Even When I'm All Alone

I will never forget this one hike.

I was alone.  Oh, there were other people on the trail, according to the sign-in register.  In fact, I  had brought a friend and met 2 other hiking friends at the trail head.

But...the friend I brought practically ran on up the mountain.....and the other 2 were way behind me.

It was late March. Technically it was Spring. But.... there was mud and snow at the beginning of the trail.  About a quarter mile in, the ice began.  And continued all the way up to the summit where it was like another world....swirling snow, grey clouds, dark, very cold.  In fact, for most of the day we never saw the sun.

So, on this hike.....a mountain called Tremper Mountain in the Catskills, about an hour south of where we live here in NY's Capital Region, I was on the trail alone.  Wearing crampons on my boots to navigate the ice.  And determined to get to that fire tower.  The entire hike is 5.7 miles.  WHY was I doing this on ice??  Oh...because in the warmer months there are timber rattlesnakes and so I chose to do this in cold weather when they are still hibernating! 

And although I am a true nature lover and avid hiker I was.....

A bit afraid.

Because I was alone.  Yes, I could have stopped and waited for the other 2 friends.  But when I stopped, I froze!  So I kept going.

Alone on the trail, I found myself thinking that I wasn't really alone.  I mean, God is always with me.  He is ever present....omnipresent.

I had to trust that I would be fine.  If I stuck to the trail I would be fine. 

I made it to the top where one of my friends was waiting. It was too cold to enjoy the summit and of course being snowy and grey, there was no view.

And while at the top, I realized that I could never have done this if I hadn't known that C was ahead of me and the other 2 ladies were behind me.

And of course....God.

See, I've been in other situations in my life...over the years...in various situations or places, where I've been afraid.

And it always comes back to "Whom do I trust"?

I trust God.

He is always there.  Period.

No matter what.

There is great comfort in that!

I have learned that when we simply trust Him....when we say "here Lord, take __________" (whatever it is), we have peace.  Sometimes joy doesn't bubble up out of our hearts right away, but I always feel peace in my heart, soul, mind.

That peace comes from trusting my Heavenly Father. He is the One who will never leave us or forsake us.

Even on a mountain trail in winter conditions!

I can move through my day, my week, my year, my life, knowing that He is here for me.  He loves me, and will never leave me.

Even when I am all alone.