A Mountain Man’s Floating Stick
A fella in Grandview, Washington wrote to me. He could remember his grandfather often saying, “Well, if that’s the way your stick floats.” So, this old boy wanted to know what that meant. Not sure if this was a westernism, I kept scratching and clawing around until I found it.
Actually, that phrase comes from the old mountain man days of the West, circa 1820-1840. When they sat a beaver trap loaded with bait and scent into the water, they’d tie a stick on the trap. Then they’d drive it into the bank or bottom of the stream. This helped keep the beaver from swimming off with the trap.
Another Purpose
This stout stick also had another use. If the beaver yanked it free, the stick would float, even after the beaver drowned. The trapper could now locate both the beaver and the expensive trap. So, the phrase “if that’s the way your stick floats” meant you knew what direction someone drove the conversation.
Jesus Dialogue
Sometimes it seems those around Jesus didn’t know which direction He aimed in His teaching. Their confusion didn’t impress Him. Jesus said to His disciples, “Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear?” (Mark 8:18) Jesus knew not everyone would understand Him. But He did expect that those closest to Him could comprehend what He said. However, too often they paid more attention to their own thoughts and talk rather than to Jesus’ words.
I don’t believe the sayings of Jesus should be too difficult or complex for any of us. He spoke to thousands of men, women, and children. He told truth through stories, parables, miracles, and straight up teaching. When He says in Matthew 5:43, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” none of us really have problems with what He means.
Floating Stick Excuses
We may invent confusion as a smokescreen for not obeying. Or pile up a barrier of questions. It doesn’t take a theological expert to understand the teachings of Jesus. All you need is a believing heart, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and a willingness to put what you learn into practice. It’s surprising how spiritually astute a person like that becomes.
We should be able to flip to any of Jesus’ words and immediately see which way the stick floats.
Stephen Bly
Circa 1993
Beaver Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay
Question Mark Image by Gordon Johnson from Pixabay
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“Which Way the Stick Floats” audio podcast by award-winning western author Stephen Bly. Sponsored by BlyBooks.com Legacy Series.
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