The Joy of Hiking

This past Saturday, 16 of us from the youth and young adult group went hiking in the Big Dalton Wilderness Area in Glendora.  Despite it being a little warm, we had a great time!  We all made it back safely and nobody got hurt or injured.  As a child, my family didn't hike much growing up.  So for me, hiking has kind of been an acquired taste over the years.  Early on, it didn't seem all that enjoyable just walking around, getting hot and tired.  Now, almost every family vacation of ours includes hiking.  While we're not expert hikers, we enjoy getting outdoors, touching grass, taking in the scenery, and getting some exercise . . . which is exactly what the group did on Saturday.  

One of the things I've learned about hiking over the years is that while having a goal or destination is important, the journey is usually where memories are made.  That's often where the most interesting things happen . . . such as getting lost.  What's funny is I think I've gotten lost on almost every hike I've ever been on.  Okay maybe not every hike :).  Despite having a trail map, I can't tell you how many times I've lost my bearings.  Sounds a bit like life, doesn't it?  On Saturday, some of us had a picture of the trail map on our phones, yet we still got lost.  Not that we weren't safely on a trail, we just weren't sure which one.  But honestly that was part of the fun!   

Life is a journey.  Psalm 23 is one of the many scriptures that indicates that.  The passage speaks of trusting the Lord as our Shepherd to lead and guide us on the journey especially when we walk through dark times or have lost our bearings.  The Lord is our Shepherd.  Along the way, God not only provides Himself but He also provides His Word.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path"  So, in addition to the fun we had on Saturday, the hike was a reminder of how easy it is to get lost and how much we need God and His Word to guide us.  While the journey matters, our hope, of course, is to reach the final destination safe and sound.

God bless,
Pastor Darren