Father’s Arms

Granny Hat sat watching a delightful, local children’s production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  One of her Anthem Youth Choir kids was a lead, Jemima Potts. Grandkids were clapping and cheering, just having the time of their lives. The little girl was sitting in Grandpa’s lap between her papa and Granny. 

Suddenly, a dark, sinister figure entered stage left, draped in black with a long, ugly, warty nose. He seemed to be…yes, indeed he was!…. sniffing for children to capture!  Granny’s little granddaughter didn’t skip a beat; she dove headlong off Grandpa’s lap and into her papa’s, just disappearing into his arms. 

It has been that kind of week, a tragic week for fathers and children, for teachers and students, for our country.  The picture on the news of the Covenant Presbyterian Pastor with his little daughter in his arms, his daughter that is now home with Jesus!  Granny just can’t get it out of her head; she is comforted in the knowledge that she didn’t just leave and disappear.  She fell into her heavenly Father’s arms, the only truly safe place. 

A shelter in the time of storm, that is what we all need more than ever.  Is it just Granny’s age or have difficult times seemed to be rolling in like the atmospheric rivers in California?  Is the earth in early stages of labor?  Is it time to form a circle, hold hands, stare into the sky and sing Maranatha or Kum Ba Yah? Or is there more we can do? Was Oliver Cromwell right?  

“Put your trust in God, my boys, but mind to keep your powder dry.”  

Certainly, there are more prayers to be prayed, more lost to be found.  If there was ever a time to be “leaning on the everlasting arms”, it is now.  Granny Hat is reminded of an old Maranatha song by the band Daniel Amos: 

” ‘Alright, okay, oh yeah’ 
They nod their heads in unanimous approval 
And it makes you feel good ’till the night wind calls 
And the darkness comes whispering down the halls 
And you’re a scared little child who dreams he falls, come 
 
Fall in your father’s arms 
Fall in your father’s arms 
Fall in your father’s arms” 

Granny Hat’s firstborn, Christopher, went everywhere in his father’s arms.  If he wasn’t in arms, he would have been in a backpack up the slopes of Lassen, all over Yosemite, one of those old Gerry Carriers with huge aluminum supports. Baby equipment has come so far! There never was a little lad who loved a trail more than Christopher. He would cry if there wasn’t time to wander down a tree covered path in the wild.  

Christopher’s trail hopes and dreams came true as he backpacked up and down the Sierra and Ventana wildernesses with his dad and the Boy Scouts. Then, after college, Christopher began serving as an officer in the USAF. For over 20 years there wasn’t much time for getting lost on a mountain trail. He is retiring from his career as a Lt. Colonel this week.   

His love for the trail did not die while he flew missions far and wide, it is alive as ever; the call of the wild is something you can put on the back burner but can’t get rid of altogether.  So, he has a Pacific Crest Trail permit for April 27, 2023.  Here we go again! 

Granny will write about Christopher’s trek; she must do so to keep worry at bay and live vicariously through the epic adventures he will have.  He followed his younger brother Mission’s PCT thru hike in 2018 and they have had some long discussions about the trail.  Christopher also has dehydrated and vacuum sealed his own trail meals.  His son, Blaze, told Granny Hat on the phone last night, “I’m not worried about my dad on the trail, he is super prepared.”  The priority re-supply boxes are packed and stacked and ready to go. He has a website for the hike:  www.veteranhiking.com  

Keep the faith, my readers.   

“What have I to dread, what have I to fear, 
Leaning on the everlasting arms? 
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, 
Leaning on the everlasting arms 

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms. 

Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.” 

Iris Dement