Love…It all comes down to love….

Going through the arch is analogous to going through the closet in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobeand the world changes. The real magic that the Appalachian Trail does is the love that is exemplified in many ways. The hikers really care about each other. Everyone you meet feels like family. Kindness, care and respect are the rules of the day. The physical challenge is difficult, but it brings instant camaraderie to the community. Love is the basis of all this.

People make the way

Every day you meet many new friends. Every day, there are many moments to share that warm your heart. Camaraderie increases as hikers get to know each other. Hostel operators, shuttle drivers and service providers bring their genuine interest in trekkers. All these little things transmit love. I enjoy the conversations, authenticity, and adventures shared with everyone. I have a piece of Tyvek that has become the Class of 26 sign with the names or trail names of everyone I know. If you run into me or hear I’m nearby, feel free to add your name to the banner. If you see the banner flying at a campground, shelter, hostel or event, know that you are always welcome. Come in, make yourself at home, be part of the camaraderie and let’s share the adventures and stories since we met. If you only signed your real name before you had a trail name, find us and add your trail name too. And if the trail begins to wear you down, or loneliness overcomes you, or struggle finds you, know that there is a community of hikers where you are welcome and loved.

The Holy Spirit

It was Sunday. I was walking from the Gooch Gap shelter. I packed up and left early so I could walk in the cool of the morning. The weather has been incredible for my start on the trail and I am very grateful, however the afternoons have been hot. As the sun rose, I found myself in a spot where a rocky outcrop overlooked a wide valley. Spring bursting from the trees occurred in several stages as the canopy began to form with the rise of the hillsides. There was a small fire in the distance that had smoke particles in the air giving the dawn a red to purple color. I made some breakfast and played my guitar singing Christian songs to God and to the forest away from anyone and far enough from the road not to disturb anyone’s peace. As I sat there I asked myself: Do I trust God? Jesus says “don’t be afraid” but why am I so afraid? If I truly believe, then I need to trust Him and not be afraid. When I thought about it, I never really trusted anyone. I’ve always had to be in control. I hide my control in my ability to do things. My lack of trust in others manifests itself in my inability to let go if things don’t go my way. This walk through the woods is not only my attempt to be more contemplative, but also to surrender my fears and reduce the burden of my lack of confidence. I have to develop this love for myself, for others and for God. Trust is part of love.
In my thoughts I was contemplating my lack of understanding of the Holy Spirit and how that could contribute to my lack of trust. The usual lack of faith that I am his and my fear is that my lack of trust will block that relationship. Not ten seconds later I asked myself, how in my life have I felt the Holy Spirit? A thought came to me that I not only saw in my mind, but also felt in my heart. It was from when I was in sixth grade and was at a Baptist Bible Camp at my next door neighbor’s church in Huntsville, Alabama. It was a night service at the camp and I remembered the pull I felt that made me respond to the alter’s call. It was like they were calling me by my name. Immediately as this memory filled my mind and heart, I felt freedom from fear and worry about my adventure on the Appalachian Trail. It was like «what are you worried about? You’re mine and you’ve been mine for a long time.» I laughed uncontrollably for the next ten minutes with a joyful laugh. It was one of the best Sunday morning experiences I’ve ever had.
I love these moments. I call them my proof of the existence of God. Reaffirm my beliefs. They bring me peace. They happen at other times too, but my walk is about my relationship with Jesus, my growth in my love for the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and listening to the learning moments. I am preparing for a meeting that each of us will have, we don’t know when it will be and we can’t avoid it.

Loose packaging

I arrived at Woods Gap and my loosely worked out hiking plan had me staying at a hostel. It was amazing. Cozy, friendly, clean and well maintained. In the process of checking in and taking the tour, the hostess asked if I would be interested in packing my bags the next day. This is where you will be driven north on the trail and dropped off. You then walk south back to the lodge. You will stay a second night and the next day you will be taken back to the place where you were dropped off the day before and then you will continue your walk north. The trick is to leave your backpack at the hostel and carry only water and lunch in a light “loose pack.” It allows you to walk all day giving your body a little break from the usual weight of the backpack. It also has the advantage of being able to meet up from opposite directions with other hikers right in front of you to say hello and continue developing trail camaraderie, since you’re not stuck some distance between people you’ve met due to the parallel pace. Using the relaxed loading day, I was able to start at the famous “shoe tree” at Neel’s Gap and walk back to Woods Gap heading south. The «shoe tree» is supposed to represent how many people left the trail at this point after having climbed and crossed the famous Blood Mountain. Legend and stories abound.

magic trail

The trail is physically demanding. Fatigue usually sets in when the afternoon sun heats up the day. From time to time, trail angels, volunteers who arrive at various trailheads to assist hikers, set up rest stops for hikers. The rejuvenating energy of a magical stop on the trail becomes the highlight of the day’s hike. I had my first magical trail the other day. A local group prepared a beautiful array of snacks, drinks and chairs that allowed for great conversation on a variety of topics. More love on the road, manifested in these volunteers, true embodiment of their care and kindness towards others as they bring joy to the road. While Tom, the trail angel, made me a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, I discovered through a conversation with King Tut, another trail angel, that they were part of a ministry group that regularly does trail magic on the AT. This opened the door to a great conversation about the Trinity while I enjoyed not only the ham and cheese, but also the donuts and coffee. When I mentioned my hike with a guitar, they told me about the musician’s cafe they set up at Trail Days, the mid-May hiker festival along the trail in Damascus, Virginia. Guitars and other stringed instruments are set out for hikers to join in and play with others. This seems like a piece of heaven on earth to me. Hopefully the picture of potential will allow me to do trail days where I would have to cover 400 miles in 30 days.

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