God, one of the greatest blessings in my life was my Great Uncle Army Emmott.
Uncle Army was very spiritual. But, the Holy Spirit and You for him were not usually found in a church. Rather, Army experienced, found and communed with You in the beauty and wonder of nature. His church was under the canopy of the branches of towering oaks, pines, and redwoods in the forests of America. The altar for him was a fallen tree log on which he sat as he marveled at Your creation. The warmth of the Holy Spirit was felt on his skin in the crackling blaze of a campfire. The choir of angels was heard in the symphonic chirping and whistling of wild birds in the woods.
I was blessed to take Uncle Army on the last fishing trip in his life.
As we sat on the pier and fished on Tres Palacios Bay I asked him, “Uncle Army, what is your secret for successfully overcoming the daunting problems you have faced.” He sat quietly for a moment and said with conviction, “Bubba, I have gone fishing almost every Friday since I was 50 years old. Often, when I cast the rod, my heart is burdened with worry. I see no way to face or solve a problem in my family, at my office or at home. Remarkably, by doing nothing but watching the cork bob on the water’s surface, I am at peace and answers appear.”
God, few of us can go fishing every Friday and find Your peace and direction in watching the cork bob. But, we can pray every day. In prayer, when we place our heavy hearts in Your hands, and sit quietly in the full nature of Your love, the answers will surely come. Our catch will be calm wisdom. As Army knew You in nature, may we know peace in prayer with You. Amen
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Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 145-lawyer full-service firm in Houston, Dallas, and Waco, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to the Bending Angel website.
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