My husband and I have been in Northern Arizona to beat the desert heat. We, especially me, have needed some time to reflect, mourn and replenish my soul after the death of my father last month. One of the activities that we look forward to doing while we are there is to hike.
We hike a trail called Fat Man’s Loop. Well, all I can ever think about when I begin is “I hope this fat girl can get around Fat Man’s Loop!” It never fails that the first 15 minutes of the hike is the most daunting. You see, we are not really avid hikers and we live on the desert floor in Arizona. So the altitude squeezes my lungs when we first start off. Inevitably I feel like I won’t make it…….then my brain says….but you have made it every time you have attempted it. So as I slowly drag one foot in front of the other I have a battle raging between my heart and my brain. My heart is beating out of my chest and my brain is rather lethargic in the altitude. All the while I keep moving up the trail ahead.
One morning as we were still in the midst of the hard climb upwards I realized I left my hat in the truck. This girl doesn’t hang outside without my hat. That sun just beats you up without a hat. I was so deflated and discouraged. I just wanted to give up. I wanted to turn around and go back and sit in the truck. I didn’t want to do hard and hot and sunny. I couldn’t face going back to get the hat and retrack the rocky climb I had already accomplished. So I decided I wasn’t going to let my brain defeat me and my heart was going to have to have a better attitude and keep moving up the trail ahead.
Hiking gives you solid time to reflect as you slowly traverse the trail. I thought about the loss of my father I had recently experienced. I thought about at 85 years old how many times he must have wanted to stop moving forward. He endured tragedy, financial stress, poor physical health and emotional pain. Just like so many people do. Yet, he was always willing to look for the best outcome in a situation and see the best in people. He kept moving forward on the trail ahead of him.
By the time I reached the peak of Fat Man’s Loop my circumstances had tamed my mind and heart. I was tired, hot, sweaty and thirsty all of which had sweetened my bad attitude about forgetting my hat. I was triumphant over my discouragement by choosing to press on walking the trail ahead. As we descended the mountain I could breathe again and my legs no longer felt like jello. I felt fulfilled that I accomplished the goal even in the midst of my emotional and physical obstacles.
I hope that I learned a life lesson. I hope I am as lucky as my Dad was to get to spend 85 years with his family. But I hope that each time life presents me with a challenge that I can dig deep in my soul and keep moving forward on the trail ahead.
Happy trials to you! Keep moving forward on the trail ahead!
Blessings,
Carrie
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