Two Roads

One morning during our time on the mountain we decided to go over to the base of Longs Peak for a morning hike.  This particular location seems to be a favorite for hikers.  It does not take too long to drive to the entrance and you don’t have to drive into the Rocky Mountain National Park.  Upon our arrival we discovered that there is not much information available concerning trails and hiking destinations.  In all the other locations there is an information board with all the destinations along with the distance and sometimes a rating as to the difficulty of the hike. 

At the base of Longs Peak the best source of information was and older gentleman who was spending the summer as a RMNP Volunteer Ranger.  I must say, for a volunteer he seemed to know quite a bit about Longs Peak and the hiking options.  As he was describing the hiking options he told of a fork in the path where a decision had to be made. The option to the right would take us to an old abandon mining shaft.  The difficulty rating was much easier, but there would not be as much to see along the way.  For the most part it would be walk through the forest.  If we chose the path to the left we would have a much more difficult hike with a great deal of change in elevation.  The payoff though would be greater because the trail goes above the tree line and the view is amazing from just over 10,000 feet. 

Well it did not take us long to decide which path we would take.  With our limited experience and a significant lack of proper supplies and equipment we chose the path to the right.  So we began our journey for that morning.  As we headed up the trail we notice some differences in this trail from the other trails we had experienced the day before inside the RMNP.  First of all the trail was not marked as well as the other trails and secondly we did not see any mile markers to inform hikers as to the distance remaining to your destination.  When we came to the fork in the path I started the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost.  I did not even get the first line out of my mouth when a gentleman just behind us who was hiking along with his wife, children and parents began to recite the poem perfectly.  The poem ends with, “Two roads diverged in the woods, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”   Mary and I veered to the right.  We had chosen the easier path.

As we headed toward our goal of the mining shaft we noticed some less used trails which would intersect with our trail from time to time.  There were no signs or directions, just choices. So we had another choice to make, continue on a path which led to a known destination or take a much less used trail with an unknown destination.  We chose to stay on course.

Life is that way.  God does not disclose all the information concerning your spiritual journey or your life.  He does however from time to time offer you a choice.  Sometime you and I know the destinations and sometimes we have absolutely no idea where a life path would take us.

I remember when I was about to graduate from college Mary and I had a choice to make concerning our future.  On one hand we could move to El Paso, Texas and serve a church there as their youth minister or we could move to Kentucky, enter graduate school at the University of Kentucky and work on a Masters in Education.  At the time, being newly married the idea of working full-time had a certain appeal.  There is just something appealing about a steady pay check.  So off we went to El Paso to begin a life long journey in ministry.  The rest as they say is history. 

God is not the only one who presents life choices.  Satan will also put forks in your life path.  As a matter of fact, life is full of those types of choices.  The choice to stay faithful to your spouse, the choice to be honest in your business, the choice to cheat on a test, the choice to spread gossip, the choice to take illegal drugs, the choice to have improper sexual relationships, and the list goes on and on.  God and Satan throughout history have given mankind choices.  Each day those who are Christ followers make a decision to follow him and choose him.  In life you will have many choices to make along the way.  Some choices will be easier than others, but all are important to your daily spiritual walk with God.  As you walk along the way, do your best, rejoice in your walk, live as if it is your best choice and be bold in your decisions and as always…

Love God.  Go Love Others

The Journey or the Hike

As we began our first hike up the mountain it was one of the more enjoyable things I’ve ever done in my life.  Even though I am “out of shape” for this type of activity it was still enjoyable.  The fact that Mary and I could hike up and down the path that was set out for us and enjoy all that God had to offer us in that place was amazing.  All the Pine trees and Aspens and underbrush were so beautiful.  Even though we did not know the proper name of anything we saw we still enjoyed the scenery.  As we walked along the way we kept are eyes on Longs Peak way off in the distance.  We noticed the rays of sunshine piercing through the trees.  We could hear chipmunks and squires along with different birds chirping in the trees and bush.  It had been years since we were in mountains and we had never taken the time to hike up the mountain side. All that we saw and heard amazed us and lifted our spirits.

As we walked along the way we were taking our time.  The first reason for taking our time was to pace ourselves so we could reach our destination.  Neither one of us were used to this type of activity so the slower pace seemed to be a wise approach to take.  The second reason for taking our time was to enjoy each moment along the way and take as many pictures as possible.  It seemed as if the opportunities to take a picture came along continually as we took picture after picture.  The beauty of God’s creation compelled us to capture as much of the journey on “film” as possible.

As we walked along the way I began to notice that there were at least two different types of people on the mountain that day.  The first type were the people like me who were soaking it all in and enjoying every moment and every step.  We were the people who were amazed by everything that surrounded us and we were thankful for the opportunity and privilege to be on the mountain.  The second type of person out there on the mountain was the “hikers”.  These were the people who zipped right passed everyone on the trail.  They seemed to be on a mission to get to their destination as quickly as possible.  They did not stop along the way to take a picture or video.  They did not pause to enjoy a flower or chipmunk.  They did not notice the sun piercing through the trees.  They each pressed on up the mountain at a rapid pace.  They had all the right equipment and plenty of water and supplies.  They were hikers. 

As we walked along the way it occurred to me that the mountain calls out to people differently.  Some are there to enjoy the scenery and take a lot of pictures.  Others are there because their parents were dragging them up the mountain. And still others were there for the exercise and for the adventure of climbing a mountain the standing on the summit and declaring to all those around, “I did it!”  Some people on the mountain are all about the hike and others are all about the journey.

As someone who enjoyed the journey I wondered about the “hikers”.  I wondered if they noticed the flowers, trees, wildlife and amazing blessing of being in the middle of God’s mountain.  I am also sure that the “hikers” wondered about me.  I am sure they wondered if we would ever make it up the mountain.  They may have wondered why we were stopping so often to take pictures.  They may have wondered why someone would try to hike up a mountain without all the appropriate equipment and supplies.  Or maybe the “hikers” were in such a hurry to get to the top that they did not even notice those of us who are taking our time and enjoying the journey as we went along the way.

The Christian walk is a lot like the journey to the top of the mountain.  There are many different kinds of believers on the path.  Some of us have been hiking all of our life and we know the ropes and we have been up and down the trails so many times that we no longer notice all the blessings that come to those who walk with God.  Then there are those who are new to the journey and they are taking it all in for the first time.  With each step they take along the way they find another blessing from God that comes to all those who seek and all those who follow.  As a long time “spiritual hiker” I envy those who are new to the mountain of faith.  I have almost forgotten what it was like to walk with God for the first time.

So to those of you who are new to this mountain of faith I say, take your time, enjoy the walk and seek out all of God’s blessing that surround you.  And to those of you, who are like me I say, slow down, renew your spirit and refresh your ability to “take it all in” and enjoy each and every step and each and every blessing you have as you go along the way.  Enjoy the journey that leads to the summit of eternity and together we will stand and say,  “We made it!”

Love God.  Go Love Others.