Category: Anchored! Series

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)

Sometimes the path God sets before us looks nothing like the one we imagined. It may take us into unfamiliar places, test our limits, and stretch our faith in ways we never expected. But what if those very moments—demanding, uncertain, and even dangerous—become the clearest signs of God’s presence?  Read how Tristen Harvey, a member of our congregation, answered this question.

“If you had asked me last year what I thought I’d be doing this summer, the last thing I’d have said is firefighting. As it turns out, God decided I had a different calling this summer. Going from finance to wild-land firefighting has been a huge change of scenery and pace for me.

Since the completion of my 10-day training in Hinton, I’ve been stationed with a 20-person crew based in Wabasca, and we’ve been keeping busy from the start! 

My first, and likely most impactful, experience so far was a two-week long trip to Manitoba helping with suppression efforts on Fire 61 near Lac du Bonnet. From 14-hour days, flying into large smoke columns, to wading through chest deep swamps, the physical and mental demand of the work has been immense. But I can feel Christ with me every step of the way, keeping me and my crew in good spirits and health. 

There were two firefighters airlifted from the fire due to injuries. One has thankfully been able to return to work.  The other was struck by a tree and remains in hospital.  He is conscious and remains in good spirits, already showing signs of recovery. Witnessing their cases reminds me how closely Christ watches over us. In a line of work where danger is ever present, His protection has been reassuring.

As I write this, I am back in Alberta, currently on my way to Fire 88 north of Slave Lake. The early stages of my employment as a wild-land firefighter have tested me in many ways. It has also deepened my faith in Christ as He guides my crew and I through the smoke.” 

Tristan’s story is a vivid reminder that God’s call doesn’t always come in quiet moments or comfortable settings. Sometimes, it roars in like a wildfire. Sometimes, it reroutes our plans completely. But always, it anchors us— growing in faith, and guided by Christ.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Prepared by Dana & Brenda Couillard.  Posted by Colin Froese.

P.S.  Do You Have a Story to Share?

Just like Tristan, each of us walks a unique path where God shows up in unexpected ways. Whether your journey has taken you through some type of challenge, change, or a rewarding experience, your story matters.

If you feel comfortable sharing one of your brief stories of faith, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact Dana Couillard (dana@rippledynamics.com) or Brenda Couillard (brenda@rippledynamics.com) to be part of a future feature in the Anchored! series.

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Proverbs 11:25

Just after World War II, a young American psychologist was struggling with the focus of traditional psychology on treating people by finding out what is wrong with them. He simply asked the opposite question: “What happens if we focus on what people do right, on their strengths?”

Near the end of his life, Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D., wrote How Full is Your Bucket. In it, he set out his Theory of the Dipper and the Bucket. Here is an excerpt about the theory:

Each of us has an invisible bucket. It is constantly emptied or filled, depending on what others say or do to us. When our bucket is full, we feel great. When it’s empty, we feel awful.

Each of us has an invisible dipper. When we use that dipper to fill other people’s buckets – by saying or doing things to increase their positive emotions – we also fill our own bucket. But when we use that dipper to dip from other’s buckets – by say or doing things that decrease their positive emotions – we diminish ourselves, emptying a bit out of our buckets.

Like the cup that runneth over, a full bucket gives us a positive outlook and renewed energy. Every drop in that bucket makes us strong and more optimistic.

But an empty bucket poisons our outlook, saps our energy, and undermines our will. That’s why every time someone dips from our bucket, it hurts us.

So we face a choice every moment of every day: We can fill one another’s buckets, or we can dip from them. It’s an important choice – one that profoundly influences our relationships, productivity, health, and happiness.

From How Full is Your Bucket, Tom Rath, Donald O. Clifton, Gallup Press, New York, 2015, p. 5.

So, there you have it. Now the question remains: are you a bucket filler or a bucket dipper? Do you create castles of hope or prisons of hopelessness? It’s a choice that only you can make.

Four Things You Can Do

1. Prevent bucket dipping. Start by asking yourself if you were adding to or taking from the other person’s bucket in each interaction.

2. Focus on the bright spots, what is going right. That doesn’t mean avoid the negatives – they are part of the daily life around us.

3. Give spontaneously and sincerely. Giving can be simple and doesn’t have to be anything big or tangible to be successful. It can be a gift of trust or responsibility, a smile or something worthwhile you read that will help someone’s day.

4. Pray for someone you think may be experiencing a challenge of some type. Praying is actually a form of mindfulness which is known to help release the ‘feel good’ hormones in our minds.

Think about the week ahead. How can you fill your own bucket or someone else’s bucket? How many buckets can you fill today? And tomorrow? And the day after that?

How long will it take to become a habit, a natural way of interacting with others?

Only you can find out because . . . it’s always your choice!