The Whales of Itasca

by Rollie J.

Feeling the strong urge to get some much-needed silence and solitude, I chose to head to the woods for some quiet and reflection time. Having finished recording my Sunday’s sermon, and all of the Christmas Eve services, it was time to head to the silence and solitude of the northern woods to reenergize and get a tune-up for my soul.

Arriving at the parking lot of Douglas Lodge in Itasca State Park, I found only two other cars parked there. Most likely day hikers. I shouldered my pack and headed southward down the Ozawindib Trail with hopeful expectations of finding a quantum of solace in the wilderness.

The woods were moody and brooding due to the heavy grey cloud cover and misty air of minuscule snowfall. The melancholic mood of the weather did not damper my internal sense of optimism within due to all the beauty of these marvelous north woods, and the positive expectation of what God might speak into my soul. I took comfort in the majestic and powerful presence of the iconic red and white pines whose stoic presence acted as stalwart guardians of this forest primeval.

I had been planning to come here for the fall-like temperatures in recent weeks, and lack of snowfall. My decision came just a hair late as it had turned into real winter camping temperature-wise, but with only a dusting of a half-inch of snowfall on the ground, hiking was ideal. And with frozen lakes, wandering and exploring on the many lakes and ponds would be ideal.

I purposely had to tell myself to slow down on several occasions, to temper my normal hyper-pace, to relax and ease into the experience. It was time to breathe deeply, contemplate, listen, observe, and reconnect with my Creator. I mentally removed hurry and worry from my pack and cast them aside as invisible litter along the trail. The only sounds were that of my mukluks softly crunching snow and that of the wind addressing the trees. Footprints of a day hiker I’d been following soon veered off on a side trail and the blank slate of a white trail pronounced I was now alone.

Arriving at my designated campsite at McKay Lake I set about the many tasks of making camp. I had forgotten how much work is involved when there is just one worker! Solo camping certainly has its pros and cons. I set about setting up my tipi tent, then began assembly of my unique yet intricate titanium wood stove. Cold sheet metal and bare fingers are always tricky bedfellows in the cold. With tent and stove in place, I then set about the task of finding good dry firewood, then sawing and splitting into sizes appropriate for my small stove. Finally, after viewing my wood stash as adequate for the evening and following cold morning, I set about chopping my water hole several yards from shore. Soon, clear clean water bubbled up and all tasks were complete. A deep sense of mental satisfaction and bodily soreness were my reward for camp chores well done.

With daylight fading quickly, I set about hiking across the lake to explore and enjoy some quiet time. Wind howled in the trees and tiny bits of snow pecked at my face in the growing grayness of the coming night. I reveled in the solitude and wild scenery set before me, glad for my choice of coming. I felt a deep sense of gratitude to be here. As darkness flooded over my little neck of the woods, I returned to my quarters for refreshment and warmth.

After a delicious and filling dinner of hash-browns, eggs, and sausage that I had pre-cooked then rewarmed on my stove, I set about reading and enjoying a sipping substance that warmed my throat and belly on the way down. It was my birthday today, so I lit a cigar and toasted myself to end the day. I raised my glass to my Creator and gave a sincere thank you. I always forget how long winter nights are especially when you’re alone, and with headlamp fading, I burrowed into my sleeping bag long before 8 pm.

As I lay awake listening to the final crackles of the fading fire, I became aware of a sound that repeated every five to twenty seconds and lasted but a second or two.  At first, I reached for my chest pocket thinking it to be my cell phone on vibrate… but then realized I’d shut that off on departure from my vehicle. I keep listening to the deep “drrrrrrmmmppp” and the first thing that kept coming to my mind was the sound of a whale underwater. I kept imagining “The Whales of Itasca,” heretofore unknown to inhabit Lake McKay! I smiled in the darkness of my sleeping bag at the thought. Maybe a “Little Nessy” here in the Itasca Loc Ness?

With my tent just three yards from the lake, I soon realized that with the temperature falling to around zero degrees, what I was hearing was the lake ice cracking. And the ice cracked all night, and I mean all night long!  Twelve hours of nighttime and it was steady and constant! Anytime, I awoke to roll over or answer nature's call, the ice was groaning. And with my head at ground level, I could feel and sense each crack and groan of the ice as it echoed onto the land. This ice that had seemed so solid, so stable, so hard, so strong, and resolute, was actually in a state of constant flux. The ice was moving, changing, cracking, growing, expanding, and shrinking. All night long the lake ice was groaning.

In our Celebration Worship in recent months, we sing a new song by Chris Tomlin that really speaks to me of our times. Is He Worthy?

Do you feel the world is broken? We do.
Do you feel the shadows deepen? We do.
But do you know that all, the dark won't stop
The light from getting through? We do.
Do you wish that you could see it, all made new? We do.
Is all creation groaning? It is.
Is a new creation coming? It is.
Is the glory of the Lord to be
The light within our midst? It is.
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? It is.

Do you get that sense that all of creation is groaning? Global warming, hurricanes, tornadoes, mudslides, tsunamis, earthquakes, droughts, floods, and fires fill our earth. After thousands of years of abuse, neglect, and overuse, creation is groaning. Not only do I get a real sense that our mother earth is groaning but also all of her inhabitants as well. We are groaning that our world is broken, and the shadows and darkness grow all around us. And after nine months of COVID, every groaning is amplified throughout the land.

Verse three brings our hope and our promise fulfilled:

Does the Father truly love us? (He does)
Does the Spirit move among us? (He does)
And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves? (He does)
Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)

I am not the sharpest tool in the shed. But I do know a few things to be true. Within a few months, the groaning lake ice will melt and return to its liquid state. Like it does every year since the dawn of time, winter will depart from our land, and spring and summer will burst forth with new life and re-creation. This pandemic that seems like “everything” right now, will soon pass and melt into our fluid common history. And the darkness that seemed so overpowering on my weekend, or in your current life situation, will also pass into the light and warmth of a Son-filled day. God will restore His Creation, and that includes you and me.

Does our God intend to dwell again with us? I assure you, scripture assures us, a baby born in a manger assures us…He does!

-- Rollie J.