The Gruens’ “can-do” spirit prevails, thanks in part to our beloved canine Candy. She is granted a special reprieve from her harness training, to spend this last week of June with us, before being paired with her blind person, thus fulfilling her destiny.
Meanwhile, back in the wilderness of the Minnesota-Canada border, not only does Candy pull me along the trail 17 times, on portages that varied in length from 320 rods (one mile) to 20 rods (110 yards), but she did so flawlessly and with enthusiasm. She’s a perfect lady, always picking out the foot path with the least amount of water or mud, so as to not dirty her pretty paws, whereas I take a few spills. Five in one day, even. No fault of Candy’s—just old age, slippery conditions, or inattention on my part.
It appears (see photo below) Candy also pulled the heavy (50-60 pound) food bag, a.k.a. bear bait, way up into the tree. She then stands guard to make sure no bears, field mice or toads, come by. Some do, but not without Candy giving chase. One toad gets the better of Candy, or rather the worse, as her mouth was all lathered in froth for several minutes following the release of toxins by that toad. That one I don’t see coming (neither does Candy!).
My biggest fear, thank God, does not surface. For the popular set of lakes I want, and for the exact days we want, I can only get a permit to paddle from east to west throughout that 17-lake section.
Just as God the Father clothes the lilies of the field and the birds of air, He also provides for our safety and a way through every difficulty. Our canoe trip also reminds me that it is to Jesus that even the wind and waves obey, not my luck of the draw. As wind and rain blow through camp, causing us to seek shelter and pinning us down for more than 24 hours; still, it is God’s Spirit that we seek to blow through and renew our lives. So bring it on.