15: Stillness in the Fire
The inaugural fire of Windy Hill Ranch.
Logan here.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know my dad, Sam, has been brought up numerous times. He even has his own dedicated post, which you can read here! It’s no secret that Dad is a huge part of my life in just about every conceivable way. He has spent my whole life modeling humility and servant leadership to our family. Even now, at the age of [redacted] and with one brand new hip, he gets up every day, faithfully answering the call of fatherhood with a joyful spirit. He’ll spend time with Jesus in prayer and Scripture, sit with Mom and his coffee, then get me up and ready for my day, which is not without its share of manual labor. When I’m settled in at work or doing my own thing, he comes back home and typically is handling family financial matters, acting as groundskeeper of our pool and yard, or just relaxing with Mom and their latest show. Yet, this Father’s Day, I’m reminded that, in the midst of all the action, he knows the importance of being still as a means of rest and worship.
Allow me to set the scene and introduce you to a place known as Windy Hill Ranch. About a year and a half ago, Dad purchased a sizable acreage of ranch land about an hour west of our home. Dad, who is well-versed in construction, engineering and much of what comes with that, is heavily involved in the decision-making process in the development of the property. Its original purpose was largely deer hunting, and that will not change, but Mom and Dad’s vision is to make it a family getaway for everyone, complete with a house, pond with tanks for fishing, and of course open land to hunt on or simply sit and enjoy the scenery from the back porch. Watching Dad in the process of establishing Windy Hill Ranch is not only a picture of his hardworking nature and heart of service, but illustrates the joy he gets in creating things that will serve others. He has made numerous trips to the property to check in on construction progress, hunt with my brothers, or just show it to friends and family, so they can enjoy the peace and quiet and look forward to the memories to come. (On 6/21/25, a year ago today, Dad took myself and Gia, along with Mom, my best friend Cam and his wife Gabby, to Windy Hill, so they could all see it for the first time. It’s a really special memory!) Much like when we built our home here in 2017, he has poured lots of prayer, thought, and labor into this property, making sure it is wheelchair accessible for me and sitting our family down this past Thanksgiving to think through the layout of the house and consider everyone’s must-haves. He even had us contribute ideas for the name of the ranch in our family group text. We eventually landed on Windy Hill as tribute to a place where Dad spent much time growing up. Also, it’s a fitting name for our ranch because, as Dad puts it, “it always seems to be windy at the top of that hill.”
A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Windy Hill with Dad, just us two. We picked up burgers on the way, and with a view to the horizon, we sat, ate and talked. Though I can’t recall the exact words, he shared that it’s important to him that his boys be ready for what God wants to do in our lives, and to do that, we have to be still and listen. His desire is for the ranch to be a place not only to have fun, but to rest and be still. The practice of stillness and rest, for me, is quite the challenge. As I’ve shared in many a previous post, my mind is constantly running: thinking about work tasks, my plans for the week, blog ideas, intrusive thoughts, fears, and memories, not to mention there’s always at least one song stuck in my head. To be physically separated from the things I need to do (or the escapes I use, like social media, music or TV) and sit quietly is a struggle, where minutes can feel like an eternity. Especially when fear comes into play, my tendency is to either avoid the uncomfortable situation entirely or stress over how to fix it, in turn not being able to think about anything else.
Thankfully, God knows that struggle for stillness is a part of our human condition. In Scripture, He reminds us that because He is God, he is forever in control:
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
No matter how much I want to take control, only He can accomplish His will perfectly. To be still is to let go, trusting God. It’s an act of worship! We also see that the Lord is a shepherd, caring for his sheep, leading and protecting them. He knows when we need to lay down, to rest, and He provides that. Stillness leads to restoration!
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:1-4 ESV).
Our last activity before heading home offered another opportunity to put stillness into practice: we sat by a fire, talking and taking in the nature around us. As small as the fire looks in that photo above, to me, it’s a significant illustration. Dad is a man of action, constantly doing for others. After all, he purchased a whole piece of property where his loved ones can enjoy and encounter God in stillness. He works incredibly hard, and though I’m sure it takes a toll, he pursues his calling with joy. In the fiery chaos of a world with so much to worry about, so much to get done, Dad demonstrates a sense of peace, a stillness that points back to his trust in the Shepherd.
As I did for last year’s Father’s Day post, I’ll wrap up with this. My dad is far from perfect, and he would tell you that all the good things I shared here are only because of Christ, who has been working on his heart for years. I know some who are reading this are dealing with the absence of a father in their lives, and Father’s Day comes with difficulty. I pray for stillness and rest in your heart and mind today that comes from the Heavenly Father, who loves you far beyond what you could ever imagine.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad, I love you!