God’s creation is wondrous, beautiful, diverse, and
intricate! Like many of you the most
engaging ways to explore and appreciate God’s creation happen when we explore our
local, state or national parks. Over a
year ago while my family and I enjoyed the Great Smokey Mountain Park in
Tennessee, we make a family pact to visit and explore more of our national
treasures. The Psalmist says, “Great are the
works of the Lord; they are
pondered by all who delight in them”(Psalm 111:2). And so
too our family discovered that we find ourselves renewed and refreshed as we
ponder and delight in God’s wonderful creation!
Within our country we have 58 national
parks! In early July my family and I
spent a week in the “crown of the continent” otherwise known as Glacier
National Park. The continental divide meanders through/under and within the
park… or the area of the park was created over it! This is a land shaped by fire (from lightning
storms) and ice (from glaciers)!
Over a million acres has been dedicated to
Glacier and Waterton. Established in
1910 as a US national park people come from all over to hike the 743 miles of
trails in Glacier NP The magnificent area was named as the first international
peace park because Glacier NP and Waterton NP are located in Montana and a
portion of Canada.
People come to see grizzlies and
mountain goats in their habitats; or be amazed at the modern engineering marvel
the Going-to-the Sun road which connects the east and west portions of the park;
and/or marvel at the cool moist movement of the 26 glaciers that remain. Did you know that Triple Divide Peak is the
only peak in the world which supplies 3 different oceans?! the Pacific,
Atlantic and Arctic.
My family and I ran out of words to describe the beauty and
wonder of this portion of the US.
Majestic. Dramatic. Beautiful.
The huge rocky landscape made us feel grounded and calm. We simply could not say, “WOW”, often
enough! Our God formed and shaped this
part of our world with the powerful push of glacier moving ancient rock. Therefore, the experience of being there felt
like rocky terrain and densely wooded areas as well as the open meadows, offer
a profound and deep quiet to your soul.
We can appreciate why at least three native tribes as far back as 12,000
years ago visited this place as a holy site.
Because this place is holy, indeed!
Like 50% of the visitors to the park the Knight family
decided to go on a hike. We selected the
hike to see Avalanche Lake because it did not sound too hard. Assumption #1. My family had each of their own special
moments on our trip- but this 6 mile hike was when the Holy Spirit reminded me of
an important lesson.
We started in the lush, moist hemlock and aspen forest. Quickly
the terrain pushed us upwards so that our elevation shifted at least 500 feet
on the way up. All the guidebooks said
this was a doable hike… not too easy, but certainly not a trail exclusively for
professional hikers!
But have you ever been on a hiking trail that did not have
any trail signs? Perhaps a beginning marker
sign… but nothing in between to note your progress on the path? That was the case for this trail. No signs.
No markings. While we met lots of
families and individuals going up…there was nothing to tell us how far we were
from the lake or how close. The twists
and turns of the path and with the gradual elevation going up and down did not
give us much of a sense of where we were on the journey.
To be completely honest with you- as we hiked on- shedding
jackets and then other layers of clothes as the day got warmer and we got
sweatier- I began an inner conversation in my head. “how much further?” “why aren’t we there yet?” “Did I lead my family on a huge
mistake?” Anxiety. Not knowing.
Feeling kinda ‘blind’… all brought up an inner uneasiness in me. Maybe you like to know where you are
too. ‘caused an interesting spiritual lesson.
As we meandered along, we asked a traveler who was coming
down, “how much further?” to which their non-committal response only caused me
more inner frustration. Suddenly when we came to a clearing… for a pause to
drink our water and take this photo, I heard a voice in my head say, “Your word is a lamp for
my feet, a light on my path”(Psalm
119:105).
Interesting scripture to receive in the daylight, but a good
reminder that God always knows where I am. As I thought about that verse I
realized afresh that I am not supposed see any further than my feet. God’s Word
is a lamp to my feet… scripture does not say God’s Word is a lamp for
the next ¼ mile ahead of my feet! Be
where I am - is where and when God in Jesus will meet me. Do not worry about
the next ¼ mile until I get there.
We enjoyed a rest on comfy log and visited with a park
ranger. And then we began our trek back
down… recognizing where we had been before and yet still not knowing mile
markers or specific points to share with other future travelers. Instead we offered words of encouragement and
promises of “it’s worth it”. The journey
and it’s lesson for me was worth it to be reminded God is faithfulness in the
midst of such staggering, and powerful beauty.
Good to be reminded how significantly small I am compared to our Lord’s
faithFULLness!
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