Almost every week in the past two months I have gone on a hike through the mountains of northern Thailand. The first time every which way I looked God seemed to be present in mountains and views that stopped me in my tracks. Each view would just make me think about how big God was and how even though the mountains seemed huge to me they were mere bumps to Him.
If I wasn’t in a clearing, gazing upon the mountains, I was covered by shade from a variety of plants. In one scan of the forest I could see trees that seemed to reach the clouds, bushes that colored the forest floor, and leaves so large they could be used as umbrellas. Then floating from a thread of silk was a tiny caterpillar that stopped me in mid step. When I stopped I thought about everything I saw, it blew me away! God is infinitely huge and placed mountains in their place but is also extremely detailed and gave that caterpillar 228 separate muscles in its head.
After a few times of seeing the same mountains God began to show Himself to me in other ways besides in His creation. A few weeks ago my teammate Brittany pointed out that the path we walked could be compared to our relationship with our God. The path varies from winding steep inclines in the scorching sun with slick rocks to downhill straight-a-ways and flat grass areas in the shade. The next time I hiked I began seeing the correlations. I could remember times when my walk with God seemed tough and never ending like the hard steep inclines in the hike. I could remember times when my walk felt more like a run and God and I were growing in our relationship at rapid pace like running down the shaded hill. Whatever the terrain was one thing though is certain; I was always able to handle it, just like God never gives me more then I can handle.
Now I can’t say that this weekly hike is the most looked forward too event on my calendar week. Mid way through the hike I usually am covered in sweat, hot, thirsty, tired, and am upset realizing I have the back half to hike yet. However, if it is just Ryan and I hiking up the mountain we usually can score a ride on the back of one of the dirt bikes. Usually the seats are occupied by a female but when available Ryan and I will hop right on. Our final hike up the mountain, this past Wednesday, would be made by Ryan and I. (The girls were teaching elsewhere.) Unfortunately, the bikes were loaded up to the brim for the first trip which meant Ryan and I would be hiking for sometime. We were both tired and my motivation level for hiking in the mountains was in the dumps. We began to hike at a quick pace. I was hot, tired, dehydrated, and just wanted to slow down, but with my competitive nature I knew that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. I couldn’t help but simply ask God “Where are the bikes? What is taking them so long?” Just then the echoing sound of an engine came through the trees.
I couldn’t help but smile.
I can often look back at my hike with God and see where He sent a dirt bike for me. I can remember times where I was at wits ends and about to loose it all and then something crazy happened that only He could do. I can look back at times when I thought I would loose it emotionally and then His peace would come onto me. It wasn’t a new terrain or creation God was showing me but once again God reminded me of whom He was through this tiring hike.
Who knew how much God could show from a hike?
It makes me wonder what other lessons I could be letting obliviously slip by me.
