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Tag Archives: Appalachian Trail

What I learned from my 6 hour hike

27 Tuesday Mar 2018

Posted by laceduplutheran in Theology, Travel

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Appalachian Trail, hiking

Yesterday I decided to take our dog Jimmy on a hike.

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I took Monday as my day off for the week due to all the worship services later in the week.  Pastors need a day off – even in the midst of Holy Week.

I decided that I would hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail near our house.  I loaded up a lunch and some snacks and water, got Jimmy ready, and off we went.  Jimmy loves all car rides, so for him, it didn’t matter where we went, just that we were going somewhere.

We arrived at the parking area and we started heading off going north on the trail, unsure of what to expect.  I just knew that I wanted to spend the day out in nature.  I came with no expectations, and not really anything on my mind either.  It was just an opportunity to be with God in nature.  Often guys don’t need to talk about anything or think about anything – but just be.  And today was one of those occasions.

We started off.  And found many interesting things along the way.  Things like stairways that help hikers get across fences.

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So much for the fence.

One of the more interesting finds was the cemetery we came across, right next to the trail.

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But the best part of the hike were the spaces where there were nothing – just the trail.

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We came across man-made things too, but these also seemed vacant.

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One of the things I learned from this hike is the footprint of humanity on literally everything.  There were few places in which I could see were not touched by humanity.  And even worse, there were still fewer spaces where humanity hadn’t created noise pollution on nature.

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But we went on.  Hiking away the day.  Seeing the beauty that was around us.

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And taking full advantage of the human-made things that helped make our hike easier.

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The weather was beautiful – shifting between slightly cold to comfortable.  This meant that I was putting a hat on and then off multiple times.

It also meant that the mud was an issue – due to melting ice.  Which is why I was grateful for the wooden path near where we turned around.

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In total, we walked about 14 miles – over 32,000 steps – from Trindle Road up to the Scott working farm.

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Jimmy did amazing and was a wonderful hiking companion.  By the end, we were both a big mess due to the mud that was kicked up on my clothing and his fur.

He was exhausted and so was I – but it was worth it.

One last picture.  It was posted at the end of a driveway.

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I saw it and had to laugh.  I guess turn-arounds are a big problem for these folks.  But I took the sign differently.  Once you travel that far – there is no turning around.  You just have to finish the path.

 

A day with God

26 Monday Mar 2018

Posted by laceduplutheran in Church

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Appalachian Trail, God, Holy Week, Mark, nature

Today I am taking time to spend with God.  As a pastor, this is vital to my spiritual health.  As a human being, it’s just as important.  It’s no different from breathing the air – without oxygen, the body dies.  Without the breath of life, the spirit dies.

I’m not sure what to expect, to be honest.  My plan is simple – to take the dog as my companion, and to walk along the Appalachian Trail for a few hours, stop for a break and something to eat, and then head back a few hours.  I imagine that there will be stops along the way – time to take notice of what is around me.  Time to see or hear nature.  Time for the dog to stop and sniff all sorts of wonderful things.  Time to stop and reflect and listen to what God is whispering into my heart.

I am not going with an expectation to hear some kind of miraculous epiphany.  That doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen.  I just don’t have that many questions right now.  I’m just experiencing life as I go.

I scheduled this day away with God on the Monday of Holy Week.  It’s a bit crazy – there is much to be done before all the worship services coming up later this week.  But in another way, this time away makes a ton of sense – it’s an opportunity to start the week on the right foot.  It’s an opportunity to start in silence.

Monday of Holy Week is traditionally seen as the day Jesus re-entered Jerusalem without any fanfare (according to the Gospel of Mark).  We went to the temple and did the unexpected – he flipped tables and drove out the animals and upset the status quo.  On his way back into Jerusalem, he curses a fig tree.

I don’t plan on cursing any trees.  Nor am I going to be flipping tables.  I’m just going on a walk, and taking in the story of Jesus’ final week before crucifixion.  And I’m keeping my eyes open for where God shows up on the journey.  It’ll be God, me, and the dog.  And a whole lot of nature.  Nature has beauty, and it has natural cycles of seasons and life.  Nature has organisms eating one another, and others assisting others.  Nature has sound, and it has silence, if it is far enough away from human touch.

Today is a day away with God and dog.  Tomorrow I am back to Holy Week.

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laceduplutheran

laceduplutheran

I believe that God, church, and theology are approachable, enjoyable, and relevant for everyone. I write about this a lot because people need to hear it. So many people feel lost, hopeless, alone, and are searching for identity and meaning. I'm an ELCA Pastor (Lutheran) who has a background in politics, business, and the non-profit worlds. I take churchy theological ideas and words and communicate them in everyday language that people can understand, in ways that relate, and show that God, church, and theology matter a great deal. Oh, and it doesn't have to be boring either - mostly because it's the best news ever!

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