Take a Hike!

Friends of mine are avid hikers, and not those little walks through a national park. I'm talking about days, and sometimes weeks, of hiking. In talking with them, I never realized all the preparations that are made prior to their trip. I guess I thought you just packed some clothes and food and took off walking. I was so wrong! It could take weeks to months of planning depending on the destination. The first leg is to select a starting and end point. Then you have to check weather forecasts, determine how many miles you think you cover in a day, and begin gathering the provisions you will need. Tent, sleeping bag, clothing, food, water, first aid kit, etc. When packing for an extended hike, you need to keep in mind that you will be carrying all these things, usually in a backpack.

Then they made an interesting statement, its not the actual hike that is so hard, it is the preparations. They recounted stories of some of the mistakes they made and how they learned to prepare better. Of how the first hike was short, just a weekend. Slowly, their hikes became longer, lasting a week, two weeks, etc. In fact, each trip they learn new ways to make the next hike easier. Along their travels they meet hikers with more experience who share their adventures and errors. My friends learn from them, too.

I began thinking how much this sounds like our Christian walk. As we journey through this life, we have hills and mountains to climb. And we all know some of those mountains can be tough! But God has given us provisions. We have packed faith, His word, His spirit, etc in our hearts. He has given us experiences that we learn from that will enable us to get past the tough spots. And along the way, we encounter others who can share the benefits of their own spiritual mountain climbing.

Keep in mind that no matter the size of the mountain, God will not have us hike up one we are not ready for. God is our Father, and no father would have their child take a trip they were not ready to handle. I know some of the trails I have hiked were very challenging. There were times I didn't think I could endure. But then, there ahead, I could see the top. So we continue, the sight of our goal pushing us forward.

My friends truly enjoy the challenges of hiking. One of the many reasons is to experience the grand views from the top of a mountain. Are you ready for the challenge? May each of our days be in preparation for our climb to a mountain top. Let's get hiking!