Sitting by the lake in the Northwoods of Western Minnesota is one of my ‘Happy Places.’

I love the breezes blowing through the trees and over the water…watching the fish jump… squirrels running across the lawn and up and down the pines…and the rabbits scurrying from one hiding place to another.

The sunrises on the lake were beautiful.

I watched the rippling water turn from grey to yellow and then gold and then to bright, light blue as the sun came up, and up.

All weeklong I was the earliest riser, and I was able to start everyday gazing out on His creation, with the Lord speaking to me, and me speaking to the Lord.

Lynn and I were able to come home refreshed and renewed.

We’re blessed!

Although I’m a Fisher-of-Men, I’m not much of a fisherman, and I didn’t do any fishing while at my sister’s lake home.

But I love to eat fish anytime, anywhere.

While up North, I was able to eat a wonderful, broiled walleye filet at a quaint little café sitting amongst the beautiful fields of grains, sugar beets, potatoes, and corn.

It was delightful!

While at my sister’s home, I kept reading a quote from Herbert Hoover hanging on the wall.

Hoover of course was our 31st president and an avid fisherman.

He wrote, “To go fishing is the chance to wash one’s soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, and a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men—for all men are equal before fish.”

As I sat on the deck looking at the lake water, the breezes blowing, I kept thinking, this is “the chance to wash my soul with pure air…with the shimmer of the sun on blue water…”

“It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature…a quieting of hate, and a rejoicing…”

Hallelujah!

It was great to be in eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota, the land that raised me…if only for a time.

But, then we came home to Tennessee, the land that claimed me, ready to begin again…