Hiking
September 16, 2020
40 to 70 mph sustained winds. That was the estimate of one experienced hiker describing the gusts that blew atop Mt. Cameron as my son Luke and I hiked the DeCaLiBron last week in Colorado. Luke said it sounded like a helicopter within his jacket’s head covering with the wind refusing to relent from peak to peak. A crazy video shows the wind’s force propping him up as he leans into the gale.
Furthermore, with all the fires in Colorado, an orange haze obscured the horizon normally dominated by the breathtaking vistas of never-ending mountain ranges. On top of that, Colorado set a new record: the weather shifted from 100 degrees in temperature to one full inch of snow on the ground. . . . in just 3 days! The prior record for that drastic shift was 25 days. Is it a sign of new weather realities?
Thank goodness some helpful weather apps warned us of the weather extremes Luke and I would be facing before we packed for our journey. From dry fit T-shirts to toasty ski-masks, we were prepared for the wild weather swings!
But how about crazy life swings we all face these days? With the pandemic, all those involved in the educational system are swinging between online and in-person realities. Those running small businesses are swinging between forecasts of optimism and despair. As we pray for others, we realize some fellow citizens face the rain of hurricanes while others endure the smoke of fires.
Here is some good news: Jesus equips us with resources life-giving in ALL conditions. Last Sunday, COS Director of Youth & Family, Melissa Jacobson, did a stellar job unpacking Jesus’ gospel teaching that when it comes to forgiveness, we are “seventy times seven” people. We forgive not as infrequent concessions, but as an ever-flowing way of life. As Jesus mentors us in the Lord’s prayer, we commit to a daily lifestyle of rejoicing in God’s forgiveness of our families, as we forgive others of their debts to us.
Hiking out west, I was reminded that while you’re wise to pack the essentials, extra weight is a killer as you suck oxygen at 14,000 feet. Light loads empower happy hikes. Same for life. When we burden ourselves by carrying grievances and hurt we refuse to forgive and release, we’re encumbered from maximizing the moments of new delights.
A second key resource for facing any life situation emerges from our gospel this upcoming Sunday. In his parable of the vineyards, Jesus infers humans can’t stop judging and evaluating each other, often times in very ugly fashion. But ultimately, there is one judge of how you are doing as a human being. And that is your heavenly father, who delights in you as a beloved son or daughter worthy of his full bounty, even if we don’t feel worthy ourselves. Yes, we strive to serve as effective employees, supportive family members, and faithful friends. But please remember that, at the end of the day, there’s only one evaluation of your life’s flow that truly counts: that of Jesus, Master and Owner of the Vineyard.
So, partners in life, whether you face hundred degrees heat or an inch of new snow, smoke from the fire or rain from hurricane, optimism or pessimism in the midst of the pandemic, remember these two daily gifts Jesus provides for your daily backpack: a flow of forgiveness and confidence in God’s delight of you. These two resources will help you thrive in all kinds of weather!
Questions:
- How has the negative evaluation of someone else held a dark cloud over you? What can you imagine Jesus saying to you in that situation?
- Has your life “back-pack” ever felt extra-heavy because of all the grievances you’ve insisted on carrying around? Is there some forgiveness of others and/or yourself you can do to lighten the load and start enjoying life more?
Hiking the pathway of faith with you,
Pastor Fritz