Remember to have space.
Remember how you jumped out of the car at 7:30 on a Friday night ready to hike into the woods and set up a tent for the night. Remember how 8:00 rolled around and then rolled by and you still hadn't found a flat spot to lay your weary head. Aaron trudged on way ahead of you forging the way. Then the sun started starting sinking, sinking so low and slow all you could do was hope there was a flat spot soon. Remember how you didn't think you'd make it up that mountain so you recited Bible verses until you couldn't remember any more. Then you sang songs.
Remember how you got worried that maybe you should have taken the trail down to the river with more campsite than the trail to the ridge line. But then you remembered that God can redeem anything so you prayed he would redeem this night hike.
Remember how you could barely walk 15 feet before you had to catch your breath- yet up that mountain you went. Remember when you thought you would settle for just sleeping there on the trail and not moving any more because you didn't think your body could budge another inch that he turned back to give you the thumbs up. Relief flooded through your veins.
Remember how you set up camp in the dark. Except that it wasn't really dark. Your flashlight was so dim compared to the full moon that shone so bright you had a shadow. It was truly amazing up there at that mountain peak. The lights of the tiny towns below twinkled in the distance. And here you were at the top of a mountain without a care in the world.
Remember how the morning beckoned you with soft bird calls and glorious light. You stepped out of that tent and surveyed the land in daylight. You made a 360 turn and your smile got huge- I just slept at the top of a frickin' mountain. Then he made you some delicious stick-to-your-insides-oatmeal. You packed up camp and off you were trundling down the mountainside. You kept looking over your shoulder on the way down- I slept at the top of that last night. God redeemed that- the toughest part was over and all you could think was- Now I can hike anything today.
Remember the streams and rivers you crossed. Balancing carefully on slippery rocks. Hoping over logs. Bending beneath weighty branches. There were ridge lines carved into the sides of mountains weaving along peacefully. There were pockets of lush, green mountain laurels- their limbs kissing above your heads- a romantic sort of tunnel to walk through. You didn't have a care in the world.
Remember how that sun came up and warmed you up. You stopped for a mid morning nap and then again later for lunch. You enjoyed that nap with your pack sitting against a tree and your body sprawled out under that blue sky waving at the few mountain bikers who passed. Then you picked up a moved on.
Remember how you had hours to think, pray, and reflect. Remember how he was right there with you the whole time. He would be be 30 feet ahead of you on the trail and stop every so often to make sure you were ok. His eyes would sparkled and he would lean down and kiss you. Those salty kisses were sweet to the soul.
Remember how to you took a wrong turn, but finally managed to make it to a big open, flat space by the river for the night. You set up camp and then took a long nap. You found rocks in the stream and make a little fire pit, found brush in the woods and made a little fire. He cooked a scrumptious dinner. You two talked and laughed by the glow of the fire and the light of the moon. Then you called it a night.
Remember how you lay your head down that night against a wad of clothes in a orange stuff sack. You wedged your body in that warm sleeping bag and curled up close to him. Remember how you breathed in that scent of smoke and fresh air that clung to his beard. You smiled and reminisced about days long ago when you only dreamed of falling asleep next to each other in a tent.
Remember how you woke up the next morning and went for a leisurely stroll along the river- hand in hand. You stopped to sit out on a big rock. Then you returned and he made you a really good breakfast- toasted bagel and sauteed sausage. Then you cleaned up and packed up and were on your way- hiking out of the valley and back to civilization.
Remember how good it was for your soul. To have space. To breathe fresh air. To reflect. To love. To laugh. To have not a care in the world except to know that He cares infinitely for you.
Remember how you got worried that maybe you should have taken the trail down to the river with more campsite than the trail to the ridge line. But then you remembered that God can redeem anything so you prayed he would redeem this night hike.
Remember how you could barely walk 15 feet before you had to catch your breath- yet up that mountain you went. Remember when you thought you would settle for just sleeping there on the trail and not moving any more because you didn't think your body could budge another inch that he turned back to give you the thumbs up. Relief flooded through your veins.
Remember how you set up camp in the dark. Except that it wasn't really dark. Your flashlight was so dim compared to the full moon that shone so bright you had a shadow. It was truly amazing up there at that mountain peak. The lights of the tiny towns below twinkled in the distance. And here you were at the top of a mountain without a care in the world.
Remember how the morning beckoned you with soft bird calls and glorious light. You stepped out of that tent and surveyed the land in daylight. You made a 360 turn and your smile got huge- I just slept at the top of a frickin' mountain. Then he made you some delicious stick-to-your-insides-oatmeal. You packed up camp and off you were trundling down the mountainside. You kept looking over your shoulder on the way down- I slept at the top of that last night. God redeemed that- the toughest part was over and all you could think was- Now I can hike anything today.
Remember the streams and rivers you crossed. Balancing carefully on slippery rocks. Hoping over logs. Bending beneath weighty branches. There were ridge lines carved into the sides of mountains weaving along peacefully. There were pockets of lush, green mountain laurels- their limbs kissing above your heads- a romantic sort of tunnel to walk through. You didn't have a care in the world.
Remember how that sun came up and warmed you up. You stopped for a mid morning nap and then again later for lunch. You enjoyed that nap with your pack sitting against a tree and your body sprawled out under that blue sky waving at the few mountain bikers who passed. Then you picked up a moved on.
Remember how you had hours to think, pray, and reflect. Remember how he was right there with you the whole time. He would be be 30 feet ahead of you on the trail and stop every so often to make sure you were ok. His eyes would sparkled and he would lean down and kiss you. Those salty kisses were sweet to the soul.
Remember how to you took a wrong turn, but finally managed to make it to a big open, flat space by the river for the night. You set up camp and then took a long nap. You found rocks in the stream and make a little fire pit, found brush in the woods and made a little fire. He cooked a scrumptious dinner. You two talked and laughed by the glow of the fire and the light of the moon. Then you called it a night.
Remember how you lay your head down that night against a wad of clothes in a orange stuff sack. You wedged your body in that warm sleeping bag and curled up close to him. Remember how you breathed in that scent of smoke and fresh air that clung to his beard. You smiled and reminisced about days long ago when you only dreamed of falling asleep next to each other in a tent.
Remember how you woke up the next morning and went for a leisurely stroll along the river- hand in hand. You stopped to sit out on a big rock. Then you returned and he made you a really good breakfast- toasted bagel and sauteed sausage. Then you cleaned up and packed up and were on your way- hiking out of the valley and back to civilization.
Remember how good it was for your soul. To have space. To breathe fresh air. To reflect. To love. To laugh. To have not a care in the world except to know that He cares infinitely for you.
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