Month: October 2026
The Hands That Never Trembled
The Hands That Never Trembled Hope is not built in a single moment. It grows over time, through the things we experience and the things we endure. We can hope things get better. We can hope circumstances change. We can hope tomorrow looks different from today. But hoping for something and having hope are…
Why We Slow Down on the Trail
Moving quickly, we cover miles. Sometimes those miles matter. We need to reach camp before dark. We need to finish the section we planned. So we walk a little faster. The problem is not moving quickly. The problem is when the miles become more important than why we are out there in the first…
The Shepherd Counts Differently
Failure… Sit with that word for a minute. What does it make you think of? When I read it or hear it spoken, I can see my failures. Some recent. Some years old. Things I wish I had done differently. Things I wish I could go back and change. Why does one word have…
What to Expect on Your First Backpacking Trip
Backpacking can seem daunting at first glance. Carrying everything you need into the wilderness for several days. Walking with a pack on your back. Sleeping in a sometimes uncomfortable place, surrounded by unfamiliar noises and with what feels like little protection from the elements. If it’s your first time backpacking, you probably have plenty…
Love Deeply. Possess Lightly.
Holding on tightly is something we are taught without it being said out loud very often. Movies and books teach us to hold on with everything we have. Life teaches us that sometimes we must let go. When we hold too tightly things often break. Or things are not able to move as they…
What to Pack for a Backpacking Experience
Hiking and backpacking share many things in common. Walking. Nature. Solitude. Companionship. Stepping away. What makes backpacking different is carrying everything you need for multiple days. With hiking, the day dictates the length of the experience. With backpacking, the end of the day doesn’t end the experience. It opens to a new one. If…
The Shepherd Sets the Pace
Modern society tells us that slowing down and taking breaks is bad. Keep pushing. Work through lunch. Put in more hours than everyone else. Never take vacation. Keep the kids busy with sports and activities. Always be doing something. That way of thinking has crept into the church, too. Volunteer for everything. Be at…
Understanding Trail Difficulty
When it comes to planning a hike or backpacking trip, one of the most important things to factor in is trail difficulty. But what does that actually mean? Trail difficulty is subjective. A moderate trail for me may be a difficult trail for someone else. So when you see a trail marked as easy,…
Still I Walk
Continuing to walk in the face of hardship sounds noble. It sounds like the plot of a story. “His home was taken, and yet he strode forward into battle.” That is a great way to describe walking with God through hardship. But most of the time, that is not how it happens. When things…