The Saga of Miles Forrest

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 10, 2026

Don’t long for ‘the good old days,’ for you don’t know whether they were any better than today.” –Ecclesiastes 7:10 (NLT)

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I stayed with the Jorgensens for a couple of days. My head had stopped pounding on the day I left so I took that as a good sign. I found that they had moved from Wisconsin to make their fortune in the gold fields. Ha, like many before them, they learned that it was not to be. Anders had a good head on his shoulders, and I found him to be a God-fearing man raising his family in the fear and admonition of the Lord. He quickly saw that mining was not for him or for his son, Axel. Nor did he like to expose his wife and daughter to the vices so prevalent in the mining camps.

He purchased half a dozen guernsey cows from a friend back in Wisconsin and was now operating a small dairy farm. I asked why he didn’t move closer to Durango as there would be a larger market for his goods. He smiled, “Ja, and more work, and more worries, and more stress. No, I’m satisfied. I pay the bills with what I make, I am content and what more could I ask for. The Lord, He is good to us. Ja?”

Axel took milk to Mancos twice a week to a grocery there who bottled it then sold it to customers. Anders gave or sold the rest to neighbors around. He had a nice family. Axel, a hard worker, Britta who never lost her smile and the fine cook in his wife, Tuva. I told him that whenever I came this way I would stop in to see them.

“You go to look for this man who shot you?” asked Anders as I was cinching up Hawk.

“Not directly, but I will search around the area where you found me. I don’t know much about him except that he rides a palomino. There are few of those in this country, so I’ll sure keep my eyes out for one.”

I mounted, then tipped my hat and smiled at Britta and Mrs. Jorgensen. Axel shook my hand, and I thanked them all for the care they had given me. “We’ll be prayin’ for you,” cried out Mrs. Jorgensen. “You are doing the Lord’s work, keeping the scoundrels and riff-raff at bay.”

“I could surely use plenty of those,” I replied, waving then giving Hawk a nudge with my heel. I had the reins of the pack mule in my hand and we moved back down toward the road. I looked back to wave once more. The Lord had that family ready and waiting for me and I thanked him as we went up the road.

There was no sign left of the man. I didn’t figure it was worth the time to check the area for a casing, so we headed on towards Cortez. The man most likely went back to Durango, but I would be wary on my travel, especially if I saw a palomino.

I had been over this road many times when I worked for Wells Fargo. Not much to this country, so I wondered why some Navahos were being attacked. I needed to find out more of the story. When I arrived at Cortez, which now had a saloon with a sign attached noting that there was a cochina inside, a trading post, and a small livery attached to the stage station. The last time I was through this way there was only the stage station.

It was just after noon, so I rode up to the saloon. I hoped to get some food and possibly some information. There was no need to take Hawk and the mule to the livery as they had been living high with the feed from the Jorgensens. I stopped, took a step to my right, but looked down first. Letting my eyes adjust I thought back to the time in Texas where the saloon had a rattlesnake in the corner of the saloon. It made me think of Elias and Hidalgo.

There was a couple of men sitting at a table, eating. I walked up to the bar where there was a man, maybe forty years old or so. He was a short, stocky man with a scar on his face from older days in his life. He was dark complected, Mexican or Indian, I couldn’t tell. He didn’t say anything, just nodded as I approached.

“I’d like something to eat,” I said.

Pointing to the tables. “Take a seat,” he replied with a Spanish accent, then he hollered out, “Maria!”

The menu was stew, chili, or carne guisada. I figured the meat was all goat, so I ordered the guisada. The meat was slim, but there were plenty of onions, peppers, and tomatoes in the sauce. I took a tortilla and spooned some of the mixture in it then rolled it up. Maria stood by watching me take a bite. After chewing and swallowing I smiled. It was not Emelda’s but it was good and quite spicy.

“Don’t go,” I uttered as she turned to leave. “I’m looking for some information regarding some Navaho who were killed near here.”

Her eyes widened, and she began shaking her head…

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 9, 2026

It struck her suddenly and strangely that to know the real truth about anything in life might require infinite experience and understanding. How could one feel immense gratitude and relief, or the delight of satisfying acute hunger, or the sweet comfort of rest, unless there had been circumstances of extreme contrast?”
–Zane Grey (The Call of the Canyon)

“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted.”
–Isaiah 49:13 (NKJV)
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“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” –Matthew 5:5 (KJV)

The term “meek” is a study in itself. As we study this verse be aware of the complete definition of the term. I would advise you to read Psalm 37 as we study this verse. Zenas Bicket explains “meekness. “Meekness is the clothing of a servant. It is the opposite of all that is presumptuous, forward, and self-asserting. It is freedom from the loathsome disease of pride. It is the expression to men of a spirit that has surrendered voluntarily its claim to independence and has humbled itself ‘under the mighty hand of God.'” J.B. Phillips in his translations identifies them as “those who claim nothing.” In reality, what do we really have, what do we really own, what will we take with us to the grave? Hmmm…

The term, “praus,” was a grand ethical word to the Greek mind. It was someone who was a master of self, someone who had self-discipline. In other words, one must exercise self-control to be meek. Part of the meaning is attitude; it means “contentment of mind.” The meek person is content, he does not strive for more, not greedy, not covetous. The meek person is “one who is not always interested in one’s rights.” (F.B. Meyer) The meek does not clamor, “I have my rights!” for he realizes that he is a servant of the Most High God. He has given himself completely over to God and is not completely God-controlled. The meek does not whimper, whine, murmur, make excuses, or complain but has himself under control–forbearance under injuries and provocation is part of his character. According to John Stott, “Meekness is a true view of oneself, expressed in attitude and conduct with respect to others.”

We read in Proverbs 16:32, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” One of the first things required in meekness then is to understand who you are, then give yourself to the Lord. “Meekness therefore requires such a true view about ourselves as well express itself in our attitude toward others.” (D.A. Carson) It is not a lily-livered person, in fact, the opposite for the meek person knows how to act and because of that he will inherit the earth.

Perhaps a better, more literal breakdown of the verse is: (William Barclay)

–“Blessed is the man who is always angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong time.”

–“Blessed is the man who has every instinct, every impulse, every passion under control. Blessed is the man who is entirely self-controlled.”

–“Blessed is the man who has the humility to know his own ignorance, his own weakness, and his own need.”

–Full verse: “O the bliss of the man who is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time, who has every instinct, and impulse, and passion under control because he himself is God-controlled, who has the humility to realize his own ignorance and his own weakness, for such a man is a king among men!”

The meek person is a true disciple, a true student of his Teacher. “God-given meekness,” states Arthur Pink, “can stand up for God-given rights.” David tells us in Psalm 25, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” (verse 9, KJV)

Coffee Percs

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 7, 2026

I gulped some of the coffee and set it down. I could only handle a couple of swallows at a time.”

–Patrick Lindsay (Pike Hardy)

Mornin’ to yuh, Pard. Here we are in March already, two months down. My mercy, what happens to the time? The weeks, the months, and now the days just seem to fly by. Have breakfast coffee and yuh look at the clock an’ it’s already time for the mid-mornin’ coffee break. Whooooeeee…

Don’t yuh be a-frettin’, my coffee’s jist fine. Yuh can swaller all yuh want, an’ yuh don’t have to be spittin’ it out. Pard, I read that an’ it made me think of most of the bureaucrats I’ve listened to an’ seen. Yuh can only handle a couple of swallers of their guff at one time. Makes yuh want to do more than spit it out. Some ol’ boy was sayin’ that yuh can make a good case out of nothin’, if yuh disregard evidence. Now, ain’t that the truth. Some of them politickin’ burueaucrats sure do play that to the hilt. Yuh wonder how some of them make it in life, but guess they have enough lies to get by in life. Yuh put the plain truth in front of some an’ they’ll sputter an’ fume. Some will get mad, some will jist huff an’ puff, whilst others will walk out. Walk out on the truth, now that jist don’t make no sense atall.

See, the coffee’s downright good an’ tasty. Now, I’ll admit, there’s some folk will add a little water to my brew, whilst others will put in some cow juice. Both change the flavor some. Pard, there’s jist some folk that add enough water, milk, or other liquid to the truth to make it palatable to what they want to hear. Goodness, jist look at what our Lord had to go through. No matter the truth He tolt to the powers-that-be, they wouldn’t believe Him ’cause they wanted Him to be followin’ their agenda. They’d rather believe the lies of their father–the devil. Ol’ Paul tolt us that folks would be runnin’ ’round with itchy ears. Well, Pard, that time’s upon us.

I’m beginnin’ to be understandin’ more of what the Lord meant when He done said, don’t be castin’ yur pearls before the swine. Those hogs will trample them in the mud, wallow on them, an’ if’n yuh try to find them they jist might be in the stomach of that hog, or so muddy yuh can’t be recognizin’ them. Well, some of those politicians do the same thing with truth. My, my, if’n yuh don’t think so jist lookee at the feller runnin’ for the senate in Texas. He’s got so much of the Scripture twisted up, yuh can’t tell Adam from Eve, nor Isaac from Thomas. Best be knowin’ the Word, stickin’ to it, guardin’ it, and teachin’ yur younguns the truth before it gets all fouled up by some mealy-mouth bureaucrat.

Say, the pot’s empty. Yuh must have been drinkin’ whilst I’ve been tryin’ to take care of problems. Yuh be mindin’ yur Ps and Qs, ride tall in the saddle, keep yur gun handy, and the Word in yur heart, and don’t let none of them bureaucrats be tellin’ yuh that in this modern, sophisticated, an’ technological age that yuh no longer need to be checkin’ yur cinch. That jist ain’t the truth.

Vaya con Dios.

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on March 6, 2026

Many times he had found himself in the presence of death, and long ago it had ceased to frighten him.”
–James Oliver Curwood (Back to God’s Country)

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
–Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
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No, I am not dwelling on death, but it does cross my mind now and again since my heart attack, and I’m almost six years past my allotted time. Now mind you, I’ll take whatever time the Lord gives me, and no, I’m not morbid, wringing my hands as to when it’s going to happen. Look at the news and ponder… This is a world of death. Death’s owner, the devil smiles whenever another one dies especially if they do not know the Lord. General Harold Moore said this regarding the world and the battle we face, “This is perhaps the ultimate terror: to be lost and alone in a hostile land where the next man you meet wants only to kill you.” He was speaking, of course, of the war in Vietnam. However, there is more truth in what he says in the spiritual sense as well.
Many of us as we journeyed through this life have faced many and myriad wilderness experiences. Some have wandered in the dry and hot deserts of life. Some were in the rugged mountains, or the dense jungles. Some may have experienced them all at one time or another, but know this–no one survives the final wilderness journey of death. Oh, in the bright days of life we may mock death. We “tip our hat and take our last ride,” but in reality are we ready for it? If you are a Christian it is but a last ride in this life, but oh, the rides that await us in eternity. To the unbeliever death is a terror, an unknown, a mysterious, fearful phenomenon that, ready or not, must be faced.
This wilderness may not be your own now, but surely one day it will be. Right now it may be the loss of a dear loved one; that in itself is a special ordeal. Sorrow is a wilderness all of its own and everyone who has faced the death of a loved one must deal with it. As Christians we most certainly believe as Paul, “To die is gain”; however, facing it is another thing entirely. Some call it “crossing the Divide,” others “crossing over Jordan”; those terms in themselves declare the struggle of crossing through the experiences that may be faced in the wilderness.
People mockingly joke, “He is so heavenly-minded that he is no earthly-good”; but perhaps this is the answer or a help in the wilderness of death. Since the road of the journey of life stops, the answer lies on the other side of the veil, the river, the divide. To be properly prepared, we need to focus on eternity in heaven realizing the brevity oflife on this earth.
Yes, it is a mystery, even for the Christian. What is it that is needed to face this new journey? I would say four essential things. First, a pure heart, one that has been changed by the spiritual regeneration of the Holy Spirit. Second, trust in the Word of God; God will do what He says. Third, that great requirement of the Christian life and walk–faith; this coincides with knowing and trusting in the Word of God. Fourth, hope, a wondrous hope in the promises of God, in heaven itself. He has gone to prepare a place for us! Someone once wrote, “An eternal hope is the oxygen of the soul.” As we require oxygen to live this life on earth, perhaps it is that eternal hope that brings life to the soul enabling it to cross the wilderness of death. And do not fear, the Lord will be there as He always has been holding your hand.

(much taken from Trails in the Wilderness)