Date: Saturday, October 12, 2013
Weather: Cool and Overcast
Equipment: Hiking boots, Backpack containing snacks, water and camera
Destination: Maliseet Trail – Hayes Falls
I had the novel idea of going for a hike on our Thanksgiving weekend – not just on the old railroad bed or through the fields behind our subdivision (BORING!) – a real hike. The ones I grew up doing, the ones I still enjoy doing. The only catch…I wanted Steve to join me. Of course, he is always up for an adventure, especially with me! The wheelchair doesn’t hinder us. Oh, and the words ‘you can’t do that’ only fuel my desire to do something. I will be the judge of what I can and cannot do. Yes, I am a very determined individual – stubborn and possibly a tad stupid once in awhile, but hey, it comes in handy at times. I should mention Steve can be just as determined as myself.
So, here we were at the start of our adventure. (I had hiked this trail before, but my memory seems to be slipping as I really didn’t remember a whole lot.) We had hoped to reach the falls within an hour, have a snack, and return to town by lunchtime. The best laid plans…
Tipping back Steve’s chair and giving a mighty push up the first slight incline we faced our challenge with excitement, gusto, and exuberance; taking pleasure in the nature around us, listening to the delightful sound of birds singing; hearing the deafening pound of my heart, feeling the slowing of my steps and realizing I did not pack an oxygen tank as I gasped intensely for air. Okay, this is where I realized I was not in as good of shape as I thought! We decided to slow the pace down and enjoy the moments. Going up hill in the forest is fine when all you are trudging on is leaves. As we continued our climb up our leaves turned into very large rock speed bumps accompanied by roots that appeared as anacondas twisting their way through the forest. What had we gotten ourselves into?! There was no giving in! With every hill and new clump of reptiles to overcome we knew our destination had to be just up ahead. We lost count of how many times we said this. I should take this moment to admit I almost lost Steve to one of the anacondas! I am sure it moved as we went over it! However it happened, the end result was me (in slow motion) dumping Steve out of his wheelchair onto a lovely big rock where he looked like he was doing a calendar shoot for Mr. October. So we had to now face the challenge of getting back into the chair – ugh! Wait! Coming up over the hill at this exact moment were two angels…cue music…okay, just another young couple out enjoying a hike. After an offer to help, we quickly got Steve back into his chair and were on our way. Then came the MUD!! Can’t go over it…can’t go under it…can’t go around it…gotta go through it!
Hey, we hear the falls, it has to be just up the hill! We pass families who tell us we are almost there – we press on. All energy left is used to reach the top of what seems like Everest. We did it! Cue jaws dropping to the ground…disappointment spreads across our faces as we see a trail ahead of even bigger constrictors than before mixed with rocks. We decided together to make the final push with the knowledge that we were so close and going back would be slightly easier as it was downhill. Finally, we make it to the fork in the trail to start our way down – wait down?! – to the falls. I leave Steve and go survey our last stretch of the trail. My heart sinks, and the disappointment floods in as I have to admit defeat. I felt like the word ‘failure’ was written across my shirt. I absolutely detest giving in and up!! After 2 1/2 hours I was spent. I knew I could probably get Steve down the hill riddled with roots, rocks and leaves, but I would never have enough strength to get him back up. To be this close and yet so far away…brutle. I slowly made my way back to break the news to my very patient, muddy and persevering husband. When I arrived back he was chatting away with a family that was hiking back to the vehicles. Not only did I now have to admit I couldn’t do it to my hubby, I had to share this with three complete strangers – a very humbling experience. For the second time this trip the Lord sent help at just the right time. After accepting a very gracious offer of assistance by Dave (who was looking for a workout), the games lady (Dave’s wife, Leslee) and daughter, Tess, along with their two dogs, we made our way back down to where we began.
The entire way back I continued to beat myself up inside about how I had failed. Thankfully, my husband was able to right my focus when we were finally back inside the van. He made me realize I was so focused on coming up short of the destination that I was missing all that we achieved along the way. He reminded me of all the people we met along the way and how most of them were speechless to see us taking on this challenge. Even our rescue family mentioned several times how they knew we made it as far as we did, but just couldn’t believe it. He encouraged me by being thrilled he was able to go as far as we did. It was good quality time spent together in fun conversation, working together as a team and finding muscles we didn’t think we had. We are still laughing over the whole scenario of Steve falling out of his chair. It was a wonderful day from start to finish (once I got my priorities straight). The journey of life we are on is not just about the end result it’s about climb. How do we handle things along the way, what are we learning as we go, how are we helping others. Do we forget how far we have come? Do we forget to stop, “be still and know that He is God”.
Another, thought I had while walking back to the vehicle – I guess I wasn’t completely absorbed in myself – was how thankful I am that I don’t have to work this hard to earn God’s love. My Lord and Saviour doesn’t ask me to work and do until I’m good enough to earn a place in His kingdom and be a part of His family. As our hike proved, we would come up short every time, missing the mark by that much. Striving day in and day out for something we could never attain. God knew this would happen and because of His great love for us provided a way for us – an easy way – to be saved from an eternity of separation from Him. Yes, folks, as much as we don’t like to think about it, Hell is a very real place. I can’t imagine trying every day to climb up a trail like we did thinking if I can just reach the falls I will be free from Hell and enter Heaven, but each day falling short of the mark and feeling that hopelessness of being doomed. Thankfully, I don’t have to as I mentioned above – I have been saved through grace! The following is the “easy” way I was talking about:
1. Admit you are a sinner
(Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”)
(James 2:10 “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all”)
2. Realize that because you are a sinner the penalty is death (the consequence to doing wrong just like when we were children – our parents couldn’t just overlook our wrongs)
(Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”)
3. Understand that because God loves you so much He has a free gift for you (not one you have to earn by working), but it came at the expense of His Son, Jesus, dying in your place (taking your punishment)
(Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”)
(Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast”)
(John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”)
4. Believe that Jesus paid for your sins, confess to God that you are sinner and hopeless to do anything about it on your own, ask Him to save you, and to be the Lord of your life.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”)
(Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”)
(Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”)
5. Rest in the peace of knowing that your eternity is secure in Christ
(Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”)
(Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”)
(Romans 8:38-39 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”)
Still smiling…
Our wonderful rescuer! I’m pretty sure he got the workout he was looking for. Thanks Dave and family! It was so nice to meet you!