King's Corner: Launch Out!

King's Corner column for January 24, 2025

The flashing airplane beacon in Stagecoach intrigued my father when he first flew over this area in the 1960s. Mark King was working with the film crew of Bonanza, teaching horses and actors to work together on stunts. While most outdoor filming was done at The Ponderosa by Lake Tahoe, the other main setting was our classic Virginia City where he became an honorary Marshall. He settled where you could see the beacon flashing and, in the distance, the “V” on the mountain.

 The lure of the “Old West” is both natural and mythical: old mining towns, wide open spaces, wild horses, relatively cheap land, and the hope of finding a rich future hidden in a sometimes unforgiving landscape. There’s also the chance to find, create or re-invent yourself in the same way that Samuel Clements rented a room on the main street of Virginia City, in The Silver Queen, and became Mark Twain.

 The oldest chapel in the state is in the back of the Silver Queen. God’s blessing for marriage can be sought there from the pistol packing preacher. And there are plenty of miners who prayed there and elsewhere to hit a rich vein of silver ore, or at least have a chance to build a new life.

 The older I become, the more convinced I am that nothing ever happens by accident, but that God is moving in our experience constantly, encouraging us to take on life with enthusiasm. When we trust Him, he’ll open opportunities or – for our protection – close doors.

 Recently a friend counselled me at length about how we all have to slow down now, to become more cautious, to let go of our wild dreams, to accept our limitations, to conserve our finances, to admit that our future will be a shadow of our glory years, and that maintaining our health is sometimes the best we can hope for. That we should listen to the voices of our well-meaning advisors that tell us to say No to ourselves. That we can’t be trusted to take chances at this time in our lives.

 Well, that was news to me.  And it comes at an awkward time.  Because two years ago I lost my dad, and I've been kind of reviewing my own life in light of his varied and very adventurous life. I’ve thought to myself that if I had the early years of my life to live over, one of the things I would be sure to do would be to make more mistakes. To relax more. To be sillier. I don't think I would take nearly as many things as seriously as I have been taking them. I'm quite serious about that. 

 I think I'd take it easier. I know I would be less hygienic. Take more chances. Burn more rubber. Climb more mountains. Cross more rivers, and stare at more sunsets. I'm convinced that I've been too cautious and too sensible and too sane.  I've become convinced of this because I've looked at some of the "faithful fossils" I know:  these individuals who won't go anywhere without a thermometer, and a hot water bottle, and a raincoat and a parachute.  And I don't want to be like that.

 I'm going to spend more time in the rest of my life having fun, out shooting with friends whether I can hit anything or not, learning to properly ride the horses my dad left me, and playing with my kids and grandkids, and using the waste-basket - that most useful of office tools...

 How can you be too adventurous? - too optimistic? - when you're a child of God.  He'll say "No" when you need to hear it, if you listen. And you can bet on that.  So enjoy it to the full.  He isn't dead - it’s only some people that are.  And it’s not until you get out on the range that you'll find out whether you ought to be there or not.  "Yes" or "No" - and in either case listen for His guidance, and His Will will be done. 

 So launch out!