This week my son, Philip, passed the 1000 mile mark on the Appalachian Trail.  I have been able to walk with him on two occasions now and have walked about 50 miles with him over four days.  Three of those days I hiked consecutively with a 30 pound pack on my back.  One day I was able to walk with him in southern Virginia without a pack.  Needless to say – I would much rather walk 15 miles without a pack than with it.

Hikers call this ‘slack-packing’.  There are ample opportunities for them to call for a shuttle to pick them up and allow them to walk certain areas without taking their pack with them. For example: they will come to a road and call a hostel/shuttle service that is about 15 or 20 miles ahead.  That shuttle will pick them up and bring them to their hostel to sleep for the night.  The next morning the hikers will leave their pack at the hostel and the driver will shuttle them back to the pickup area where they will be able to hike back to the hostel without the extra weight.  Then, the next day, they will again hike 15 or 20 miles away from the hostel without their pack and call the shuttle to once again drive them back to the hostel and their gear.  The third morning, they will have themselves and their gear shuttled back to the previous pickup area where they will begin to hike as normal – but having been able to cover an easier 30 to 40 miles without the extra weight.

As a Christian, we often carry too much “weight” with us in the form of stress, burdens, sin, anxiety, fear, etc.  Our Christian journey is much more difficult that it is supposed to be because we are not leaving our burdens at the foot of the cross but are carrying our burdens with us. The journey is not any easier – just like the trail is no easier without the hikers packs – but walking it is easier without carrying the weight that God wants us to leave with Him.  After all – He is our Trail-manager and He wants to walk with us and help us along. This very thought is captured in the great hymn God Leads Us Along:

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
God leads His dear children along;
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,
God leads His dear children along.

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
God leads His dear children along;
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
God leads His dear children along.

Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose, God leads His dear children along;
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes, God leads His dear children along.

I have enjoyed being the trail manager for my son as he has experienced the Appalachian Trail this year.  I have sent him care packages at designated post offices.  I have kept him advised of weather conditions.  I have met him a few times along the way to encourage him, clean his clothes and restock his supplies.  I keep him abreast of current events and sports scores.

The one thing I cannot do for him is actually walk for him.  He, obviously, has to do that himself.  I help and assist from afar, but he’s the one actually putting one foot in front of the other each day covering hundreds and hundreds of miles.  Here are a few thoughts on his walking:

1) It is his responsibility to head the right direction.  That may sound obvious, but no matter how many guide books I get him, compasses he looks at, or advice he secures – he is the one that will get up in the morning, pack his belongings and head off in the right direction. That is often a problem for some people.  The shelter’s along the way may be off a side trail and the trail itself is not always straight.  Even if you are heading ‘northbound’ the trail may be circling a mountain and may be headed east or west at that moment. There are some instances where the northbound direction actually heads south momentarily.  You must get your bearings and head the right way.

God is my Trail-manger.  He has given me His book, His precious Word.  He has given me the Holy Spirit for direction.  He has given me good counsel to surround myself with.  But, God will still require me to stand at the Judgement Seat of Christ because he expects me to walk  wisely.

2) He needs to be mindful of where he is stepping.  There are many pitfalls along the trail. Rocks get slippery, sticks may roll and snakes may slither underfoot.  He who hikes must be mindful of where he is putting his foot.

The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.  We must be mindful of where we are walking.

3)  He must take care of himself physically.  The hikers along the trail quickly discover the wear and tear upon their physical well-being.  They must be mindful of their knees, ankles, and especially their feet.  It is easy to slip and break an arm or wrist.  It is easy to forget how much you are exerting yourself and not properly hydrate yourself.  Hikers must make sure they are eating enough protein and nutrition to keep up their muscle strength.

The Christian in his daily walk must be feasting upon the Word.  He must be mindful of the wear and tear that sin and this world can have upon their character and upon their spiritual walk with God.

4) The Hiker must get his rest.  Too many hikers over exert themselves.  They walk too far or push themselves too hard.  They must “walk their own walk” as they say.

The Word of God reminds us to Be still, and know that I am God!

1. God made this trail called Life.  God made us.  God has ordered our steps (Psalm 37:23).  God directs our paths (Proverbs 3:6).  God knows who we are and where He wants us to be.  God created everything and by Him all things exist.  Elementary Theology – God made everything!  Isn’t it great having a ‘Trail Manager’ that actually made the trail!

2. God not only made this trail called life – but He came and walked it.  God Himself became man and dwelt among us (John 1:14).  God felt what we feel.  God experienced all that we experience.  God felt hunger, sadness, disappointment, pain, rejection, etc.  In and through the person of Jesus Christ – God walked through this life.

3. God not only made the trail called life and not only walked the trail called life but God sees ahead and knows what we are going to face before we face it.  Just as I was able to watch the weather forecast and relay that information to my son; just as I was able to check on the National Parks ahead of him and get him the necessary permits before he needed them, just as I was able to locate Post Offices along his path and send him the supplies he needed – God also knows what lies ahead and promises to “Supply All of our Need”.

4. God knows what we need for our journey.  The trail manager looks ahead and makes sure that the hiker has the necessary gear for the obstacles that lie ahead.  Is it going to be getting colder?   The hiker will need warmer clothes.  Are they headed for a stretch with very few restocking points?  The hiker will need to take extra food for that section. God knows what we are going to need BEFORE we get there.

5. God knows what we DON’T need.  Too often Appalachian Trail hikers take things that seem important, but are just unnecessary.  Stories are told of hikers beginning the trail with a dozen rolls of toilet tissue.  You may need a dozen rolls or more of toilet tissue for the whole journey but you do not need a dozen rolls the first week.  God often removes things from our lives that we think are important, but that He knows are just too much for us to carry.

6. Now – here’s the best part!  Not only did God make the trail, walk the trail already, look ahead to see what’s coming, give us what we need and remove what we don’t need – BUT – He then walks the trail with us!  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for THOU ART WITH ME! (Psalm 23)