TWISTS AND TURNS

 

Moxham Mt Trail
May 2023

Recently, my husband Dave and I hiked up a little mountain (2464 feet with 1000 feet of elevation gain so short and STEEP).  The trail is (round trip) 5 miles. Now normally, a little mountain like this would only take about an hour and a half to climb.....it's just 2.5 miles to the summit. However......the trail is a tough one in spots.  It twists.  It turns.  It has switchbacks which we are thankful for because that helps with the steepness........meaning, it's not a straight shot up this mountain otherwise it would be nearly impossible with how steep it is.  In fact, before the state created a safe hiking trail in about 2012, the only way to the summit was to use ropes and harnesses and climb up the rock face and then rappel down. That's not for us.  We hike much taller mountains than Moxham but this little mountain gives a lot of bang for its buck.  In other words, it's a great hike even though there are twists and turns along the way, a long ridge line to follow, another deep woods jaunt down and then back up and another ridge line and then a ways of turning and turning through thick pines before getting to the proper summit. This type of mountain is a great way to start out the hiking season.  

And while hiking along with Dave (we had 3 other friends who were well behind us), I began to reflect on what I was sensing the Lord was teaching me:

Our life journey as mature Believers can be so smooth and straight forward.  This straight path can go on for awhile. Kind of like the photo above.   But one day......or one evening......we may hit a turn.  We may come up against some barrier be it physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual. Recently, I have discovered this to be true.  I've recently experienced  a relational and in effect, a spiritual, twist in the path I've been walking on. Just like the trail we were on came to a turn.

Moxham Mt trail at the turn
Autumn 2015

Not only did the trail turn, but we had to  cross this stream.  This past May it was flowing with water!!  The photo shown above was autumn in 2015 and the creek bed was pretty much dried up.  We had to navigate around this stream a few weeks ago and it wasn't easy as the rocks were slippery.

We needed each other's hands and we used our hiking poles to help us.  Dave didn't know the trail.......but this was my 4th time hiking this mountain so I know it fairly well.  But I still needed a hand.  Do you see the parallels with our lives and what sometimes happens?

As Believers, we have God.  He holds us in the palm of His Hand and His Spirit guides us in the way we should go.

 I've had to rely on Him and His Word to calm my spirit after some annoying texts came through from a person and her situation that was just draining my soul...my mind....even my physical body felt tired from dealing with her angst or drama or whatever it was. I felt God telling me to take a step back. To remember that she has chosen to not be in community with other Believers and although that might be ok for her, it is not ok for me. I need my sisters in Christ. I need my pastor's sermons. I need the worship in the large body.  I need to be immersed in the Word for when these twists and turns come along. It's how I stay strong. 

When we persevere on the trail, we do come to the top eventually.

When we persevere with the Lord, we do come to that "mountain top" feeling eventually. 

from the summit of Moxham Mt
looking out towards Vanderwhacker Wild Forest area
Central Adirondack Mountains
May 2023

Staying strong in the Word.  Putting boundaries around things or people if God leads you to do so.  Pray and tell Him what you're feeling!  The path through life is not always gonna be smooth and straight. There will be bumps and twists and turns.

Let's make sure we're turning towards God when we experience those twists.