An Arkie’s Faith Spring renewal

Looking at the beautiful countryside, I thought about how much I enjoyed the coming of spring.

I love the color and freshness of spring each year. I love seeing green fields with baby calves reaching up for a drink from Mama. Cheery yellow daffodils seem to forecast better days. Everything about spring breathes life and renewal.

As I took in the beauty of the warm spring day, I thought about creation and renewal, about how God created dormant plants to survive the harshest storms and emerge after springtime rains. He tells us, “As long as the earth exists, seedtime and harvest, cold and hot, summer and autumn, day and night will not cease.”

Genesis 8:22 (CEB) to De Queen, but he couldn’t think of a situation that would work. “Maybe you can arrange something with one of the shops we will deliver to,” he suggested.

The beauty of spring is a yearly reminder of the resurrection story. What was dead comes back to life. Each year, springtime should give us new hope. We may have experienced a harsh winter of discouragement, but spring always gives us the courage to go on. Even when our circumstances bury us and we face heartbreaking situations, the hope of springtime tells us that our problems won’t last forever.

On my next early morning trip to the warehouse, I talked with one of the workers and told him how disappointed I was that we couldn’t work something out with the De Queen route. “It would be so much easier for me,” I said.

The guys in the warehouse told me about another shop that had rented a storage unit and had their glass delivered to the unit. When I discussed the idea with my salesman, he didn’t offer much hope. The company resisted the idea for some reason, but I kept pressuring them. Finally, they decided to give it a trial run.

I rented a storage unit in De Queen and bought glass racks. On my next trip to Little Rock, I left a key to the storage unit.

There were several hiccups and days that they didn’t deliver my glass, but after a few weeks, things started working smoothly.

I have been making several weekly trips to my storage unit in De Queen for two years. On these trips, I notice the subtle changes in the scenery as the seasons change. I enjoy the rare occasions that I have company on the trip. This Sunday, my wife and I drove to De Queen to pick up my glass. As we went along, I commented on how green everything was and how fast it had changed.

My last trip had been early Wednesday morning, and the change was striking. Lots of rain followed by warm sunny days had ushered in spring. The grass was turning green, and a soft green glow covered the trees as the first buds appeared. The first flowering trees were in bloom.

In her autobiography, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” Harriet Ann Jacobs wrote, “The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.”

Gentle Reader, spring shows us that we can put the past behind us and start over again. “Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (GW)

“The winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air. The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.” Song of Solomon 2:11-13 (NLT)

As the springtime season begins, I hope it is a blessing. There is a right time for everything, and now is the time for a springtime renewal of faith, hope, and love.

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“Chevy Outdoors,” and “Arkansas Times” magazines as well as the Sierra Club and Hallmark calendars, National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service maps and brochures, Readers Digest Books, and The New York Times.

Additionally, 20 collections of Ernst’s wilderness photographs have been published as coffee table picture books: “Arkansas Portfolio: Twenty Years of Wilderness Photography” (1994), “Wilderness Reflections: An Intimate Look at Wild Places in America” (1996), “Buffalo River Wilderness” (with watercolors by William McNamara, 1998), “Arkansas Spring: Dogwoods,” “Waterfalls and Wildflowers” (2000), “Arkansas Wilderness: My Favorite Photos from the Natural State” (2002), “Arkansas Portfo- lio II: Spectacular New Images from The Natural State” (2005), “Buffalo River Dreams” (2006), “Arkansas Waterfalls: Scenic Icons of the Natural State” (2007), “Arkansas Land- scapes” (2008), “Arkansas Wildlife” (2009), “Arkansas Autumn” (2010), “Arkansas Portfolio III” (2011), “Arkansas Landscapes II” (2012), “Buffalo River Beauty” (2013), “Arkansas Nightscapes” (2014), “A Rare Quality Of Light” (2015), “Arkansas In My Own Backyard” (2016), “Arkansas Beauty” (2017), “Arkansas Splendor” (2019), and Ernst’s newest picture book (and his final one), “Arkansas Greatest Hit” (2020).

As a long-time outdoorsman and hiker, Ernst founded and was the president of the Ozark Highlands Trail Association for 28 years. This organization, with members in 25 states and five foreign countries, has contributed 350,000 hours of volunteer labor to the U. S. Forest Service and various local agencies.

He was also president of Friends of White Rock, the volunteer organization that has restored and re-opened the Lodge and cabins at White Rock Mountain in the Ozark National Forest.

He served on the board of the American Hiking Society (a past vice-Chair), the Arkansas Wilderness Steering Committee, was the Arkansas coordinator for National Trails Day, chairman of the Arkansas Trails Council, and served as an ERNST continued on next page advisor for the National Trails Symposium.

His books about hiking trails include “Arkansas Hiking Trails: A Guide to 78 Selected Trails in the Natural State,” “Buffalo River Hiking Trails,” “Arkansas Dayhikes for Kids and Families,” “Arkansas Nature Lover’s Guidebook,” “Ozark Highlands Trail Guide #7,” and “Ouachita Trail Guide.”

“Thanks to the Department of Arkansas Heritage, Quality of Life is able to partner with UARM to offer programs that celebrate Arkansas and all that has to offer,” QOL President Bethany Hughes stated.

Dr. Diann Gathright agreed, “I am very pleased to partner with QOL and feel fortunate that we get to live in a beautiful state with a rich history We look forward to partnering with QOL to offer additional pro- grams on the UARM campus later this year.”

Ernst’s presentation will include a double feature of his most popular

STAY ALERT. STAY INFORMED. STAY SAFE.

slide shows, “Arkansas Nightscapes” and “A Rare Quality of Light.”

For more information about Ernst or to see his collection of photography, visit https://timernst. com/ . Follow him on Facebook or on his popular online journal Little Bluff Journal, which is also available as a print book, “Cloudland Journal Book One.” Ernst will have a limited number of books and prints for sale at the presentation.

For more information about the event at UA Rich Mountain, call

479-394-7622, ext. 1370, email bminer@urichmountain.edu, or visit www.uarichmountain.edu.

The event was made possible through the Department of Arkansas Heritage which was created to preserve and promote Arkansas’s natural and cultural heritage. Other divisions of the Department of Arkansas Heritage are the Arkansas State Archives, Arkansas Arts Council, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Delta Cultural Center in Helena, Historic Arkansas Museum, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center and the Old State House Museum. For more information, visit https://www.arkansasheritage.com/.

Old-time church revival meeting, at Calvary Baptist Church, 2100 Hwy. 375 W, Mena. Open to all! Includes guest speakers, music, refreshments and a message. Sunday, March 26, 6-7:30 p.m., and Monday-Wednesday, March 27-29, 7-8 p.m.

It’s Time for the Cash Mob, hosted by Mena Art Gallery, 607 Mena St., Saturday, March 11 at 10:30 a.m.

Everyone is invited to attend. A downtown shop will be selected by drawing, and then Mob’sters will visit that business, with a promise to spend $20. Have fun and meet other like-minded folks while you shop local. Event presented by Mena Downtown Partners.

Narcotics Anonymous meet at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, noon-1 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 p.m. on Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday, and 6 p.m. on Saturday at the old bus barn at the Crossing Church. For information call Erica at (479) 234-5289 or Candice at (501) 356-8300.

Stop Smoking Seminar-quitting nicotine for good. Free 10-night seminar, weeknights at 5:30, March 6-17, the Farm House, 819 Mena St. No sign-up required. For more info call (816) 304-4676.

The Polk County Democrats will be meeting on March 13 at PaPa’s Mexican Café, 1317 Hwy 71 S., Mena. Meeting starts 6:30 p.m. Come early to eat and socialize with other Democrats. New to Polk County? You are welcome to join us. Any questions? Call Linda G. Johnson at (479) 234-7966. Hope to see you there.

The Polk County Housing Authority has Rental Vouchers available. They are also in need of Applicants and Landlords. Contact them at 509 S. Morrow, Mena, (479) 394-1565 or polkarhousing.com

Around Town

The Hatfield Branch Library is open every Tuesday and Friday from noon-4 p.m. The library is located at 121 Cemetery Rd. (old Agri building) in Hatfield.

GriefShare continues to meet every Thursday from 10 a.m.-noon at First Presbyterian Church Mena for anyone in the community who is grieving the loss of a loved one.

The Cove Branch Library is open Monday and Thursday from noon-5 p.m. The Library is located next to Cove Town Hall at 5568 Hwy. 71 S.

The Mena/Polk County Senior Center will have The Gator and Friends band performing in Mena every Thursday, 10:30-11:30 a.m. The Center has an exercise class on Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Contact Trena Looney with questions, (479) 394-5459.

The Cossatot Senior Center in Wickes has meals and activities for seniors. If you need to make delivery arrangements or changes call (870) 385-2373.

The Polk County Social Seniors will meet at Stillwell Restaurant on 301 W. Stillwell, De Queen, Arkansas, on March 14 at noon. New to Polk County? Come and meet with other social seniors and have fun. Any questions ? Contract Linda Johnson at (956) 241-2633. Bring a friend or more and enjoy socializing and eating.

Hatfield First Baptist Church “Shepherd’s Closet” Open Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-Noon. Large selection of good, used clothing & a limited supply of non-perishable food items. Free to anyone in need.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at The

Crossing Church, 3 p.m., Sundays; at 5 p.m., Tuesdays; and at 8 p.m. Saturdays at the old bus barn. For information call (479) 234-8366 or (479) 216-3786.

The Food Pantry at the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church is open every first and third Monday of each month, 4-6 p.m., located at Fair Grounds Road. For more information, call (479) 437-4018.

American Legion meets every 2nd Tuesday at the Legion Hall in Acorn. Potluck at 6 p.m., meeting follows.

Come play Bingo, Saturdays and Mondays, starts at 6 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m.

Reynolds Gardner Community Men’s Breakfast every Tuesday, First United Methodist Church, Mena, 8 a.m. (full breakfast for small donation). All men from the community are invited to attend.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 7 p.m. Fridays at the First United Methodist Church, 9th & Port Arthur. Discussion/Book Study for information call (479) 243-0297.

Bluegrass Jam Session is open to musicians and fans alike. Bring your instruments for an unplugged session to the Daisy Room (behind Janssen’s Avenue Florist & Gifts) the first and third Thursdays of each month, starting at 6:30 p.m. Free event. Some snacks are provided.

It’s easy to have your event listed in Around Town, which will be read on radio stations KENA and KQOR daily. Simply send your Around Town announcement to news@mypulsenews.com or call (479) 243-9600 and let us know about your event! To have it in the Polk County Pulse newspaper, we need to know by FIVE on FRIDAY. We look forward to continuing to serve the community!