Lessons from the Trail

If we want to experience all that God has for us, we have to keep moving towards Him.

A couple of weekends ago, my kiddos were both home from college and we decided to go on a hike in the North Georgia Mountains. Hiking is something we have always enjoyed as a family, even when the kids were little. There’s just something about getting outside and exploring, completely surrounded by nature, that has always fed our souls.

We have an interesting history with this particular trail. The first time we attempted it, we weren’t prepared. We stumbled upon it when we were driving around and just parked the car and hit the trail. It was late when we started and we didn’t bring water, but the trail was shaded and it wasn’t that hot. We had a late breakfast, so we hadn’t eaten lunch. The trail follows a stream the entire way and there are waterfalls along it. It’s beautiful, but it’s a five mile hike round trip and we didn’t know where we were going. We finally gave up and turned back.

When we got home and Googled it, we missed a pretty waterfall at the top and we were very close, when we gave up. But, how could we have known? There was no cell service there and we had never been before.

The next time we went, we were prepared. We brought water and snacks and we got an earlier start. We were a little discouraged because there were tons of cars when we arrived, but when we got on the trail, it wasn’t crowded. We saw people, but there was plenty of space. I am always amazed at how friendly people tend to be out on a hiking trail. Most people smile and speak. Folks seem visibly relaxed as if Creation somehow brings out the better part of all of us.

This time, we made it to the top, but it was Fall of 2016 and a large part of the mountains were on fire. We had no idea that there was a fire just over the ridge and a lot of the people there were hoping to see it. We got down off of that mountain trail in record time.

Fast forward to 2020. We decided to give that trail another go. My children were now a sophomore and senior in college instead of high school like the time before. The entire world had been in some level of quarantine or lock down from Covid-19 since March, not to mention, reeling from months of social unrest and it was now Labor Day and we wanted to get out, to escape the news and the noise. This time, we brought provisions and my daughter’s precious pup.

When we arrived, there were cars everywhere. They were parked all up and down the road so close together that we wondered if our truck could even get by. It seemed a lot of other people needed to escape as well. We almost left, wondering how it would be possible to safely hike with all of those people, but we didn’t. We found a spot and hit the trail.

We were pleasantly surprised. While we did encounter people along the trail, there was plenty of space and masks. We saw old and young. We saw people of every color and as I have come to expect while out on a nature trail, there were friendly smiles and greetings. There was no tension or politics. No one seemed to mind if they had to wait for others to snap a photo. No one seemed to be in a big rush. There were simply people trying to enjoy some beauty and quiet and to soak up Creation.

This time, we made it to the top and sat and rested for a bit, taking it all in, so glad that we had come. Thankfully, there was no fire, just lots of fellow travelers who like us, seemed genuinely pleased to be there.

I have learned a lot from that mountain trail. I have learned that on our journey here, it’s okay to rest when we get tired, but if we want to experience all that God has for us, we have to get back up and we can’t turn back. I have learned that we need to plan for some provision both physically and spiritually. I have learned that the path rarely stays exactly the same, but God does. Perhaps most importantly, I have learned that in God’s economy, there’s always room for one more. His space is unlimited.

Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too. Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂