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

[tahoe.cat at verizon.net (Bill & Cathy)]

Hi All  I believe that no matter where I go "He" is with me. I try and pray
often, especially when I'm on the trail. I know "He" has helped me many
times while hiking. I don't believe I could have made it from the I-10 up to
mission creek last august at 102 degrees or when I was camped at the top a
couple miles from my truck and there were very large bear tracks close to
my tent when I got up in the morning. I slept soundly not knowing it was
that close. Yes I miss Mass on Sunday sometimes but I feel in my heart that
"He" is still with me. I pray for all that are on the trail, for their
safety and for their experience, to be a good one.  AND
remember      "Be Prepared"  Ground Pounder Bill       "Semper
    ----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Mtnned@aol.com>
To: <StoneDancer1@aol.com>
Cc: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 8:15 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Churches near the pct & God's Freedom of the Hills


> 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
>
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