Sunrise hike – walking with the Lord

August 2021

Psalm 37:4 says: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Have you ever had the desire to do something challenging?  Something that seems so fun and gratifying and rewarding you just HAVE to do it?  As soon as my sons showed me the photos from their sunrise hike in August 2019, I had an instant desire to make this happen the next time we camped at this mountain.  I used to ski; I used to take regular walks with a friend that were about 6 miles around the lake, and try and do that in less than an hour. This girl has done her share of at home workouts with the leg warmers and step aerobics.  And it’s been YEARS since I did something like this.  That was it – I am doing the hike next time!

From that summer of 2019, all through the year this hike was my dangling carrot getting me to keep on going; keep on walking; keep on preparing my much older than 20-year-old body to do it. I walked my neighborhood in the early evenings; I walked nearby trails that included some incline to prepare for that part of the trek.  My goal was forefront in my mind.  “The sunrise hike, Teresa – THAT will be the goal – THAT will be worth it”.  And it spurred me on.

Then the infamous spring of 2020 rolled around, and the annual trip to this mountain was cancelled.  (I’m not going to say the dreaded c word that is the culprit, you all know what I’m talking about.)  And the delay of my sunrise hike was added to a growing mountain of disappointments that had been dropped at our feet as 2020 turned into a very challenging year.  It would have to wait.  But still, I would train.

As I took regular walks, I would use that time to pray and talk to God. I’d share my concerns and ask for help in areas I couldn’t see help coming yet.  Tears were shed and praise songs were sung on many an early walk.  God went with me every step of the way, even as I prepared. And cried… and laughed…and waited.

Lamentations 3:25 says "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him."

That early morning hike starting out in the dark, ending with beautiful colors coming over the mountain was something I kept dreaming about.  Part of me longed for the physical challenge to just be able to do it.  Part of me wanted to just see the beauty of God’s paintbrush and take it in.  And part of me just wanted something wonderful to do with my sons and other young people, out in the fresh air, NOT sitting in front of a computer screen as I do so many hours per week for work. 

When spring of 2021 came, and it looked like we were actually going to get to make our reservations to go camping on that mountain, I got really excited!  The walks continued; I had a few people I checked in with regularly to keep me accountable and make sure I was moving those legs.  Getting up from the desk chair – getting outside.  It was getting closer.

My sons were a great encouragement to me and sometimes even joined me on some local walks to prepare.  I shared my goal with my chiropractor whom I see regularly and was given the advice to take my ski poles with me to help with the steep incline.  (What an amazing tip THAT turned out to be).  I was ready. I couldn’t wait to get there and just DO IT already.

After a first night at camp, while we checked the weather forecast for the coming days, we decided on Friday morning to do the hike.  I set my alarm clock for 4:20 AM (while on vacation I might add) and tried to fall asleep as fast as I could.  We were meeting up and leaving camp at 5 AM to start the hike.

Anyone I talked to about this hiking goal of mine, I shared my strategy – COMPLETION not SPEED!  It did not matter to me if I was the last one up to the top, I was going to FINISH IT!  People may run out of my sight on the way up, no big deal – I would have the hike God wanted me to have. Just the way He wanted me to.  I would describe myself as actually GIDDY about it.  Took a long time to fall asleep that night.

Ephesians 5:14-15 says: Wake up from your sleep, climb out of your beds; Christ will show you the light! So, watch your step. Use your head.

Excited I grabbed my things laid out the night before and ventured out of the tent to meet up with the others.  I prayed for this moment, and it ended up being TWO FULL YEARS from when I started talking about doing it, until the day I was finally going to do it. Two full years – 24 months. That’s a long time.

By no means is this mountain “the biggest one to hike” in our area – perhaps it would not be challenging for those who hike regularly.  But for me, this was a big challenge.  The trail we hiked was winding and paralleled the ski chair lifts.  It was a steady incline and challenged me as I started up.  Parts of the trail are a black diamond ski trail that we were hiking UP! (I absolutely took photos of the black diamond marker to show my avid skier brother). We were going to the top; through a part of the mountain, I did not expect – it was hard!

As I was walking, I knew that my legs were much stronger than my breathing would be.  And I wanted to finish. Not just finish, I wanted to enjoy the hike.  The scenery at 2,267’ elevation is MUCH PRETTIER than the same four walls of my home office!  I wanted to take it all in.

At the beginning we were one big group and quickly the ones who were able to, sped up and kept going ahead at a decent pace.  (That’s okay, completion not speed). The early morning air was fresh and the heat of the day had not yet started, making it the perfect temperature for this.  As the people ahead of me became smaller little blobs, I began the part of my hike that was just me and the Lord.  I kept repeating Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

This was my grounding verse and the strength that I leaned on all the way up.  When I needed to stop for a moment to have some water, or catch my breath – God would show me beautiful things.  Colorful wildflowers lined one area of the mountain.  The sky as it started to wake up was so pretty, and as I saw glimpses of pinks and yellows on my way up, I prayed to God that He would please keep SOME of his crayons saved for me when I reached the top! (Please Lord don’t finish the painting quite yet – save something for me at the top).  The clouds looked cool from that height. 

The trail behind us that we had just walked, and parts of the trail in front of me yet to be walked represented the journey we go on throughout our lives.  There are things that I have walked through that were painful and difficult – but God never left me there. He walked beside me, guided me and strengthened me to get past that part.  Sometimes in life we experience things that take our breath away; that challenge us to where we think “God I can’t go on anymore!”.  Or we wonder “Lord where are you right now? I’m having a hard time”.  – He is there.

The blessing of the hike, and of our journey, is to be able to go through it with the Lord – and watch what He will do on the way.

As we got higher and higher, my hiking group got smaller and for most of the way up, I hiked with one sweet young lady.  We had great conversation, and talked about life and jobs and goals.  And as we went on, I kept saying out loud the Philippians 4:13 verse – sometimes with my voice very winded, and sometimes with a ROAR from within as I convinced myself that yes, I can keep going! God is my strength!  She and I talked about how the section of the incline we approached was hard and we had to talk ourselves up and KEEP GOING! 

Not once during the trek to the top did, I ever think I would not make it – I had already decided ahead of time that I would – and I was leaning on God to help me get there!  Do you know how much power you hold when you invite God into your life?  How much strength He will give you?  How much JOY you will have?  It’s incredible what God will bring to you and take you through if you let Him.

During moments of the hike, I felt like Jesus was actually walking right beside me – cheering me on!  Whispering in my ear “Yes, you CAN do this! Keep going!” “It will be worth it”

People talk about the start of a journey with excitement; or the end of a journey with satisfaction; but there is much abundant blessing in the MIDDLE too.  In the middle are often breakthroughs, triumphs, moments of rest and quiet – moments of peace and tranquility.  As I went through the middle, I allowed myself to pause and take pictures. I did not want to forget anything I was seeing or experiencing in this moment.

(This blog will have some photos; I’m still figuring out the website so am unsure if there are a limit to how many I can post.  And for the privacy of those I walked with, I will refrain from sharing pictures with anyone else in them.)

As I was nearing the top, using those ski poles, breathing heavy, telling myself to get a little farther before I stopped for water – one of my sons started down the mountain toward me – he was coming to meet me and walk the last portion of the mountain together!  How thoughtful and sweet is that!  He knew what a big deal this was for me, and he was showing up for me to cheer me on.  That moment alone warms my heart in 1,000 ways and will be a favorite moment when I reflect on this.  He said “Come on Mom, you don’t want to stop NOW!”  and we went.  I huffed and I puffed, but I kept on.  He pointed out slippery rock and tricky spots he had already encountered to help in my ascent.  And finally, after about an hour and a half I was at the TOP!

It took my breath away as I looked out over the clouds; tree tops; looking at the lake below; seeing how high up we were as God opened the envelope on this new day.  The sun was bright and blinding and showered us with His love and grace.  The rest of the group had already been there for a while, waiting for me and were ready to start back down as I thought “Hang on! I need a few minutes to enjoy and absorb this!”  We were at the top of the chair lift so we took the opportunity to sit in one.  We took some pictures and I literally felt breathless as I took in the beauty before me.  That climb may have been tough, but this view – this VIEW of God’s beauty and majesty was so very much worth it!

Before I knew it, we were starting the descent which some might say is harder than the way up.  The knees do not like going downhill!  Those ski poles again came in very handy and helped me balance coming down.  For a split second, I was with the whole group!  And then just as before, they quickly became little far away dots and were out of my sight.

My hiking partner on the way down was a nice young man and we too had a great conversation.  We talked about our heritage and family traditions and vacations.  He paused when I paused to take some pictures or catch my breath and I was grateful for the companionship.  The views on the way down did not disappoint either!  The winding hills, more wildflowers and that SUN! That magnificent warmth shining down from heaven was amazing. 

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Oh, see how very good the good Lord is!  He gave me so many blessings on that day, in that moment!  New friendships; support and love; and the wonder of His paintbrush as the sun came up was indescribable.

Eventually we came down the mountain and were at the very bottom and walked back to our campsite.  I don’t think I have ever got that many steps on my fit bit tracker before 😊 I felt tired of course physically but so very much MOTIVATED and full of joy.  The sense of accomplishment was very fulfilling and my main #1 goal for this trip I had just finished! I DID IT! I completed the sunrise hike and had a wonderful time doing so.

Just as we have “mountain top experiences” in our lives, we also have to come down off that mountain and back to reality.  We come home from the vacation.  We wake up and it’s Monday after a fun weekend has passed.  We blink and our children are so many years older than we remember they were.  And life goes on.

But we need to remember to always take God with us – He doesn’t only want to be there to celebrate your success, He also wants to be there with you “in the middle” – to help pick you up when you fall, to comfort you when you hurt, to cheer you on as you go forward towards the next step you take.  Life spent walking with Jesus is much more fulfilling than doing so without Him.  I am grateful to know Him, and so very thankful for the experience He walked me through doing this hike.  I hope you have enjoyed reading about it, and seeing a few of the pictures that I took.  May you have a blessed day walking with the Lord.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il-bJjeiOhY

(I do not own copyright to the music)