“Hiking a New Trail”
“Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.” Dt. 5:33
Sunday, I was excited to hike a new trail. I brought a change of clothes to church so that I could hit the road right after the worship service. I had a great day. By the end of the hike, the app on my phone said I had recorded 16,500 steps, climbed 38 floors and traveled just over 8 miles. I hiked through terrain in the Glacier Peak Wilderness that I had never seen before. Upon reflection, this hike made me think of the new trail that the early church blazed in the book of Acts. We have been following their movement for the past weeks in worship since Pentecost. They took many steps in their travels, but there were also many steps in their preparation for their missionary hike. I found it interesting to consider the relationship between the two.
My hike didn’t really begin Sunday afternoon nor even Sunday morning. It really began as I started walking with regularity on the road around my house weeks before. As my body began to get in shape, I felt more ready and excited to explore new ground. So, Saturday night, I put my change of clothes in the truck along with my pack, water and a few snacks. After church, I changed clothes and went to Subway for a sandwich. Then I went to Costco to gas up and had to stop at Walmart to pick up my new Discover pass and fishing license. (Interestingly enough, I ran into Bev Klatt, from church as I waited in line.) I finally got on the road and headed toward the town of Darrington. A few miles passed Arlington, I ran into a construction zone which caused a delay. I drove passed the Oso Memorial on Hwy 530, through Darrington and on to Hwy 23. The trailhead was 23 miles further down that road. The road was paved and I was sailing along on a beautiful sunny afternoon. I thought to myself, “If this is the way the road is all the way back to the trailhead, I’ll be there in no time.” Unfortunately, a few minutes after those thoughts, the pavement came to an abrupt end at mile marker 10. The final 13 miles were marked with potholes and deep divots such that the impact would throw my coffee cup out of the cup holder. It took me over an hour and a half to cover the last 13 miles. After feeling like I had been riding a bucking bronco for over 90 minutes, I finally arrived at the Suiattle Pass Trailhead. As I backed into my spot, a passerby cautioned me that the signs indicated that backing in was illegal. By this time, it was 4:00 p.m. I put on my pack, said hello to a few hikers who were finishing for the day, and set out on the trail. The trail was well worn and well-marked. The path meandered under a canopy of trees and alongside a river with a strong, steady current. Sunlight broke through the trees and cast shadows upon the trail. It was quiet and peaceful. Almost too quiet. My mind drifted to news reports that I had heard of animal attacks and hikers disappearing. I could feel a slight wave of fear began to creep up my neck and wash over me. I wondered if an animal on the prowl would be able to detect this creeping fear. I reached for my canister of bear spray just in case. I realized that if I had a hiking companion, these thoughts and feelings wouldn’t even enter into my mind. Yet with a companion, I also would not experience this solitude. After a couple of miles, I found myself humming some worship songs to myself. Then I realized that I was in the wilderness, completely alone, so I began to sing out loud. The more I sang, the more peace that seemed to follow. I finally came upon another hiker. He looked like he had been on the trail a long time. He was carrying a full load and fatigue registered clearly across his face. We greeting one another and quickly departed going in opposite directions. I set a timer at 75 minutes to mark my turn around. Soon, the timer went off. I walked a bit further, hoping to find a substantial marker or clearing but the trail just continued to wander off into the distance. I took a few pics and enjoyed a peaceful walk back to my truck at the trailhead. I took a bathroom break, rehydrated and bounced and banged my way back along Hwy 23. A new trail. A new adventure. A satisfying day! As I drove home, I hungered for more. Perhaps the next trail will be down Cascade Hwy. I couldn’t wait to get home and search the map.
The early church, as recorded in the book of Acts, was hiking a new trail. They had been clothed in Christ, and fed and fueled by the Holy Spirit, but their travels began long before Easter and Pentecost. The trail began 3 years earlier, when many of them accepted the Call to follow Jesus and become fishers of men. These new followers of Jesus devoted themselves to learning, trusting and training in something new. They were beginning a spiritual strengthening that would result in their wanting more. The road was anything but easy. They were confused. There were delays. There was fear. They argued among themselves and were corrected on many occasions. All seemed to be lost after their master’s death on the cross. But that Easter morning sparked a new beginning. They received some simple directions to the trailhead. They were going to meet in Galilee and then return to Jerusalem. They bounced around, wondering where all this was going to lead them. They were told to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of power that would fuel them on their journey. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit arrived on the day of Pentecost and they were gassed up. Mighty winds, tongues like flames and intelligible languages were being spoken, declaring the greatness of God. Suddenly, they were filled and empowered and ready to hit the trail. As they began their hike, they greeted passersby with the glory of God, and declared that Jesus was truly their long-awaited Messiah. These new believers carried with them a fear of God that resulted in a washing over in awe and reverence for the living God. There was no need for a canister of bear spray, nor their finger to be held on the trigger, for the Word of God was their sword and strength. And in times of trial, when chained and imprisoned, these men let out a song of praise to their God who they knew would provide and protect them. When these men were released, and they had finished marching that particular trail, they gathered together in eager expectation for their next adventure and waited to see which trailhead the Spirit would lead to next.
As God prepares us to lead each of us, and our church on to a new spiritual trailhead, consider the intentional training that has already occurred. Make sure that you have changed your clothes and have dressed yourself in the grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Then stop and be filled up and fueled up with the Holy Spirit so that you can travel the long trail. Pick up your discover card. You have rights and privileges as children of God and while the card is costly – in Jesus’ death on the cross – it is available to you free of charge and gives you access to the high country. Don’t worry about the driving delays, potholes and divots in the road. Rest easy, take your time, you will arrive before the day is over. The Son will shine, the river will run, the LORD will be your shade at your right hand – and He will watch over your life. Embrace the moment. Walk the well-worn trail. You will not be alone. You will sing praises to the Lord and see the bountiful goodness of your God. And as you bounce your way home, I pray that you will be eager to search your map and scout out the next possible trail that God will open to you.
God Bless You All!
Pastor Mark