A letter to my child

I heard a woodpecker this morning and it was pecking on something metal. The pecking suddenly stopped, and a few moments later I heard the more familiar, thud of that woodpecker, pecking on a tree. It is wonderful that something, that seems to have no residual use, such as a dead or rotting tree, full of bugs, can supply this little bird and meet it’s needs.

This rotting tree “in the woods”, made me think of the poem, “stopping by the woods on a snowy evening”. The poem talks about how the woods are “lovely, dark, and deep”. But it also says that the woods do not belong to the passerby, the woods belong to someone, who lives in the village.

The poem also says that the horse thinks the driver has made a mistake stopping here, and gives his harness bells a shake, because he has miles to go. It is interesting that the poem is basically making a point, that even the owner of the woods, chooses to not live there and that even the horse, is smart enough not to stop.

The woods, I believe is an analogy of dark places, mistakes, punishment or self destruction. “The woods” can take the form of addiction, despair, anger, laziness, control, or even Hollywood. I remember a character in Toy Story who was called “woody”. The story for adults, poked fun at a little boy who always wanted to play with his “woody” and then wanted only to have his “buzz”. Hmmm, is this really something that uplifts or educates children in a positive way?

Are movies really entertaining when they do so at children’s expense? To battle “the woods” we first have to recognize that there is nothing “lovely dark and deep” in those woods, or in those who try to “market” the woods as a land of “opportunity”.

We have all experienced “woods” that beckon to us, the the allure of something “lovely dark and deep” can be very persuasive. I know some very intelligent people who also find themselves in “the woods”. Science is one of these “woods” that can lure intelligent people in, and make them believe something is good and true, when the opposite is true.

I have personally “visited” the woods and some might even say that I was “frozen” in them. But because I rely on a higher intelligence or power I call “God”, I recognized that there is more to life than just what mankind can explain, and “the woods”, have never provided any principled answers.

This intelligence called God goes beyond human understanding, and is the only power. In spite of the call of “the woods”, following this higher intelligence leads all of us in a better direction, away from “compromising” experiences.

I just read recently a story, about a small boy, who got lost in the woods, in Montana, and gratefully, days later, he was found. He was too small and innocent to have gone into the woods on purpose, too small to have thought to take someone with him, and too small to be riding a horse that might warn him to stay home, like the horse in the “snowy woods” poem. He accidentally wandered into “the woods”. It took an army of individuals to find him and bring him forth to his family, who loved him.

We all, especially those of us who have raised our own children, want any lost child, to be found and returned to their families.

But imagine instead, if that small boy had made a conscious “choice” to go into the woods, and chose to NOT be found. No numbers of people, no matter how great or convincing, would have been able to find him. But gratefully, most children understand that they rely on their parents, and grandparents, because their immediate families usually have their best interests at heart, and children naturally want to listen to their fathers and mothers and siblings.

Parents who are strong, provide clear boundaries for children, that help children navigate the world safely, and their boundaries are there to protect and ensure each child’s ultimate arrival at heaven, or happiness. Parents do not let children play in the fire or run in the street any more then they encourage them to use drugs or be promiscuous…as these behaviors are self destructive.

“The woods” to a small child, unequipped by parents, could mean death, destruction and darkness, and actually, they mean the exact same thing to adults who allow themselves to be lured in.

There are those who are somehow fascinated with fungus, bones and carcasses that reside in the decaying floor of a forest, but thankfully even the horse knows, like parents know, that it’s master does not belong in the woods. The horse even shakes its harness bells, and, like the 1942 Movie called “its a wonderful life”, the jingle bells can signify angel messages, to give us hope and direction and stop us from making a mistake.

Angel Messages come to all of us and we are never alone, as we just have to be listening. There is no “wood”, that can immobilize us, no wood, that can take advantage of us, no wood, that can penetrate our thinking.

Wood, that has become too overgrown, even becomes a danger to itself, and is a fire hazard and none of the trees can survive or get any light. It is doing these woods a favor to harvest excess trees, and make them into log cabins which can then be used to support families and home. But there are so many that have, in science, made this decaying habitat a “god”.

Concerning science, we know first of all, that is always evolving and by its very definition, is dynamic, and not static. Some seem to believe, that which we can measure in “science”, is that which is understandable and therefore real. But if we love someone, is that Love measurable? Does it’s inability to be measured, make it any less real? If we love them, do we just want temporary happiness for them, or do we hope for long term happiness and contentment for them?

The world according to science is not the master of mankind and does not offer anything that is long term. It is in contrast, just a narrative or recording of a world AFTER THE FACT, and not only that, it is a world that is constantly evolving. Science does not determine man’s actions and is not a “creator”. Science is not a “master” and not only that, a good master does not use fear to manipulate, or limit others. When you think about it, science is all about “limits”. God already knew there were “no limits” to what humankind could do “spiritually”, and demonstrated healing, walking on water, and bringing the dead back to life…all things “science” has not the ability to explain.

Science has always been used to make predictions that are sheer guesses, and has been used to generate fear of lack, and these predictions are constantly being revised because Science is not exact, and is not infallible.

The experimental nature of Science, makes that which we think is truth, constantly subject to change.

But a horse, who has not been to the “school of science”, still knows by instinct, in the poem, and in real life, not to go into the woods, with the master. We do not need to make allowances for “the woods” in order to get our needs met, and we can pass those woods right on by. Yes, the physical world is a gift to be cared for and respected, but because we are Spiritual beings, we need not be afraid of limited supply, limited resources or limited government (haha joke, regarding the last one)

And, regarding the last one, we would be wise to look twice at those “scientists” and government “authorities” and world “leaders” who have amassed fortunes at the expense of society, because when we follow the money chain, we can see the true motives behind “science”. Truly benevolent entities, are generally not self serving.

People with children, in contrast to Government and Science, ARE genuinely benevolent, and realize they are supposed to provide for their children, not just material resources and supplies, but also provide them with Truth.

Parents know and are vested in making sure that their children know that Truth is not “in the woods”. Truth is not hopeless, catastrophic, and is not death and destruction. Truth is not self serving, and our parents BEST is, to give their children “truth”. That is why children are taught about Spirituality, church communities, and one God who is good.

Evidence of God IS the good that we see in the world. We are taught that “by these fruits ye shall know them”, and these are spiritual “fruits” like Love, industry, harmony, resourcefulness, contentment etc. so we do not need to fear being fruitful and multiplying and filling the earth. We are in fact commanded to do this, and this is why parents, and not governments, are blessed with children.

We are not commanded to stay home, refuse to work, or accept funds that we did not earn ourselves, when we are capable of generating our own income. Science and fear, is what orders all these things and in fact there is no order to it at all, as it is chaos, destruction, inflation and disease.

Science, which is a record of things “after the fact” would be a silly leader or a useless power. in and of itself. The truth however WILL set us free, and that same truth is what allowed the horse to guide his master to safety. The truth is always “at hand” and since we know, in the lords prayer, that “thy kingdom is come”, we know, that it is true, that everything good is right in front of us, and we can be healed of any “woods” and their temptations.

We never need to visit the woods and anyone who HAS been lost in the woods can find their way out .

The father of the prodigal son did not go and search out his son in the woods. The son had to find his own way out, but the father was always there, with his kingdom, waiting with open arms, ready to welcome his son.

When things go our way, and when we receive supplies that we need in life, we can be grateful because the supplies come our way to facilitate our progress and help us leave an “in the woods” experience. Supplies are not supposed to help us STAY in the woods.

“Whose woods are these, I think I know, his house is in the village though…”
It appears that there is a village of people who seem to benefit from “the “woods ”and there is always the suggestion, as a result, to use evil to benefit, and supposedly produce good.

We also can rejoice that most people understand, however, how to avoid the woods, because of stories like “Hansel and Gretel”, or “The wizard of Oz”. Instead of trying to “explore” the woods, we would be wise to recognize those living “in the village” who purposefully keep the woods in order to profit from them at others expense, are promoting evil and it COSTS us. We already know what is in the woods, a place where there is no light, decay, darkness and death.

The words “Woods” and “would” sound alike don’t they. Going into the “woods” is like someone saying what they “would” have done something, but they did not do that thing that they should have done. For example, HollyWOULD have and HollySHOULD have but hollyDIDN’t, and you can see what is happening to “HollyWOOD”, as evil destroys itself. Our intentions are important, but our actions speak louder then our words. That sugar coated gingerbread house in “the woods” for Hansel and Gretel, almost “done ’em in”. “Choose Life”, is what it says in the bible.

The woodpecker may still be pecking on that dead old tree for all I know, the one that I heard at the beginning of my walk, but I had miles to go…. and why take a detour “into the woods” when the path is clear? Life is not “in the woods”. If the road is symbolic of “life” in that poem, then why get lost in a detour?

Ten days after I wrote this “letter to my child”, my randomly chosen bible verse for the day was the following…

“Then shall the trees OF THE WOOD sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.” The trees of the wood are logs are they not? Log “files” are records are they not?

Thank you father for I know you hear me always.