We
took a camping trip last week to the Delaware Water Gap and did a little hiking
of the Appalachian Trail. It began as a sightseeing tour around the area one afternoon
and we found the trail just off of a beautiful look out point. Unfortunately,
we weren’t prepared to hike any long distances. Wish we had brought our gear.
Even
the short time on the trail, we still met some very interesting people, a few
were section hikers and some were through hikers, hiking from Georgia to Mt. Katahdin
in Maine.
One
in particular was a man with a story. Most hikers have a trail name they use on
the trail and his was Sleeves. Not sure why he chose Sleeves and I wish I had asked
him. He had been thru-hiking the AT last year and close to the trail at the
Delaware Water Gap, broke his tibia. Sleeves
was determined that after the healing process he was committed to completing the
Appalachian Trail this year.
When
we met him, he was resting on a large rock on the trail and next to him was a this
crooked wooden stick, actually resembled an Irish shillelagh. We got
talking. I think what impressed me most about Sleeves, was his attitude and his
gratefulness to God. He commented a few times on God’s world and beauty.
I
believe he had only hiked about eleven miles that day and was ready to find a
place to camp. Every word he spoke, he spoke with a sincere smile and when we
parted, my wife and I asked God to bless him and he returned the blessing with
an even greater smile. So glad to have met him and we pray for his safety and
completion of his journey.
Out
there is God’s world and on many trails are God’s people, who just make your
day.
The hot humid summer was for the longest time pacing itself at a crawl. Hiking was difficult, especially at my age. But, every once in a while, a morning hike just had to be done. Had to be quick and not as long as I would have liked.
