The Mountain Top
I never knew I had a love of the mountains until Ralph came into my life. Growing up I never hiked except when I was away in New Hampshire at summer camp. I dreaded it because I had such a hard time keeping up. Sometimes my counselor would have to lag behind and stay with me. My face turned beet red from exhaustion.
Ralph tried to convince me that I would like hiking with him. He was so very patient and made me feel successful. We just did day hikes, but he always said, “One day I’d love it if you went with me on a backpacking trip in the mountains for a few days.”
Well, that “day” happened the year I turned 40!! Ralph bought me a backpack for my birthday. To practice carrying it, I loaded it with a bag of flour, a bag of sugar, and cans of food to equal the weight I’d need to carry. Then I walked all over the house, going up and down stairs to get the feel of it. It was heavy.
Our first trip was to Marcy Dam, Avalanche Pass, Colden Lake, and Mt. Algonquin in the Adirondack Mountains of NY. The weather was perfect . . . 70s daytimes, with deep blue sky and white puffy clouds. I thought I’d be afraid at night. I actually slept great, feeling like I was in God’s back yard. Parts of that trip were very difficult . . . especially maneuvering over the boulders through Avalanche Pass with a heavy pack on my back.
Since that year we have done three other trips together . . . each for six days. We have hiked through rain, thunderstorms, mud, difficult trails and beautiful trails . . . We have met wonderful people, experienced many wonderful mountain top views and beautiful sunsets.
On our third trip, we hiked the Range Trail in the Adirondacks in one day. We were in the best shape we had ever been in physically that year because we prepared well for this trip. However, I was not prepared for the steep boulders we needed to climb to get up Saddleback Mountain. Fear paralyzed me. I couldn’t go up or down. I was sure that if my foot slipped . . . I would die.
Ralph hugged me and prayed with me as I cried. He said, “Betty, do exactly as I say, and you will make it up this mountain just fine.” Then one step at a time he directed, “Hand me your pack. Put your foot here. Give me your hand. I’ll pull you up. Just trust me and do as I say.”
I made it to the top . . . one step at a time. On the top, instead of having tears of fear, I had tears of joy. The view was magnificent!!
I see life as a path through the woods. The path is too difficult and overwhelming for me to go alone. I am on that path with Jesus Christ. He is holding my hand and leading me as I go. Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes there are huge boulders to crawl over. Sometimes there are muddy valleys to trudge through. Sometimes there are mountain top experiences. Jesus is holding my hand and leading me as I go. Never once has He ever let go.
Hold His hand today . . .
Elizabeth
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5,6
Ralph tried to convince me that I would like hiking with him. He was so very patient and made me feel successful. We just did day hikes, but he always said, “One day I’d love it if you went with me on a backpacking trip in the mountains for a few days.”
Well, that “day” happened the year I turned 40!! Ralph bought me a backpack for my birthday. To practice carrying it, I loaded it with a bag of flour, a bag of sugar, and cans of food to equal the weight I’d need to carry. Then I walked all over the house, going up and down stairs to get the feel of it. It was heavy.
Our first trip was to Marcy Dam, Avalanche Pass, Colden Lake, and Mt. Algonquin in the Adirondack Mountains of NY. The weather was perfect . . . 70s daytimes, with deep blue sky and white puffy clouds. I thought I’d be afraid at night. I actually slept great, feeling like I was in God’s back yard. Parts of that trip were very difficult . . . especially maneuvering over the boulders through Avalanche Pass with a heavy pack on my back.
Since that year we have done three other trips together . . . each for six days. We have hiked through rain, thunderstorms, mud, difficult trails and beautiful trails . . . We have met wonderful people, experienced many wonderful mountain top views and beautiful sunsets.
On our third trip, we hiked the Range Trail in the Adirondacks in one day. We were in the best shape we had ever been in physically that year because we prepared well for this trip. However, I was not prepared for the steep boulders we needed to climb to get up Saddleback Mountain. Fear paralyzed me. I couldn’t go up or down. I was sure that if my foot slipped . . . I would die.
Ralph hugged me and prayed with me as I cried. He said, “Betty, do exactly as I say, and you will make it up this mountain just fine.” Then one step at a time he directed, “Hand me your pack. Put your foot here. Give me your hand. I’ll pull you up. Just trust me and do as I say.”
I made it to the top . . . one step at a time. On the top, instead of having tears of fear, I had tears of joy. The view was magnificent!!
I see life as a path through the woods. The path is too difficult and overwhelming for me to go alone. I am on that path with Jesus Christ. He is holding my hand and leading me as I go. Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes there are huge boulders to crawl over. Sometimes there are muddy valleys to trudge through. Sometimes there are mountain top experiences. Jesus is holding my hand and leading me as I go. Never once has He ever let go.
Hold His hand today . . .
Elizabeth
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5,6
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