Although I’ve been out of school for a month now, I’m just now getting to spend a few weeks at home. We have had some amazing opportunities to travel over the past month! Part of my travels included flying to Reno, NV for a few days while Matt was in school there.
Our 17th anniversary fell on the weekend of his 2 week class, so we planned a trip to San Francisco for that weekend. Neither one of us had ever been there, so we tried to fit as much as possible into this short amount of time. One of the things we did was to visit the Muir Woods National Monument. Muir Woods contains a Redwood Forest. We rode a bus up a long winding road to the park. When we arrived, we were excited to walk through the forest and see those historic trees. We had not planned on any “real” hiking, just walking through the main part of the park….THEN, Matt saw a sign that said “Ocean View Trail - 1.7 miles”. Ocean! The Pacific Ocean! Well, we hadn’t really seen it yet…. I was hesitant. I didn’t really want to hike 1.7 miles up a mountain and back, but….if there was a view of the ocean, it might be worth it. So, off we went.
The first thing we encountered was a flight of stairs that rivaled any flight of stairs from The Wilds. I thought, “I can do this….I’ve been to The Wilds lots of times…” After the stairs, the trail narrowed. It was basically one lane...if you met someone coming down, you had to lay against the side of the mountain so that they could pass without falling off the trail. The path was rutted and full of tree roots. Have I mentioned that it was steep? At one point, Matt kicked a rock off the trail and I never heard it hit bottom. The sound just faded away as it continued to fall down the mountain. I had to pay close attention to each step so that I wouldn’t fall into the tops of the Redwoods as we climbed. It was a steady incline all the way, and after a while my legs were like jelly. I tried to take my mind off how miserable I was by praying, and by imagining what that ocean view would be like.
Obviously, we were high up on a mountain, so I didn’t expect to be at the beach, but I did imagine that we would be seeing waves crash against a rocky shore from our high vantage point. We continued up, one step at a time, for what seemed like forever. There was no place to stop and rest, then finally we came to a small clearing where there was a bench. As I sat there resting, we contemplated where to go. Now there were 3 trails, and only one of them was marked. It was called “Lost Trail”. Well, that didn’t sound very promising, so that left 2 other options. As we sat there, hikers began to arrive from each of the 3 trails. A lady who had just come from the Lost Trail asked the others, “Did you see an ocean up there?” The others who came down from the other trails all shook their heads--”No ocean view”. Seriously?!?!? I have come all this way and there is no ocean view!! I looked at Matt, and said, “I’m done. We can go back now.”
He insisted that if we had come this far, we might as well finish, so we continued. The next part of the trail got really steep again, and for a minute I really thought he might just have to leave me on the side of the mountain. :) We FINALLY reached the top, and it was an amazing view, but it was NOT an ocean view. We continued to follow the trail around, it changed from rutted and full of roots to a smoother trail through tall grass….for a little while anyway. As we started down the mountain, the trail was still narrow, but the ruts and roots returned. I still had to pay close attention to my steps, but downhill FELT so much better. When all was said and done, we hiked 4.5 miles round trip.
As miserable as I was during parts of that hike, I was so glad that I continued on and finished it. We have had lots of fun joking about it, and I am glad that I can say that I did it. I’ve been thinking a lot about the experience, and I’ve thought about how it parallels my Christian life. There are many times that my way takes an unexpected turn, and sometimes the way is hard. As I walk, I have to pay careful attention to my steps to make sure that I stay on the path and to prevent stumbling. Even when the way gets easier, I still have to pay close attention so that I don’t get off the trail or fall. I need to be in constant prayer for guidance - no matter how difficult the path. And in those moments when I don’t think that I can go another step, God gives me the strength to keep going. It is my tendency to “imagine” the view that God has for me at certain points along the way. What happens when it is very different from my expectation? Do I get mad? or Do I thank God for what He has chosen for me? I take comfort in verses like:
As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him. - Psalm 18:30
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in His way. - Psalm 37:23
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. - Job 29:11
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. - Isaiah 55:8
I am truly thankful for the experience and for the spiritual reminder as well. When mountain climbing opportunities come your way, whether literally or figuratively, embrace it! Be thankful for it. You’ll be glad you did!
