Hiking and the path of life
Teen Camp 2019 @ Twin Bears Alaska. This is a place of "holy ground" for me. A place of many memories now both bitter and sweet. A place that has been used often in my life to bring about a time of God communicating with me through many of the messages.
As tradition would have it, we once again hiked the Angel Rocks trail. As the years have passed, I must admit that the hike has become more of a challenge. Some would look at it and decide to stay behind and wait for the teens and "younger adults" to come back. Whether a glutton for punishment or a hard head that will not accept the passing of time, I once again headed out.
Many young adults and teens sprinted off in order to be the first to reach the top. As I walked along the trail, most of the time alone, God started to pour some spiritual applications about the trail into my mind.
In our spiritual walk with God, we are all heading in a direction to become more Christ-like. Just like the trail, it becomes more difficult as we progress. This is because of the baggage of our sinful flesh that the Lord is going to work at cleaning up in our life. When we start off, we have many around us who are excited to reach the destination (see what God has for us). As we walk the path, the people around us start to thin out. Due to walking speed and strengths. Just like in our spiritual lives, some grow quickly while others have difficulties or loose interest.
Then comes the trials. The path gets steeper. Many begin to slow. Pain, aches, struggles all increase but you desire the goal and press on. As you continue to walk you begin to catch up to or pass others who had raced ahead. Words of encouragement are passed on and you press on.
God is gracious and like the path, you will find places of comfort. The path levels out a bit and the walk becomes easier. Sometimes at this point you want to stop. The location you are at is pleasant. But God speaks to you and says I have better, press on. Reluctantly (sometimes) you take a deep breath and head on up the trail.
Soon the path becomes steeper and more difficult to navigate. Your heart is pounding. Your muscles are screaming out for relief wanting you to stop. You begin to slow...
Then God shows you He is not finished yet. He has better for you and essentially says don't quit. It is then in His infinite mercy that a fellow traveler who would have passed you by, walks with you for a spell. You encourage each other to press on.
The walk continues to become more difficult. You are fighting to just keep going. You are tempted to throw in the towel... then it happens. There in the path just up ahead, a shaded place. A tree to lean upon and take a rest. Stay here and quit. You have made it farther than others. You have nothing to prove. And look at the view Is it not grand? These thoughts fill your mind and you know for certain. If you stop now. If you do rest here, you will be at the end. You will not continue on the path. You pause to look and see the beautiful, although limited view. It is at times like this that God communes with you and says again press on, I have better for you. You gather strength not knowing where from and take that next step.
The struggle has become placing one foot in front of the other. Quitting is there at every single agonizing step. You want to see the goals achieved in your life. You know that what God has planned is the best thing for you, so you keep pressing one. You hear the sounds of others who have achieved a goal. You hear the reports of others who were brought through great trials and came out better for it. These keep you pressing on. Your strength left you long ago and you can only keep going because God is guiding you, encouraging you, and strengthening you. However your flesh is screaming just as loud if not louder. Just quit already. You have nothing to gain. Look at those who did not finish, they are fine. Look at those who quit, they are happy still.
And yet, there is a yearning for more. there is a desire to see the outcome. Scared of the next step, but trusting In God.
Once I reached the top of the path, the view was amazing (as always). The cool breeze that brushed across my body aching and sweaty from the exertion was so refreshing. The joy and pleasure of having made it again was a pleasure.
I have not reached the end game of what God has for me. I am still walking the spiritual path. I have many things in my life that bring about hurt and pain. I pray and ask God for guidance, wisdom, understanding of it all and it seems like He does not answer. However, I look to scripture and get encouragement. I talk with fellow brothers in Christ and get counsel that encourages me to continue to stand. I waiver from time to time, but I do not crumble. The peak may be in sight, or just another bend in the path. Only God really knows. I hope to stay true to Him.
We can make it. Look to Him and not those around you. People are good at wearing the mask of joy, happiness, and contentment. It's what you may catch a glimpse of in their eyes that will betray them. So many walking in pain because of their life choices or things thrust upon them. Mistakes made and forgiveness denied. We are all in pain and only God can repair what we have done in our sins. Only God can take the ashes of our lives and bring about a beautiful transformation. Only God can give you a glorious view (result) at the end of your life's path. An once you are there, you will see it was worth it all and all because of Him.
Laterz…
As tradition would have it, we once again hiked the Angel Rocks trail. As the years have passed, I must admit that the hike has become more of a challenge. Some would look at it and decide to stay behind and wait for the teens and "younger adults" to come back. Whether a glutton for punishment or a hard head that will not accept the passing of time, I once again headed out.
Many young adults and teens sprinted off in order to be the first to reach the top. As I walked along the trail, most of the time alone, God started to pour some spiritual applications about the trail into my mind.
In our spiritual walk with God, we are all heading in a direction to become more Christ-like. Just like the trail, it becomes more difficult as we progress. This is because of the baggage of our sinful flesh that the Lord is going to work at cleaning up in our life. When we start off, we have many around us who are excited to reach the destination (see what God has for us). As we walk the path, the people around us start to thin out. Due to walking speed and strengths. Just like in our spiritual lives, some grow quickly while others have difficulties or loose interest.
Then comes the trials. The path gets steeper. Many begin to slow. Pain, aches, struggles all increase but you desire the goal and press on. As you continue to walk you begin to catch up to or pass others who had raced ahead. Words of encouragement are passed on and you press on.
God is gracious and like the path, you will find places of comfort. The path levels out a bit and the walk becomes easier. Sometimes at this point you want to stop. The location you are at is pleasant. But God speaks to you and says I have better, press on. Reluctantly (sometimes) you take a deep breath and head on up the trail.
Soon the path becomes steeper and more difficult to navigate. Your heart is pounding. Your muscles are screaming out for relief wanting you to stop. You begin to slow...
Then God shows you He is not finished yet. He has better for you and essentially says don't quit. It is then in His infinite mercy that a fellow traveler who would have passed you by, walks with you for a spell. You encourage each other to press on.
The walk continues to become more difficult. You are fighting to just keep going. You are tempted to throw in the towel... then it happens. There in the path just up ahead, a shaded place. A tree to lean upon and take a rest. Stay here and quit. You have made it farther than others. You have nothing to prove. And look at the view Is it not grand? These thoughts fill your mind and you know for certain. If you stop now. If you do rest here, you will be at the end. You will not continue on the path. You pause to look and see the beautiful, although limited view. It is at times like this that God communes with you and says again press on, I have better for you. You gather strength not knowing where from and take that next step.
The struggle has become placing one foot in front of the other. Quitting is there at every single agonizing step. You want to see the goals achieved in your life. You know that what God has planned is the best thing for you, so you keep pressing one. You hear the sounds of others who have achieved a goal. You hear the reports of others who were brought through great trials and came out better for it. These keep you pressing on. Your strength left you long ago and you can only keep going because God is guiding you, encouraging you, and strengthening you. However your flesh is screaming just as loud if not louder. Just quit already. You have nothing to gain. Look at those who did not finish, they are fine. Look at those who quit, they are happy still.
And yet, there is a yearning for more. there is a desire to see the outcome. Scared of the next step, but trusting In God.
Once I reached the top of the path, the view was amazing (as always). The cool breeze that brushed across my body aching and sweaty from the exertion was so refreshing. The joy and pleasure of having made it again was a pleasure.
I have not reached the end game of what God has for me. I am still walking the spiritual path. I have many things in my life that bring about hurt and pain. I pray and ask God for guidance, wisdom, understanding of it all and it seems like He does not answer. However, I look to scripture and get encouragement. I talk with fellow brothers in Christ and get counsel that encourages me to continue to stand. I waiver from time to time, but I do not crumble. The peak may be in sight, or just another bend in the path. Only God really knows. I hope to stay true to Him.
We can make it. Look to Him and not those around you. People are good at wearing the mask of joy, happiness, and contentment. It's what you may catch a glimpse of in their eyes that will betray them. So many walking in pain because of their life choices or things thrust upon them. Mistakes made and forgiveness denied. We are all in pain and only God can repair what we have done in our sins. Only God can take the ashes of our lives and bring about a beautiful transformation. Only God can give you a glorious view (result) at the end of your life's path. An once you are there, you will see it was worth it all and all because of Him.
Laterz…
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