Hike Your Own Hike: Giving Grace to Others on Their Spiritual Journey
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Bly Gap at border of NC & GA |
This
summer, my daughter and I took our first steps toward reaching our goal of
section hiking the Appalachian Trail. We
covered nearly 50 miles in 4.5 days.
There were many things she and I learned on the trail. Some of it was about backpacking, some about
life, some things about people, some things about ourselves and some things
about God.
There
is a popular phrase regarding the AT that goes, “Hike your own hike.” Most of my years on the trail have been spent
leading and being responsible for groups anywhere from 5 to 75. This was the first time that I could remember
in a number of years that I have done a long hike where my concern was just me
and my daughter. She and I gave each
other permission to hike our own hikes, as we set boundaries and rules for
staying in touch even when we lost sight of each other (pardon that pun).
Seriously
though, my vision loss provided a unique challenge for me as I had to learn my
limits and my abilities. It was at times
very difficult to navigate stone steps and inclines. I did not always get to see the beauty around
me as I had to pay attention to each step.
But in that process, I did get to see beauty under my feet that I would
have missed in the past.
I
had the chance to be more aware of myself which is something very difficult
when leading a large group. I also could
be fully attentive to my daughter and I got to know her better as a very
strong, very independent, amazingly creative and funny young woman.
Getting
to hike my own hike made me more aware of our need to give others permission to
hike their hike. I think if I had tried
to make my daughter hike “my hike,” it would have robbed her of what the AT
experience can be. If I had tried to
hike “her hike,” I would have missed precious moments of hearing God and
meditating on the experience.
One thing unique about our hike,
was that we were going south and most everyone was going north. A
couple of times we met up with people at
shelters on the top of a peak and share lunch and stories. We were all on the same trail, the same
mountain, or the same shelter but each of us had hiked a different hike to get
there.
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Low Gap Shelter, Georgia |
I do not see this as an analogy
for all religions. What I “see” in my
experience is that the Body of Christ is big enough and there is room for
diversity and experience for everyone to hike their own hike. I know for some, denominations are seen as a
perversion of Jesus’ call for unity.
Within my own tradition of Methodism, we have a diversity and often do
not reflect our heritage which the United Brethren offered us in their name: “United.” We talk about grace but often fail in sharing it with one another.
There is within the Scriptures, a diversity of experiences regarding salvation and growth in grace. Just look at Peter and Paul (though there are other comparisons)! They experienced Jesus in two very different ways yet it was still the one Lord they followed and worshipped. I think this final conversation with Jesus that Peter had, illustrates the point…
There is within the Scriptures, a diversity of experiences regarding salvation and growth in grace. Just look at Peter and Paul (though there are other comparisons)! They experienced Jesus in two very different ways yet it was still the one Lord they followed and worshipped. I think this final conversation with Jesus that Peter had, illustrates the point…
“Peter turned around and saw behind him that other disciple, whom Jesus loved---the one who had leaned close to Jesus at the meal and had asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?" When Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about this man?" Jesus answered him, "If I want him to live until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" (John 21:20-22 GNB)”
Jesus calls Peter to “hike his
own hike,” and not to try and pull John into his model of following Jesus. We are not created to be clones and
puppets. Jesus doesn’t say to us we need
to be identical but to be unique, using our gifts and that means, we’ve got to
take a different path up the mountain, the same mountain all followers of Jesus
are on.
Be aware of God’s presence and
the work of the Spirit guiding you into Christ-likeness. Beware that you do not
hike someone else’s hike or insist other people hike your hike. Be attentive to voice of the Savior calling
you to follow!