Because of Yeshua [Jesus]

Mount Osceola

October 10th, 2008

I started hiking again on this past Wednesday. Actually, I started again a couple of weeks ago when my son, Ben, and I went to Arizona and hiked and camped on the rim of the Grand Canyon. But, that’s another story.

Wednesday, I hiked Mount Osceola. This mountain sits on the northwest side of Waterville Vally in New Hampshire. Osceola is 4320 feet tall and offers a great view from it’s ledgy top. The trail is sometimes steep and rugged. At times, you scramble from boulder to boulder to make your way. The trail is lined with birch and hemlock trees and offers very little view.

I left the parking lot at 9:05 a.m. and started my hike. At first the path was easy and fairly level but soon that all changed. The first half of the hike became steep and full of boulders. There areas which were wet and the rocks became very slippery. I can imagine that, not long from now, they will be icy. Footing became my focus. I could no longer enjoy the trees and nature which surrounded me. I was touched by the idea that this same thing happens in my walk with Jesus. At times, life gets in the way and diverts my focus. I no longer enjoy the journey because I am focused on a particular event or circumstance. I don’t remember who wrote it, but somewhere I read that “God didn’t create us to live ‘under the circumstances’ but to live in spite of the circumstances. The problem on the mountain is that if you take your eyes off the path, you could turn an ankle or worse. Even so, the journey is the reason for the hike and should be the main focus.

At 10:15, I took my first real break. I took off my pack and sat down to some water and a snack. I figured I was about half way to the top. As I looked around at the trees and listened to the birds, I was drawn back into the journey and I took the time to thank God for His marvelous creation. As I resumed the hike, I soon came to a series of switchbacks. These switchbacks leveled the trail, somewhat, and the path became more dirt and fewer boulders. A little further and I began to get small glimpses through the trees. At one point, there was a clear view of Mount Tecumseh. These glimpses began to give me hope and anticipation for the view at the top. Isn’t it a great blessing that along life’s path, God give us glimpses of glory? They come on a mountain or by the sea. They may come when God brings a person into our lives, at just the right time. They may come in the song of a bird, waves crashing on the beach, the leaves changing colors in fall, the first flower in spring or the cry of a newborn baby. If we simply pay attention, God opens up a view between the trees and give us a glimpse and those glimpses give us hope and anticipation of what’s ahead.

I took just over 2 hours to reach the summit. The path leveled out and suddenly, I walked out onto a granite ledge. The view was breathtaking. There were mountains as far as I could see. At that very moment, I knew that the effort was nothing compared to the reward. I sat and ate my lunch and tried to drink in all the beauty. I watched hawks riding the currents of air in the valley below me. I talked with several other people who had made the climb and were just as impressed with the view. All

the time, I was reminded of what a magnificent God we live for.

For some reason, nature has the power to touch me as nothing else can. When I am out in nature, it becomes a spiritual time for me. Especially when I am alone, I seem to be able to sense that God is near. I’m sure that part of the reason is that I’m experiencing His creation, up close and personal. But, maybe it has something to do with getting away from all the noise and hustle of life. One thing I know for sure is that, as long as God gives me the health and strength, I’ll be hiking.

The other thing that I know for sure is that I’m going to walk through life focused on Jesus. And each time the God gives me a glimpse of glory, I’ll try and remember that it is the journey the counts. I’m going to watch for those glimpses and enjoy each one. One day, when I walk out “through the trees” and into God’s presence, I’ll know that the effort was nothing compared to the reward.

Entry Filed under: Distractions, Nature, OutThere