“Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.”
Proverbs 4:26
Well, my family and I decided to take a trek to the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee! And…the weather didn’t always cooperate with our plans. But, it didn’t deter us. No, no, despite the rain, I decided we were going to hike.
But why?
- Momma wanted to hike—rain, snow, or sleet! I actually did too ;)!
- As part of our Great Smoky Mountain National Park Summer 2019 Family Trip, hiking with our three girls was a number one priority.
- Practically speaking, there are a lot of lessons to be learned while hiking in the rain.
How so?
So much of life is easy, convenient, and made-to-order. In fact, a lot of my life (and probably yours) has been that way. Being reared in the 20th-21st Century…being a Gen-Xer…and living in a Country that caters to me has proven challenging. Notwithstanding, this is to me, neutral. I’m not blaming society. I’m not a victim of my circumstances. I’m merely acknowledging my reality. Well, I might blame the wicked advertising tracking cookies on computers for some amazon splurge purchases, but I digress. Nevertheless, despite the rain, I decided to hike.
What did I learn? Here are 7 quick takeaways:
- I couldn’t turn off the rain…so I had to submit to the reality that there are things outside of my control.
- Life application: there is so much in life that one cannot change, and thus so much of life needs an accepting response not a bitter reaction.
- It wasn’t as bad as I thought…so I realized that facing challenges can cultivate in me and my family grit.
- Life application: don’t let challenges keep you from getting into the ring. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.
- Being prepared is worth its weight in gold…so I was thankful for rain jackets and waterproof shoes and boots.
- Life application: life may be unpredictable, but it doesn’t mean one has to shirk basic principles and laws. One can use reason, counsel, and prudence to alleviate unnecessary suffering (like the people getting soaked on our hike).
- There are a lot dangers associated with hiking in the rain alongside sheer drop-off cliffs…so I used extra caution in those danger areas with my daughters as we rounded the bends ahead of Laurel Falls.
- Life application: Proceeding blind into danger is to one’s own detriment. Heeding the danger signs and warnings is to one’s benefit.
- Choose good footing for your steps…so we avoided the un-level portions of the wet and rocky path.
- Life application: life presents many rainy days, and taking level or solid paths helps mitigate potential pain. For instance, knowing and avoiding triggers for addiction, anger, laziness, greed, and the like.
- Know and accommodate the maturity level(s) of those in your care…each of our three children are at different levels of maturity, and thus determined how much independence I gave them on the slippery trail.
- Life application: know the condition and state of those you are leading, caring for, or guiding, etc., and adjust to wisely cultivate their own growth and protection.
- The reward and finish line wasn’t the top, but rather the safety and warmth of a trail well hiked, many memories made, and myriad lessons learned…I didn’t let my guard down after we hiked to the top of Laurel Falls, but instead kept focused all the way until we were warm and safe in our vehicle heading to our next adventure.
- Life application: don’t hit coast at mid-life. Hit the tape of life running!
