Standing Strong

It was hot.

And humid.  Unusual for the mountains.

But there we were.  Sunday morning at 9 a.m in one of the most remote sections of the Adirondacks.  

Silver Lake Wilderness Region.  Check it out here.

The goal?  to hike 1.3 miles into the woods, along the north branch of the West Stony Creek on the Northville/Placid trail to a 4 foot waterfalls.  Yeah..the falls is small.  But...it's the hiking that counts.

Here's one of the first things that caught my eye once I oohed and ahhed over the falls:

These are rock cairns.  Typically put there by hikers or forest rangers to guide or mark a spot.

The first word that popped into my mind when I saw the arrangement (it's unusual because most cairns are just one structure..this is 2 small ones) was "peace".  I felt like someone was marking the most peaceful spot along the creek....right near the falls on that rock ledge.

But after hiking further and stopping to pause and meditate while my hiking buddy was snapping photos, I started thinking about how strong those rocks actually are.  They haven't moved!  Someone balanced them and set them up on this outcropping over the creek, yet they haven't moved.  Rock is strong and signifies a solidity of whatever makes up the rock.  I'm no scientist.  But I am spiritual.  And I started thinking about strength. 

The strength to use my 2 feet on a hot, humid day in the deep woods with swarms of mosquitoes and deer flies buzzing around me (and thankfully never landing on me to bite due to some awesome all natural spray I have!) and that I do this because of the sport of hiking.  It's my passion.  And I thank God I get to do it often.  He gives me the physical strength to do it.

But more than that...God is my Rock.  He gives me spiritual strength to stand and walk through whatever life dishes out on the journey.  

"I will love You, O Lord (God) my Strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."~Psalm 18:2~ 

Those rocks aren't going to move unless someone comes along and re-arranges them.  Hopefully no one will do that (most hikers are respectful) and those cairns will point the way to the falls for future hikers.

God can point me in the direction I should go on life's journey.  All I need to do is focus on Him and ask for direction.  He will give it. I can hear a still small Voice deep in the heart and recesses of my mind when I sit and pause.....and listen............

Standing strong in the midst of the mundane, the boring, the trials, the triumphs...whatever God brings your way, requires us to stand on the Rock....Stand firm on Him.  He will guide us.

and it will be refreshing..........

West Stony Creek falls/North branch
Northville/Placid Trail
Benson, NY
19 July 2015