Be prepared…

Ahh, the mountains – for a flat land, at or below sea level girl, I just can’t stop smiling as we drive or hike or sit out back. In the car, those curves require slowing down, the back roads require a sharp eye.

Our first hike was not without incident. Though we’re not experts, we’re also not novices (and we chose an easy, well-marked trail). We thought: ‘piece of cake’, as we started. Back home we had been walking non-stop 2-3 miles a day – even in the heat and humidity, every day.

There were small elevation changes up and down, a shady canopy overhead. But my first clue came when my watch told me we had been going for two miles and there was no sign of being back near the trailhead. Hmm, must be around the bend… Around the bend we were out of water and a good mile or more – uphill – in the sun away.

I started praying – with my husband’s condition I knew this could turn out badly. We had come to a lower parking area far from ours. We could either get back on the trails and try and weave our way or we could get on the main road and hope someone would drive by who would have pity on us.

The first SUV zoomed by, and we could tell the main road was not a good choice. So, we started back towards the trails. An older car came our direction with a couple our age and slowed down. I think they were angels (smile). We were at our car in less than five minutes guzzling water.

Total hiking miles? 3.89 Turns out 3.89 in the mountains is different than sea level. Reflecting on this, and giving God all the glory for the outcome, reminds me of His instructions for life: be alert, be prepared, be humble…

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be ALERT and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV) “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be PREPARED to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (2Peter 3:15NIV) “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be HUMBLE, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3 NLT) (upper case mine)

Jesus never leaves us – on the level paths of life and during the times when we can’t find our way – He’s right there – and He is the best trail guide.