When the phrase “wilderness stories” is mentioned, what images does it conjure in your mind? Perhaps you envision hikers losing their way in dense forests, or campers having a startling encounter with a bear in the dead of night. Maybe your thoughts veer towards the extreme, like the harrowing tale of a rock climber who, trapped by a boulder, had to amputate his own hand to survive. This is not a work of fiction, but the real-life experience of Aron Ralston, as recounted in his book, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.”

The wilderness has been the backdrop for countless unique narratives, told by individuals from every corner of the globe and all walks of life. My own story may lack the dramatic flair of these tales, but it is nonetheless a journey through my personal wilderness.

In my previous blog post, I promised to share a glimpse into my own wilderness journey, a journey devoid of physical dangers or bear encounters, yet significant in its own right. It’s my journey, my story…

Have you ever felt as though your life was coasting along smoothly? A time when everything seemed reasonably good, with no major highs or lows, just a steady experience of life at its best. That was my life about 13 years ago when I opened my bowling pro shop inside Red Bird Lanes in Cahokia, IL. I had some truly memorable times there and met a wonderful community of people. The bowling community is just that – a community, one that I dearly miss. In June 2015, the bowling center announced its closure, leaving my business without a home. With several excellent pro shops already established in the St. Louis metro area, finding a new location for my shop proved challenging. So, I made the difficult decision to close. Looking back, I realize this was the onset of my wilderness journey.

Around the same time, our church embarked on a building project. As an elder, I was privileged to lead this endeavor and manage the day-to-day operations. It was an exciting yet exhausting period. Transitioning from running a business to a volunteer role in building a church was not easy, especially without a steady income. However, my wife and I placed our trust in God to provide for our needs, and He did, abundantly!

During this time, I also had to navigate some personal challenges. I moved my parents from Iowa to be closer and assist with their care. My father struggled with mobility due to bad knees, and my mother was wheelchair-bound following a stroke. Their care needs were more demanding than I had anticipated. Closing the pro shop allowed me some time to care for them and continue with the church building. However, it was far from easy. Both my parents struggled with painkiller addictions and other health issues. I nearly lost my mother to an overdose, and just months before our church building opened, my father passed away after a brief battle with cancer. My mother-in-law also passed away unexpectedly a month later. Life, as I knew it, was rapidly changing. The wilderness was closing in on me, and even when I thought I had found a way out, I would find myself back in it.

Reflecting on the past 13 years, I now see things in a different light. It’s been a challenging journey, akin to walking in a forest without checking my compass. Any seasoned hiker knows the importance of knowing your location, understanding how to read a compass, and identifying true north. As I pause here, you can probably sense that my wilderness journey was just beginning.

Thanks for stopping by the fire,

Coach Dennis