[pct-l] Churches near the pct & God's Freedom of the Hills

[Mtnned at aol.com (Mtnned@aol.com)]

Finally back from the KO, I find my email flooding with KO  discussion.  So 
glad my wife and I made the 20-hour round-trip drive.   More on this later.
 
First I want to address the spiritual side of the pct experience, a subject  
that was sadly missing from the ADZ, yet we all feel it grow within us as we  
live the trail life.
 
StoneDancer1, Mendonsa, Lonetrail, Akamp, and Flarry all expressed the same  
vein and I want to thank you for expressing it.  Whether we are aware of  our 
spirits or not before embarking on a long hike, somewhere along the road it  
grows within us.  I believe it is impossible to live within God's Creation,  
devoid of civilization's distractions and temptations, and not feel His  
Presence.  Call it what you will, and I believe we have members on this  List who 
would ascribe different names or titles to this "feeling" or change in  our 
spiritual awareness, but we certainly can't ignore this enlightenment.
 
Yes, WE are His church, once we recognize Him and want to be with  Him.  
Where two or more are gathered together, He is in the midst.   So, when we travel 
in God's awesome High Country with crystal lakes reflecting  the incredible 
work of His hands surrounded by massive granite  cathedrals calling out His 
name, how can we not bear witness to Him?   And when fellow hikers travel together 
and talk about this, what they feel, as  well as what they've seen, smelled, 
heard and lived through each and every  footfall along the trail, our Father, 
God, is in their midst, pleased that his  kids noticed Him and what he did for 
their enjoyment.  It is that  simple.  If you believe.
 
These other five members of this List who mentioned the need to visit a  
church along the way and chimed in with having experienced Him in their trail  
life, may be realizing that God is more tangible on the trail than off!   Thus 
Stonedancer1's statement that the blessing God has given us who walk our  path 
called the PCT is that it is His Path to Him, the whole time we're on  it.  
 
I used to believe, back when I thru hiked the trail, that God was only  
present in the mountains and when I left them, I left Him.  I would even  say 
"Good-bye" as I walked back into civilization!  I was 17 years old and  didn't yet 
know that God was calling me to get to know Him and that  life would be easier 
if I trusted Him.  I was stubborn,  self-centered, selfish, proud of my 
independence and accomplishments, and  controlled by my mind and soul (yes, we are 
body, soul, and spirit; three in one  person).  I had no room for allowing 
someone I couldn't see to direct my  path.  But in hiking the trail, I 
unwittingly took His Path.  Later,  on the Continental Divide, He knocked on my life's 
door again as He hoped to get  my attention.
He has carried me through many of life's lessons, ones that needn't have  
been so painful, on the trail and on the road. I wish someone had told me  
earlier what I was feeling while I walked in the mountains.  At this point,  someone 
did, I listened, I'm free no matter where I am or what I go through, and  I 
am available to help any of you realize the same.
 
It is strange that such a huge endeavor so full with experiences of  His 
Presence can be devoid of discussion of Him.  Lets start.
 
I would love to hear your experiences "along the trail" where you narrowly  
escaped death or were surprised when something hard suddenly became quite  
easy.  He's there!  You feel Him!
 
I hope discussion of our spirit within us and His Spirit born on the air of  
Creation we walk through and so dearly love has not too badly offended  
anyone.  We can't walk this walk without talking this talk, don't you think  so?
 
Mtnned