Life in the edges

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, accountability, adventure, devotional, devotional thoughts, discipline, dreamer, end of life, eternal, expectations, Gary Fultz, Gary Fultz Blog, intentional, Know God, Nature, Nature and Inner Peace, nature pictures, outdoor scenery, perspective, purpose in life, purpose of life, quality of life, Spiritual PerspectiveTags:, , , , , , , , ,

Edges. We are drawn there. Shorelines, sunrises and sets, mountain peaks, field and woods edges, seasonal changes/overlaps. Edges make life exciting. We want to live on the edge, Okay, some more than others.

We celebrate edges. Births, birthdays, first day of schools and lasts of every kind and species of edge draw us. News edges, people edges and you get the picture(s) framed and hung.

Edges have colors brilliant to beyond sight. I thought of this when a hole opened up in the racing black storm clouds and then the sun colored the edges.

People edges-texture-bites, cuts, pokes, sooths and heals from instant to eons. Some we really like and some not so much.

I wonder my edges? I can’t see or feel my own but I can be sensitive to others reaction to my edges (or not). It would be good to find out and hone a few maybe.

I can’t help but think of the edge of eternity. We are all there, close, closer, life after death and it matters that we know God now. It really-really matters!! Be a seeker of truth and you will find (yes, a Jesus quote).

Pond scum. It’s what will happen before long. They are fresh now. Give them a week and pond scum will begin. There’s a smell. Who wants to take a dip in the slimy water? The news is full of those people. More edges. Pond scum thinking verses the deep water in the lake nearby where it’s clear. Oh the hills people are willing to die on.

My Prayer: “May my character touch, taste, and be pleasing colors to the eyes”

My question: “If I rub off on you in any way will you be better, bitter or baffled?”

I know you see what I did there. Is there another B? Add your thoughts and read Fred’s comment.

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

81 thoughts on “Life in the edges”

    1. Oh I needed that Robert, thanks.
      I am fortunate to have read your book Robert. I must say I am the better for it as well.
      The ultimate rub off is God rubbing off on us rubbing off on one another…true blessings.

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  4. Thanks for this post Gary. It got me to a-pondering two verses I read this morning in Deuteronomy about the life/death ‘edge’ choice we all must make . . .
    “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
    Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your life!”
    Be blessed brother.

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  10. Thanks Gary. I too benefit from your wisdom… and remember the words of the ancient Psalm ‘Forget not all His benefits…’

    This morning I’m thinking about balance – which we certainly need when we’re close to the edge – and the God who – as another Psalm says – ‘Won’t let your foot slip’.

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    1. Balance and benefits. Love it Malcolm. Balance on the edge…reminds me of the only vacation my parents took with 6 out of the 7 kids. We stopped at a scenic overlook and all 6 of us kids hopped the rock wall that kept people safe and scrambled to the very rocky edge to get a better look. My dad trying to comfort out distraught mother (after bringing us back with his voice) said “think of it this way dear, we will see them all in heaven some day” which didn’t help at all.

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    1. 3 more good ones Andy. Malcolm had a great verse for “balance,” You guys think alike probably at the same time commenting. As for boring, may we never be. Especially when public speaking, writing and standing in the store line.

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  13. I like the comment Nancy made about ‘blissful’. Bliss is a great word. We can’t always be blissful, but we can look for moments of joy and bliss in our lives, and we can point others in that direction. Your photos are awesome…they bring a lot of joy to a great many people. This is a good thing! God’s creation is magnificent. Sharing photographs of the natural world is a gift you give to other people…thank you! Sharing your faith is so very important…Great post!!!

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    1. A great explanation Linda. Thankyou. When I saw Nancy’s “Blissful” comment, I thought of all the kids I have taken fishing. Squeals of delight still echo in my mind. people use the term for eternity “eternal bliss.” Oh to write in such a way people experience some blissful edges. I am so glad my photo’s connect.

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    1. “Brotherly” affection is a great thing Mandy. I do believe we all long for that kind of community to step up as the early church did in the “one another’s” an ultimate “brotherhood” with Christ permeating those bonds of love. It reminds me of an old chorus (60’s-70’s?) “We are one in the bond of love. ” Present day meaning: “I’ve got your back”

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    2. Hope you catch a bunch. I am mourning our nice 250 acre lake. The fish froze out. 6 extra weeks of deep snow on the ice and the sunlight could not get through to the weeds. Instead of the weeds giving off oxygen, they die. The weed then decay using up all the oxygen in the lake and all life dies unless there is an oxygenated spring(s) in the lake. I’m hoping pockets of fish survived.

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    1. let me know if this illustration rings somewhat true Erroll. The church tends, by the very nature of an organization, to collect the cream (people) off the top and let the rest set. The cream of people are then put to work running all the programs of the church. Simplistic but cautionary truth here? The Lord often uses “misfits” to do an end run around the church to accomplish his program on earth.

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  16. Edges, precipices, borders, boundaries, thresholds: all are necessary for life. Even in the Garden of Eden, that perfect earthly haven, God established boundaries (“Of every tree… But of the tree…”).
    Becoming: With the power of the Holy Spirit within us, may we be succorers, comforters, sharpeners (those edges), guides, and friends to one another as we are becoming more like Him.
    Fascinating pictures of your racing black storm clouds.

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  17. You leave me “B”lessed especially as I have been living at the edge of life for some time. It can be exhausting – life at the edge – but also enlivening. Sometimes I just want to be at the center of something where it is safe and secure – like when we played lava boats — one toe over the edge and I would get burned up- but if I stayed in the center of the blanket on the “grass” I was safe – and could while away an afternoon imagining the world of my dreams.
    I see God better from the edges but I know God better at the center.

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    1. Before Christ captured my heart in my 20s, I was always living on the edge. It’s amazing to look back and see how God still protected me. Now I prefer to bask in the glory of knowing I’m on the edge of entering eternity with Christ. This earth has nothing for me in light of what’s ahead. Awesome pictures and post Gary!

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    2. Great insight Erica. Yes, you are on the edge in many life style and adventure ways. I believe you are finding the balance of center and edge times in life. you bring up a whole other necessary part as we are not meant to just stay on the edge. “B”lessed…thats a creative necessary “B”

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  19. I think of all the times I have stayed at the edge of an opportunity rather than going all in – how often the edges have trapped me and kept me from fully living. It makes perfect sense now – I see God from the edges of life but I know God when I cross those boundaries and go forth.

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    1. Ah, so true. Good observation. We get away from distraction to pray (thus prayer closet). The 3 disciples mountain top experience and they got it wrong (lets build 3 temples). We do get to know God in the valley then maybe we get the fringes right?

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  21. I like “buoyed” and “blessed,” above. How about “beautified” too? My prayer is that the beauty of Christ would rub off on others that I meet :). And aaamen to living on the edge of eternity. That thought makes any day so much better!

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    1. Oh I really like that word “beautified.” I believe a great booklet could be written on all the ways (with stories) Christ beautifies our life. There you go Jennifer with that creative mind of yours.

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    1. I am too Marty. sad that our lake nearby froze out though. hope your boat is ready, it’s time.
      My canoe is ready for BWCA. We are visiting Wisconsin this summer, your neck of the woods.

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  24. I cheated and read Fred’s comment first and to go with your B’s would be blessed. Yes the Lord uses you to bless your readers. Beautiful pictures to go with your theme and another B!

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    1. Thanks Donna. I’m glad so many feel blessed. We have way more B’s than I would have ever thought of. Mix together a little starter for a post and our gaggle of bloggers get quite creative.

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    1. LOL Deb. I have flash bulb moments. That’s kind of edgy though…You may not know it but I have learned from you as well as you often get a lot out of your words. “Beholden” to one another is quite scriptural.

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      1. Yes, I know. It came to me after “blessing”, as you are to so many, myself included, and “beautiful” as your photos always are, but both words were already taken. Next came “brilliant” but I figured you’d think that was over the top. Finally, “beloved” as all God’s children are, but that too seemed, well, a little over the top. So! Now you have it. Answering your question is all of this and so much more.
        I always look forward to your work and am never disappointed.

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  26. Good one, Gary. Everything you describe reminds me of the Mount of Transfiguration. And everything the Bible tells about that occurrence reminds me of how the heavenly realm and physical seem to touch “edges.” Only God would need to open a door at any moment to pass through or stand in the opening, “talking to Moses and Elijah.” Yes, life at the edges can be very enlightening and exciting.

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    1. Wonderful thoughts…Just to read about those things GW should fill in some gaps about our thinking of God and his ways. He is quite careful and strategic about who, when and why he opens those exciting edges. We also probably miss the subtle edge all too easily when God’s spirit is working on a heart right next to us, or the person in worship is graced with a profound knowing the presence of the Holy while the rest of us just sing.

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  27. I’m so thankful for Bumping into people over the years with edges just like those described by all these positive B-words. We ARE better-for-the-bump with such folks. Though some now reside in heaven, they still inspire me to BE(!) that for others.

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    1. “buoyed!” is good Stacy. I like it as well. I don’t have a favorite as they all fit together so well. The way I see the post and comments…I put a skeleton of a post out there and the comments put meat and muscle on the bones and make it come alive. I am always in awe at the creativity and depth of thinking of in our blogging and reading community. Give them half a chance to contribute and away they go.

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