Ignoring The Barking Dogs: Does This Picture Send a Message?

Why the title?

"Pioneers take the arrows"

Oh, wait. I should be upbeat and taking arrows doesn't sound like an upbeat thing to say.

So, let me amend that statement.

It was courage and vision that led the pioneers to leave behind a comfortable, settled life and trek West to begin a new life in a new place. Many of those from the East that went West found a strength within themselves that they didn't see while they were in their old life. Instead of being one of those that just kind of went along with the others in the old life, they became leaders and visionaries in their new lives.

The sentiments of that last paragraph come from a favorite author, Louis L'Amour, in many of his books. So, I can't really say that it is an original thought from me. However, what he said is truthful.

Welcome to being a pioneer. Look ahead and ignore the "barking dogs" that give you negative opinions and comments. Louis L'Amour also spoke of the barking dogs.

In some of his stories, it was usually a father or older man telling a young boy how it was that when the Westward bound Conestoga wagons rolled through towns, the dogs came out to bark at them. His character then told the young listener that the barking didn't stop the wagons from going on to their destinations.

Following the advice of the Louis L'Amour characters, may we all forge ahead with our plans, after carefully considering all consequences and leave the "barkers" behind.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Does This Picture Send a Message?

Sadly, I cannot lay claim to the photo, nor do I know the photographer who took it, but it definitely shows that the end of the tunnel has been reached and glory shines brightly.

Yep, we got the enclosure for the hard drive known as “Life” and it works like a charm. Life even has a shinier look in his new enclosure. Oh, and yes, the critical files on that hard drive have now been copied onto another. I still have a few to copy over, and then I will begin the process of backing up those files even further.

So, please take the advice of one who should REALLY know better (being married to an IT professional and executive), back up your critical and even not-so-critical data so you don’t suffer as I have for the last week.

While I’ve been known as the “King of Overkill,” I suspect I will now overkill the back-ups.

Since I’ve been blessed with retrieving my photos and other important stuff, please allow me to share one with you. This one has made it into my book (which is now also retrieved), and serves as a reminder to me that even young trees “have a heart.”

This tree is a Mimosa, and while many don’t like them and consider them a junk tree, Jo and I love to see them with all their blossoms showing in the Spring season. I had always assumed that the Mimosas only blossomed after a number of years, but this one had begun to blossom after only about 2 or 3 years. This photo was taken in its third year.

It is as if this young creation of God is reaching up to Him and saying, “Look, God. I’m showing Your glory.”