Living My Dream, In My Stream.

As I look out over the river the view is too much for my eyes, even rougher on my mind. A mountain seems to jet straight up from the rivers edge into the sky eight-thousand-feet.

The water is rushing around my legs as I stand waist high in freezing cold glacier water. The color is crystal blue but not clear enough to see through. All around me huge salmon roll up out of the water and dive back down as if luring me deeper into a trance of trying to catch them.

Just a few feet from me, casting as if synchronized by some silent orchestra are my brother-in-law and my youngest son Jess. This is his trip, Jess’ trip, his dream and it’s unfolding before his father’s eyes.

As I see this young bearded man, casting, smiling, fishing, I realize this is his place. This is the world where he feels the most at peace. It’s not my world, although I love it. It is as if God dropped me into a canvas to see who Jess really is and who he will be.

As I watch this life that his mother and I helped bring into this world I find something in my throat that chokes me, some call this “getting a lump in their throat.” My heart fills with pride as I see this young man living his dream.

Then, the vision turns to me. There next to me is my Heavenly Father, with the same lump in his throat and the same pride beaming in his spirit but He is looking at me, His son, His creation.

I say to Him; “thank you for giving me two sons and allowing me to see them for who they are.” He says to me; “Do you know why I brought you here?” I say;” sort of.” He looks at me and says: “Not only do I want you to see Jess for who he is and Jake (who is at home) for who I made him to be, I want you, Rick, to see that I see you the same way.”

When we are in our element, doing the thing that makes us dance, or sing or fill with great joy, God, the creator of the universe looks at us the same way I see Jess right now.

Now that is overwhelming to me. As I write these words I find tears in my eyes. I am living my dream. I always wanted to be “this guy.” It doesn’t matter what I do for a living or what position I hold or how much money I have, it’s all about this, right now, right here.

When we truly allow God to take us through or into our wilderness we find Him on the other side. We discover a father who not only created us but also loves to see us simply being who He created us to be, not who we think we should be or are told by others that we need to be.

So, here I am, in the middle of my stream, which is this computer screen, casting and throwing, not a fishing line but words that make up lines. What I catch is not my business or even my goal. It’s simply casting that makes my heart sing.

And over my shoulder, just to the left of me, right now, is my Father, smiling as His son is living the dream.

2 Comments

• 
  Valleygal20 July 22, 2010 at 8:07 am

  As always, your post touched my heart. I am happy to read about the incredible time you and Jess are having together. You painted an incredible visual with your words.

  I, too, am grateful to God for blessing me with such wonderful children. My daughter has stayed at the hospital with me as I recover from surgery. Praise God, surgery went well and I leave the hospital today. Please continue praying for a speedy, successful recovery.

  God is so good.
• 
  Valleygal20 July 22, 2010 at 10:07 am

  As always, your post touched my heart. I am happy to read about the incredible time you and Jess are having together. You painted an incredible visual with your words.

  I, too, am grateful to God for blessing me with such wonderful children. My daughter has stayed at the hospital with me as I recover from surgery. Praise God, surgery went well and I leave the hospital today. Please continue praying for a speedy, successful recovery.

  God is so good.