Keyhole State Park, Moorcroft, Wyoming
Once all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone away from the well’s mouth and water the sheep. Then they would return the stone to its place over the mouth of the well. So Jacob talks to them, discovers they’re from Haran and know Laban and then seems to start bossing them around. “Look,” he said, “the sun is still high; is it not time for the flocks to be gathered? Water the sheep and take them back to pasture.” “We can’t,” they replied, “until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep.” ~ Genesis 29:3-8 It seems the shepherds are stuck in tradition. For some reason, unbeknownst to us, they feel they can’t open the well until everyone shows up. Is it because they don’t have the strength? Is it because someone said so? Is it just because someone did it that way a long time ago, and they’ve just continued in the same manner? Meanwhile the sheep lie around thirsty. We don’t know the reason, but it reminds me of a story someone shared one time about how churches get stuck in their traditions that no longer have meaning. There was a church and every Sunday, the congregation stood, turned to face the back of the sanctuary and proceeded to recite the Nicaean Creed, turned back around and sat. When asked by a visitor why they stood and turned around, the visitor was told, “We’ve always done it that way.” The visitor probed a bit more and was eventually told, “Because we used to have the words on a banner in the back so everyone could read them.” Well, the banner was no longer there, but the people persisted in their tradition. And meanwhile, the ‘sheep’ remain thirsty. This is not the kind of worship God requires, but oftentimes it’s what we give Him. Worship by rote. When was the last time you truly worshiped our God, King and Savior?
Finally, the wind was calm. At least for the morning. We got around early and were on the water by 7:30am, for a perfectly delectable 2 ½-hour paddle. What a beautiful reservoir!
We just did a small part today.
One other couple was kayaking, but surprisingly, that was all the boat traffic we saw.
For now . . .
At first we didn’t know what this fringe was, but upon further inspection,
we realized it’s dried out “sea grass” of some kind.
We were sailing along wonderfully, and we’d even discovered a critter hanging out in the rocks!
We believe it was a black-footed ferret, but we didn’t have the opportunity to try for a picture because a motorized fishing boat came barreling by, causing huge waves!
Fortunately, Blaine had the wherewithal to spin us around to face into the waves, otherwise, we’da been in the water – phones and all! I don’t mind telling you, I was scared! And the boat people didn’t even have the common curtesy to apologize! Blaine said maybe they didn’t see us, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that they didn’t even acknowledge what they’d done. And isn’t it strange that of all the places they could be – because no one else was about – they came right up near us and stopped?
Once the rolling water subsided, we paddled on towards what we believed were cows on the beach.
And they were!
We had a staring contest for a while, and then they turned their backsides to us, and we moved on.
It was a vulture we startled out of a tree. : )
The breeze is picking up a little, and the water acknowledges it.
It’s not as smooth as when we began.
Blaine asked me if I’d taken the shoreline, and I said no.
My focus was on the turtle and the exposed red rock.
Wonderful morning! Thank You, Father!
Tomorrow, we cross the border – again.