Hiking Adventures

So in my opinion, most moments in life are teachable moments. There is something we can learn from just about everything, we just have to be willing to learn. Keeping this thought in mind, I went hiking with some friends. Personally, I love adventures. I love hiking and going fast and all of that kind of stuff and to make matters worse.. I am very competitive. As we began our quest up the mountain I did as I usually would and set up the mountain. About half a mile along the way I looked back to see that one of the girls who had joined us on the hike was a ways behind. Then, that teachable moment hit me. How many times in life do I get so caught up in simply “getting there” that I miss the opportunities to help someone else around me? Do I get so caught up in all of the things that I need to do or what I think is going to be best for me that I miss God give opportunities to love someone well? 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I want my life to be more about Christ and the others around me and less about what may or may not be best for me. Plus if you think about it the real adventures in life come from getting there and make the prize so much better if you take the time to care for someone else along the journey. Also along the hike that day I had another thought. We stopped by a flowing river. It was so peaceful to listen to the sound of the water rush by and the stillness it that moment. I looked down into the river and watched the rocks. They were all so round and beautifully shaped. They didn't have the jagged edges as rocks typically do. Those rocks had been shaped by the rushing water. Shaping them into something beautiful didn’t happen over night. It took time and wasn't easy. Just as the water refines those rocks, I began to realize that the Lord was doing the same thing in my life. Its not going to be easy, in fact its probably going to hurt but with the time an rushing waters of this life the Lord is making me more like Him and into the woman He has created me to be. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” As I kept hiking up the mountain, of course I kept stewing and well... tripping. I am terribly clumsy but I guess thats okay because I accept it. The funny thing though is that the times that I trip the most are the times that I take my eyes off of the path. Hello, teachable moment number 3. In my walk with the Lord I need to make sure that He is my focus because when I take my eyes off of Him, I tend to stumble. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” I want my life to be all about winning the prize and in order to do so I need to keep the Lord as my focus. Finally teachable moment number four. Let me be real with you, the hike was not easy. In fact, it was really hard. But because it was so hard, the view was that much more beautiful. I gained a whole new appreciation for the view and the beauty of God creation. In life, things aren't going to be easy. Things just simply aren't usually going to be handed to me on a silver platter, I need to remember that in those moments where the hike seems tough or too hard to climb that my God is faithful. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Clearly, there is a common theme. I need to keep my eyes only on the Lord for He is faithful.