sadly, the trees and sights of nature aren’t as alluring as lights, bells and whistles, and the material things located in stores. They’ve done nothing but give me a false sense of security. I know my rock now. Take care and blessings to you, Gary–Karla

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  21. Hi Gary,
    I love your photos. What a cause to pause and reflect on the things that matter, and the things that we may take for granted. Often they are one and the same. Expectations are like ivy on a chimney wall. They grow quietly, slowly, at the perimeter of our awareness. Many of them grow along with us as we grow up. We glance at them in passing so frequently that they blend into the surroundings of our lives. Until they die and turn brown and suddenly they have our attention and concern. That’s how it was for me when I became disabled. So many expectations died so suddenly and I never even knew I had them until they were gone. We do well to consider carefully what we may be taking for granted and keep our eyes on He who matters most. Thanks for a stimulating and introspective post.
    Blessings to you and yours,
    Craig

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    1. Thanks Craig so much. You have much experience in changed expectations. The ivy analogy is spot on. We had an ivy every year that would sneak up the siding of the end of the house and choke out all the flowers as well. The vines would get hacked off by the roots easily and twenty feet of vine was now dead. Retirement was that way for me. I guess I had more plans than taking care of our daughter 24/7. Life has a way of sorting out way more than we want.
      I dare not take my relationships for granted, especially with the Lord and family. Great insight Craig

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    1. All God has promised he will do. Sometimes I attach expectations of God he did not promise (no pain in life??)
      Then I have a problem. but yes, I do have realistic expectations of God way more than mankind around me. Somtimes I want more from people than I get though…and they want more from me than I can give.

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  23. I had high expectations for your piece, Gary…and I wasn’t disappointed. Lots of wisdom and food for thought. I also love the snow pictures. It reminded me of the winter I served as interim pastor in Big Bear up in our local mountains.

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    1. Thanks Steve. Ah, high expectatins, no pressure.
      So you know how fickle a snow storm can be. As a pastor you have probably seen more than your share of wild and unchecked expectations of God , church and pastor.

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  26. Hopefully it will be awhile Mitch, Happy new year to you as well. I’m going for a big cup of hot chocolate with a candy cane and whipped cream after a vehicle died and walked home. -23 here with a minus 40 wind chill. Was just at an uncles graveside in -20 so something is in the air tonight….not ready for promotion yet.

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    1. Yes kate, I remember being in college and hitting the spring break beach. It was supposed to be warm and sunny. It was 20 degrees colder and rained the whole time. Being it was below freezing where we came from we swam in the ocean anyway. Froze!!

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  28. As I mentioned in my last post (“What Are You Looking at?”), we tend to make our plans, then like good Christians, we ask the Lord to bless them (and can’t understand why He doesn’t.). But if we “delight ourselves in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts,” because delighting ourselves in Him, we align our wills with His. He instills in us the right desires, we pray for those things, and He gives them to us. 🙂 Its’ reasonable to expect God to keep His promises, because He does! But we need to know what those are.

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    1. You are so right Ann on delighting ourselves with the Lord, being in the word, knowing Him, his will and His promises When we think we are entitled and God owes us something because of who we are, we have been deceived.
      Our culture sees so called believers as using religion to justify and manipulate our ends. I pray they see a love relationship with the king of kings and Lord of Lords.

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      1. Wow, Gary. I just reread this post. Way to describe the entitlement mentality of a huge chunk of our population. I don’t know about other countries, but America seems to be heading in the wrong direction. I hope when God says, “We need to talk,” somebody is listening!

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  29. Yes Ann. America has been headed the wrong direction for a long time. Oh the subtilties of 100 tiny forks in the road with the wider path going left and down and the narrow path right and up. Much of what identifies as “the church’ are sheep not being able or listening for the distinct voice of the shepherd.
    Now when the big crossroads comes, ingrained in culture that truth is misinformation based on who said it. Even followers of Jesus have been reduced to beings valuing opinion through the lens of culture over God’s Word. How dare God say there is only one way to heaven. How dare God offend our sexual identity values.
    Back in the mid1950’s AW Tozer warned Christians to Beware the new doctrine of tolerance.

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  30. I’ve found that expectations can be good or bad. High expectations are good for students, but sometimes high expectations regarding what someone should give me, lead only to a big letdown. I’ve really enjoyed getting acquainted with your blogs this morning. Blessings, Gary!

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