THE PHOTOGRAPH

By Doug Ford, DVM, Production Animal Consultation, and Greg Quakenbush, DVM, Geissler Corp.

When you look at the photograph of your dreams what do you see? Do you see restoration of a broken relationship, renewed health, emotional peace? What excites you? What energizes you? What do you dream of becoming? What do you dream of accomplishing? As a boy I was captivated by the outdoors, wildlife, the splendor of the four seasons, cattle, horses, and the practice of veterinary medicine. Bear Creek, Turkey Creek, the South Platte River, and the local veterinary clinic were my personal domains. I would spend every free minute exploring, hunting, fishing, camping, trapping, dissecting dead stuff, and shadowing my hero Dr. John.

Two of the many photographs in my personal dream album were to someday own river bottom on the South Platte with free-flowing warm water sloughs, winding creeks, wetlands, and thousands of trees, and to become a practicing large animal veterinarian.

Dreams without action are only empty wishes. I have always been confident that my dreams would someday come true, energized by mountain moving faith on one extreme and in my occasional weaker moments, tempered by a twinge of doubt. I know from scripture that God always desires the best for our lives. I truly believe that the seeds of dreams are divinely and strategically placed in the fertile soil of our lives. It is part of our earthly destiny. God’s will for our lives is navigated through the Holy Spirit. It is not simply a matter of name it and claim it but part of a preordained path involving action, effort, faith, trust, patience, challenges, and obstacles. Fulfilment of dreams comes only after a season of waiting. Did you ever feel like the labor of a growing season in your life would never end? As a practicing veterinarian of 43 years, I look back on what I thought would never end (pre-vet and vet school) as only a minor obstacle to the fulfillment of my dream. Today I see that with the Holy Spirit, there is no stopping God’s plan for our lives.

My quest for river property has been no different. Over the years many properties have come and gone. I have to admit that with each new budding prospect, doubt and discouragement chipped away at the reality of ever fulfilling my vision. The obvious question was always

“Did I miss pulling the trigger on that once in a lifetime opportunity?” Over time disappointment sometimes overshadowed my dream. The uncertainty of every perceived opportunity began to interfere with my faith, confidence, and the intentional pursuit of my dream.

Early one morning in my frustration and doubt, I took a rare moment to be still and to listen to that ever present little voice. The voice reminded me that my ways are not God’s ways, God works all things for good, He can always be trusted “even if,” and his timing is perfect. In that defining moment I was able to redirect some of my frustration to a mindset of reverent focus, confident that God’s unmerited favor (GRACE) would protect me from bad decisions and my impatience. In that moment of release came gratitude, amazing peace, renewed confidence, and clarity.

Miraculously, one week later I was approached by the owner of a long-established fourth-generation river bottom ranch near Snyder, Colorado. It was the last place in Morgan County that you would expect to be offered for sale. The property was never advertised and ultimately sold private treaty to my wife Jan and me. The property could not have been more perfect. It had several paddocks that could be hayed or pastured, out buildings, an old ranch house, a shop, a scale house, and feedlot corrals. Everything needed fixin’ but the challenge and projects would be gladly welcomed. It did not border the river but had several prime warm water sloughs, habitat, abundant wildlife, and thousands of beautiful cottonwoods.

Providentially, the property is located one mile west of the North Sterling Reservoir Diversion. Bottom line, when the water is diverted from the river to the reservoir everything east of the diversion experiences lower water levels sometimes leaving the river and sloughs almost dry. Everything west of the diversion experiences normal to high water in the river with a 6-inch rise in the water table causing the sloughs to run full all winter. A “minor” detail I overlooked in the natural scheme of things. God’s timing, grace, and direction again protected me from myself and another run of bad decisions.

Over the next ten years we would be given the opportunity to add parcel after parcel to the original home place, like pieces of a puzzle or images in a photograph if you will. We were even blessed to purchase an adjoining irrigated farm. The additional pasture, afterfeed, and exceptional calving ground has allowed us to expand our cow herd, another unexpected blessing.

What is my point? Have you ever wanted something so bad you would go to any lengths to make it happen? Only to find it was a mistake, causing you to settle for less, creating anxiety, unrest, heartache, and regret. A lot like buying one of those river properties east of the diversion instead of west. I am thankful and filled with humble gratitude that the Lord continues to protect me from myself and my flawed earthly judgement. With every occasion I have to get it wrong, his everlasting grace continues to make my dreams come true. His timing and favor are always perfect! To be continued…

Digging Deeper

The Birth, Death, and Fulfillment of a Vision

Dr. Doug’s real-life experience falls in line with a unique God-centered phenomenon that has been described as the birth, death, and fulfillment of a dream or vision (BDF). The three unique pieces of this sequence are almost impossible to identify when it is happening in your life. However, after we dig deeper, unpack, and explain this vision sequence, you may gain some insight and realize that you already have first-hand experience in this matter.

The Birth of a Vision or Dream

God has made each one of us unique. We each have different personalities, skills, abilities, and interests. We also have unique desires, aspirations, and goals. It seems that within each individual there is a want to achieve or accomplish certain things. It is hard to know exactly the origin of these desires and aspirations. Some may be from God and others from self, but regardless God has special plans for each of us.

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

From the beginning it is easy to see that Dr. Doug was born with a natural love and passion for the entire outdoor experience. Therefore, it seems almost to be expected that he would harness his inbred love for the outdoors and translate it into a dream or vision for the foundation of his future. In Dr. Doug’s story, we see an example of a dream conceived and given birth.

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT) We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

The Death of a Vision or Dream

The birth of a dream or vision is naturally the easiest part of the BDF sequence. The number of different hopes and dreams is unlimited but so is the number of difficulties, roadblocks, and other dream destroying situations. Dreams can be killed by any number of people and/or circumstances. All have experienced the BDF triple play in one way or another. Covid, for example, has been an unforeseen dream crusher for many, disrupting plans, finances, health, businesses, families, and more in more ways than one can count. In some instances, Covid has created obstacles that will never be overcome. On the other hand, it has possibly provided or created future opportunities that were never considered or foreseen.

John 12:24 (NLT) I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives.

The worst of these situations may cause even the strongest of us to cry out, “Why God?” Our greatest problem is to have believed that we were in control in the first place. Dr. Doug has noted that maybe the reason behind the seeming death of a vision was one for our benefit. Maybe it was to our benefit that our path was stopped for reasons we do not know and may never appreciate. Maybe the original vision was so large that only God could accomplish the outcome and you were attempting to do it on your own. Maybe the timing is off.

Like a blacksmith, God is going to use the disappointment and difficulty as a fire to heat us up and then hammer us into an even better and more useful tool. In looking at your own life, what has caused you to grow spiritually? Success or struggle? Victory or defeat?

James 1:2-4 2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

To see many examples of the birth, death, and fulfillment of a dream or vision one needs to go no farther than the Bible. Here are a few story lines...

• (Birth) Abraham had the vision that he would be the father of a great nation and many people. (Death) So much time passed that Sarah became way beyond the age to have children.

• (Birth) Moses had the vision that he would be used by God to deliver the Jews out of Egyptian slavery. (Death) Both his countrymen and Pharaoh ran him out of the country into a foreign land where he was in exile for 40 years.

• (Birth) The apostles had the vision that Jesus would establish the Kingdom of God on earth. (Death) The very people he came to save turned against him and proceeded to plot, demand, and secure his execution.

The Fulfillment of a Vision or Dream

Not all dead dreams are revived. On the other hand, many visions that underwent a death or near-death experience come back different than originally envisioned, even better than first planned and much grander than originally conceived. It is in these cases where death of the dream seemed so final and complete that the resurrection of this dream has an obvious response of gratitude, gratefulness, humility, and a continual “Thank you, Lord!” The exception to this response would be from the individual who perceived his success came via luck, chance, or personal might.

If you want to see the reality of the birth, death, and fulfillment of a dream then I would highly recommend you see the movie American Underdog. This movie is the true-life story of NFL quarterback Kurt Warner and provides a perfect example of what we have shared. His dream was overreaching, and the death of his dream seemed more than final. In God’s timing, realization of his dream went beyond what anyone would have imagined or foreseen. All along his path, God was breaking, forming, realigning, and developing Kurt for His divine purpose.

In Kurt Warner’s first year as an undrafted NFL quarterback, he won Super Bowl XXXIV and was MVP of both the Super Bowl and the NFL. Following the Super Bowl win, ABC’s Mike Tirico interviewed him in front of the crowd after the game: “Kurt, first things first – tell me about the final touchdown pass to Isaac.” The response from Kurt was one that could only come from an individual who had been trained by hardship and a growing dependency upon the Lord. Kurt’s famous response was: “Well, first things first, I’ve got to thank my Lord and Savior up above – thank you, Jesus!”

Ephesians 3:20 (NASB) Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us

Doug Ford, DVM is the owner of Beaver Creek Veterinary Clinic in Brush, Colorado. Doug earned his DVM degree from Colorado State University. Brush, Colorado has been his home since graduating from Colorado State. Doug’s practice has been remarkably diverse over 40 years of veterinary medicine. Dogs, cats, cow/calf, feedlot, two sale barns, and spaying thousands of heifers for grass. The last 20 years of practice has been 50% large western dairies and 50% beef cattle (spaying, cow/calf, and feedlots). In 2005, Doug was given the privilege to become one of the six founding members of PAC. Doug and his wife Jan ranch in their “spare” time. They are also heavily involved in a wetland’s development project on the South Platte River near Snyder, Colorado. Doug’s dad used to say, “Get your grades up. Do you want to grow up to be a ditch digger?” Doug had no idea how much fun it is to play in the dirt with dozers and track hoes. He feels truly blessed and believes that the best days are yet to come.

Greg Quakenbush, DVM is a 1978 graduate of Colorado State University and spent 16 years in large animal practice in Porterville, California. For 19 years, Dr. Q worked for Zoetis (Pfizer) and was Director of the US Cattle Technical Services team. Since 2013, Dr. Q has worked with the Geissler Corporation assisting in the development of new veterinary diagnostic technologies. Dr. Q enjoys Bible study, shooting sports, fly-fishing, and being a part-time farmer growing citrus and nuts in the central valley of California.

CHUCKLES FROM DOWN UNDER....

“PROFESSIONAL” SIGNS

In the front yard of a funeral home: “Drive carefully. We’ll wait.”

At a car dealership:

“The best way to get back on your feet – miss a car payment.”

Outside a car exhaust store:

“No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.”

In a vet’s waiting room:

“Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!”

Courtesy of Bell Veterinary Services

A couple had been married for 45 years, raised a brood of 11 children, and been blessed with 22 grandchildren. When asked the secret for staying together all that time, the wife replies, “Many years ago we made a promise to each other: the first one to pack up and leave has to take all the kids.”

Courtesy of Bell Veterinary Services