The first time I took a real hike in the mountains was when our church youth group was going backpacking and camping at Twin Lakes above Darrington, Washington. I so wanted to be able to just “do it” and not look too much like a novice. So, I took off at a good speed and all was going well until I felt I couldn’t keep going anymore. I stopped to get my breath, leaning over, really spent of energy. The Boy Scout leader accompanying us, came up to me, put his hand on my heaving back and simply said, “You’ll do just fine. Just remember to take one step at a time!”
I’ve done lots of hiking since then and really enjoy the exercise, the experience of making the destination, and enjoying for a moment or two the views and setting of that destination. I never spend much time either on the way up or down or when I reach that lake or mountain top which has been my goal. It seems the important part is the “trip.”
Years later, I discovered I couldn’t hike as fast as when I was younger! But that built-in need to impress either others or myself with my hiking ability is hard to shake! Nevertheless, my body kept telling me to slow down, drink more water, and look at the view. Now, I’m older still and “the hiking” is closer to “walking” and the destination is wherever I end up. I’m not in a hurry to achieve the destination.
It’s a good thing, you know, this “taking your time”. I am learning to see with new eyes. What reward it is to stop and watch the rabbits play on the field ahead. It is satisfying to hear the blue jays fly back and forth. There is an awesome experience to look carefully at the intricacies of a trail-side daisy or a shining, bristling Teddy Bear Cholla. I can watch with fascination a spider weaving its web or a garden snake slithering down the path. I am learning to reflect on the wonder of a single leaf, a stone, or the mysteries of water bubbling up out of ground, seemingly from nowhere. Now I praise God at each turn of the path and at each stop along the way for the beauty and creativity of God’s hand. I give thanks to God for each experience. To do this is to join God in seeing God’s creation. To see as God’s sees.
Prayer: Open my eyes to see, listen, and hear as you do, O God. Amen.
Song: “This Is My Father’s World” by Maltbie D. Babcock ELW 824