Pastor's Corner

A Scripture I have treasured the last few years is found in I Tim. 6:17, concerning trust in the living God, "Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy." Another translation puts it this way, "Who richly and unceasingly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." While ultimately our enjoyment of life is found in giving God glory and bringing Him pleasure (I Cor. 10:31; Rev. 4:11), He delights in filling our lives with goodness, fulfillment and joy (Jn. 10:10; Lk. 12:31).

Every year about this time when we (normally) celebrate 'Pioneer Day," I become nostalgic as I remember many things God has given me to enjoy–many of which have been my inspiration throughout life. My mind goes back to Pioneer Day in the park. Talk about old-fashioned! Being very young then, everything to me seemed big. And perhaps it was big. The park, with its wonderful gazebo and shade trees, was filled with chairs, music, food, flowers, programs, lots of people dressed up in old-time attire, and just old-fashioned goodness everywhere. Nobody seemed in a hurry to go anywhere else. I recollect in later years the old-time piano music of Ray Ruark, Narva Strain, and others, and the joy of hearing folks sing those great old songs of yesteryear: "In the Good Old Summertime," "When You Wore a Tulip," "Daisy," and the like, of which there was no end! Who can forget the "Pomeroy Pickers"? Similarly, those old scenes of Pomeroy's "Pioneer Day" find themselves in the Disney movie, Pollyanna, when life was simpler, time was well spent, and cakes were bigger.

Louise and I took the Grandkids (6th generation in Garfield County!) with us to the cemeteries this year to tend to family and friends' graves. All around us were markers with names of people I had known. Later, looking at some guest books over the last twenty-five years attested to the Biblical truth, "It is appointed unto man once to die..."(Heb. 9:27) The old song "We Are Going Down the Valley One by One" came to mind. I found myself thanking God for the privilege of knowing these folks. What they imparted to me most surely included things that had been poured into them by their loved ones. With each generation we are blessed with the opportunity to receive so many good things in life. We may very easily take them for granted. Truly the spirit of our community is a 'pioneering' spirit. Endurance, perseverance, neighborly-ness all run deep, and 'rubs off' on all of us.

Little did I know the inspiration that was being poured into me for life in the future! Names and faces of days gone by flood my memory in these days, causing me to 'give thanks' for people who brought inspiration and enjoyment of life, as God planned. People like Johnny Capwell, who in his early years worked at the Pataha Mill, also encouraged me in the preservation effort; like Uncle Bill Patterson, who taught me the word "larrupin" (meaning 'especially good'!) and Mayor Paul Miller who taught me how to spell it; Like Grandma McCanse–who didn't just tell me to go practice the piano, but actually took the time to sit next to me while I practiced; like other one-of-a-kind people such as Jimmy Scoggin, Roberta Breithaupt, Elton Brown, Agnes Feider, Mearns Gates...where does it end? Their inspiration continues to this day, even as Abel, "who, being dead, yet speaketh" (Heb. 11:4).

Prayerfully, today each of us can reflect upon the goodness and love of our Father in Heaven, Who, in sending His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, has provided abundant life with "joy unspeakable and full of glory." (I Pt. 1:7) And in the words of Etta Sawyerr: "Enjoy today. It is one of the "good old days" you will miss in the future!"

Pastor Jon Van Vogt

Pataha Flour Mill

Pataha, Wash.