Shaping the Slow Edge

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, accountability, adventure, Adventure story, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness photos, BWCAW, communion with God, devotional thoughts, discipline, dreamer, dreams, expectations, Faith, Fishing, fishing adventure, friends, Gary Fultz, Gary Fultz Blog, goals, God in Nature, gone fishing, Inner Peace, intentional, Know God, knowing God, Nature, Nature and Inner Peace, nature pictures, Northern Pike, Outdoor Adventures, outdoor scenery, outdoor spiritual truths, Peace, perspective, Photography, picture truths, Planning, portaging, purpose in life, quality of life, relationship building, relationship with God, solitude, spiritual adventure, Spiritual Perspective, Spiritual picture Truths, Spoon Hooks, Sunset pictures, Vacation, wilderness adventureTags:, , , , , , , , ,

There’s a place where my zero to 60 lifestyle each day simmers down to almost nil for a week at a time. I personally need an edge and speed doesn’t do it. This is me I’m talking about. Your place to slow down, regroup, recover (or however you say it) and recharge your life is possibly quite different.

I last wrote about “Life in the edge” and my idea of living on the edge is in a canoe exploring the rugged wilderness, traveling and camping from lake to lake. I have to go some place where five miles per hour is fast to slow down.

I’ll share some pictures with you from my last week. Yes, I did get cold in my 20 degree sleeping bag. No, there is no internet there and the phone may as well be used to record the frogs, birds, waterfalls and mosquitoes to remind one later when doing 60.

Click to enjoy the slides and to enlarge. (The computer does better than a phone).

Reflective time. Good conversation flowing into depths of friendships. New determinations. Fresh fish to eat but most released as most would not fit in the fry pan. A week of wonder, awe of God’s creation and finding muscles that previously did not exist. Thankful for bonds of friendship grown in the hardship of many rugged portage trails (longest was a mile). Thankful for safety in the many roiling water rapids and exhilarating river chutes where atheists’ pray.

I often wonder how many partake in the journey to slow down and deepen who they should be becoming. I wonder how many ways there are to sharpen and shape the slow edge

A couple side notes on pictures. The wrong fish bit because it’s not season yet and must be released if they catch themselves on a walleye lure. Another picture could have been labeled ‘why have only brain freeze when you can freeze the whole body?” (you will figure it out). Also, there a thousands of acres of Canadian wildfires and the smoky air was very noticeable part of the time.

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

68 thoughts on “Shaping the Slow Edge”

  1. Nice photos and thoughts Gary. Yes we all…especially me…need to stop for a while. By the way those guys swimming in 45 degree water don’t make me want to join you on your next trip!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  2. The beauty of nature is truly one of God’s greatest gifts. How can we not look inward with such beauty in our eyes. Nature is healing and refreshing, and being in it forces us to slow down. It seems these days I need it more and more. Thanks for taking me on your trip without having to sleep in a sleeping bag or be too cold. Your pictures are beautiful.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. So true Betty. The beauty is astounding, The rawness and realness of the strength and fragility of life is everywhere. You are welcome on the cold and sleeping bag…You might not want to carry a canoe and pack over the rocky trails either.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. Good friends, walleyes, smallmouths and exhilarating river chutes where atheists’ pray, all set in the backdrop of His wilderness creation . . . no better way to shape the slow edge Gary. I’m envious!
    Thanks for sharing brother.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. So true David. I purposefully did not take pictures of the white capped angry waves trying to sink the canoe. Even those times makes one want to pause for awhile (like a full day) before venturing out after smelling all the flowers one can find. Love your pause and fast forward.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks Nancy. There is a unique perspective being in the beauty and harshness of the wilderness. I was at the part of the women at the well meeting Jesus. We were in a wilderness area of more water than land. Trees grow out of rocks. floating bog areas thrive as do the many beaver houses in the bog. The water makes it possible for all the life that goes on or it would just be one giant rock area mostly. I know the living water giver and all of life is affected.
      How cool is that!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. Thanks Jon. I use several fish mixes and some have corn meal. Fish fries crispy when the seasoning mix is seal coated in egg and dipped in crushed cracker crumbs or corn flakes. I think the hardest part is getting the cooking oil the right temperature over an open fire. Harder when windy and is raining. We had all of the above between the quiet moments and nice sunshine.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. What beautiful experience and I love how you describe it as your way to slow down. I love your sentence, “I often wonder how many partake in the journey to slow down and deepen who they should be becoming.”

    Who they should be becoming — wow, something we all need to spend time regular to consider. Wonderful and congratulations on such a lovely week!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. It really was a great week Wynne. A very physical week as we made about a 35 mile circle with a lot of fast water and extreme portages. Then good campsite and fishing time…A different kind of resting in the awes of nature.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. Sounds hard – and fantastic. I think for me that sometimes the very physical activities sometimes encourage that kind of renewal – maybe tiring the body helps to cultivate renewal in the spirit?

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I’m sure you are on to something there Wynne. The connections between nature, hard work, human dynamics, weather surprises and growing in all areas of our life are there, and the Spiritual relational connection with God is the foundation.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. Love it, Gary! I can see myself out there paddling around with you (but not that cold)! We miss much in today’s technology filled, fast paced, always moving lifestyles!! You are an encouragement to go intentionally, to be still and know the He is God!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    1. You would do great Jeff and be a great addition to a group like we had. All the cold means is taken care of by proper gear and keeping ones head about themselves. Personal discipline is a must in the cold. The speed of nature is in a different dimension than our minds and probably closer to what God intended.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Yes, the air was very smoky a couple days till the wind direction changed. It actually got dark 3 hours early one day and the sun was red and one could look right at it without hurting the eyes.
      The guys I went with were glad to have someone along who knew the river danger areas with the fast spring run-off currents. some woods areas were under flowing water.
      Still had a great time.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. So true Kathy. And, that word Roiling is so descriptive in a good way. It’s not an angry word as the waters did not seem angry except the monstrous waterfall areas. Canoes and waterfalls should not mix…waterfalls win.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      1. I remember those mosquitoes. I lived in Minneapolis when I went to school there. As I drove across the Minnesota state line, two large winged beings started flying on each side of my car. For a second I thought angels were dispatched to escort me until I looked close and realized they were mosquitoes lol

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Sounds like a glorious week, Gary. God, fellowship, fish, and the great outdoors. Can’t get a better formula for refreshment than that. We head out soon for our annual fishing trip in the mountains with my Dad, brothers, and all the cousins. At 82, Dad’s slowed down considerably and I’ve slowed my steps to match his and enjoy his company while the kids speed ahead into various adventures with their uncles. I’m eager to leave all technology behind and bask in the beauty of the lake, hike the mountain trails with the dogs, and enjoy pan fried fish & hilarious tales around the fire.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It does sound wonderful Beth. Those times are a huge blessing, necessary in my mind. I do meet too many people who never do that. I will someday have quite an adjustment when I cannot pick my feet up enough for the rugged trails or portage a canoe anymore. Then you will hear of cabin life only…sigh

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  17. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us, Gary. I too appreciate your insightful wondering: “How many partake in the journey to slow down and deepen who they should be becoming.” A friend of mine regularly goes on solitary retreats, and I’ve always admired that. I suppose leisurely quiet times each morning, especially when the weather allows me to take it outdoors, provide some “slow-down and deepen” moments. But it probably can’t compare to several days-in-a-row-worth!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I do both Nancy. Extended and daily if I can. The two are quite different, mostly because the extended slow down is out of my normal environment and nature controls so many things. I sometimes am surprised at how much of an “in control” person I really am. I have also realized that God has me where he wants me. He knows how to use that kind of leverage.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks AJ. It had several amazing elements to it, not the least being on the fish and most were too big for the fry pan. Walleyes mostly 22-27″ Largest pike caught from campsite at 42″

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. I’m reading “Unbroken” right now (if I can get through it.) It’s the story about Louie Zamperini, WWII American soldier taken prisoner in Japan. He was an unbeliever who prayed to God and eventually became a Christian evangelist after the war. War is a place where atheists pray.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. What an awesome post! I am glad you had such a good time. Your photographs are wonderful. It is so important to ‘slow down’ and find time to recharge. It is great that you have taken so many wilderness trips…thank you for sharing the journey and the insights with us. God does provide for us in every way imaginable… but, we must be open to His provision. The natural world is God’s good gift to us. It is up to us to step outside and explore the wonder of His bountiful creation.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thankyou so much Linda. I think everyone of the guys mentioned how good it was for them to slow down and take some “pause time” . Yes, God calls us to do that, and what a better way to do it if physically possible. In the ruggedness of the wilderness experience physically and spiritually, the soul is refreshed and God removes barriers to our relationship by showing us physical things that point to HIm.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    1. Thanks and LOL. The freezing bucket in the tree for a shower is actually the food pack. It has to be 10-12 feet high and 4 feet away from the tree trunk and 4 feet below the branch or a large bear can get it when we are sleeping or not tending to it in camp. I have had several bear come into camp over the years. They greatly dislike being whelped by a rock thrown or from a sling shot. So far I have driven all of them away thankfully. There is only Black bear where we go and not the grizzly that lunches on people. Black bear attacks happen every year but most just want your food. There are many risks in the wilderness, it’s very wild and help is a long ways away.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  24. It is easy to see why you choose the areas you choose, good fishing, good friends, beautiful peaceful scenery. I wondered about that picture of freezing the whole body—that had to be cold! Were the mosquitoes bad?
    I find anyplace I can find quiet usually works for me, unless it’s too quiet and I fall asleep:)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. It was unanimous Donna. “super cold.” The air was about the same temp so having clothes (layers) plus a very warm jacket was needed to stay warm. We had a nice fire going so that helped one smell smoky at least.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  26. Ha, I shivered taking the picture with several layers on. It had been raining , was windy and about 45 degrees temp. you would have liked everything else though.

    Like

    Reply

  27. Out in the middle of nowhere is our favorite place to be. Even if the conditions are less than optimal. It looks like you had a wonderful time, and your photos are gorgeous – especially the sunset over the lake.

    Like

    Reply

  28. Stunning photos. Looks so serene and peaceful. I imagine the slowing down even happens in conversation. An opportunity to not just “talk” but really ENGAGE. With people and with God.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

%d bloggers like this: