My 8th Big Hike

This year, my annual hike with my friend Melody took us north to the Chain Lakes region of the Cascade Range near Bellingham, Washington. Leaving our car at Artist Point, we began a three-and-a-half-mile ascent with 28-pound backpacks (Melody’s was heavier!) to Lake Hayes, where we pitched our tent. Since we’d already been up since 4:30 a.m. and driven three hours, we were a little punchy, but we felt like teenagers on a great adventure. We were stoked!

Unlike teenagers, we were asleep by 7 p.m. and slept straight through the night! There’s just something about being wrapped in warm, squishy sleeping bags and breathing cool, wet air in total silence.

The next morning, after filtering our water to cook oatmeal on our tiny stove, we hit the trail for a nearly ten-and-a-half-mile round-trip hike up the mountain. 

This day was cloudy and wet, with little visibility and no gorgeous mountain views. However, the mists floating in and out in unpredictable patterns felt cozy and unworldly. Soft, encompassing, and gentle, one moment revealing a thick range of evergreens while the next moving to hidden rocks. Wrapped in these clouds felt like being wrapped in the arms of the Holy Spirit. Comforted and calmed, a retreat from the cares of the world–a sensation of the rich pureness of simply being in His presence. 

The following day was completely clear with deep blue skies. We hiked to Ptarmigan Ridge, where we had spectacular views of Mt. Baker, Mt. Shuksan, and the Cascade Range. It was a hard–nearly 11 miles-–round trip up and down but one of our favorite views ever.  When we returned to camp, sweaty and smelly, I jumped into the lake with all my clothes on! I was a mess. 

On our third night, we experienced a tremendous storm. Lightning, pouring rain, thunder, and strong winds. It was very scary as we did not know if lightning would start fires in trees or send trees tumbling down, or if our tent would blow away. (Another camper’s did!). We spent most of the night with arms stretched high, holding up our tent roof as it continued to cave in from the winds. As we prayed, our fears turned into laughter at our predicament. Relief came in the morning as the rain stopped, and we were able to hike out as planned.

As I’ve reflected on our hike, two different ways to perceive our God have become vivid in a more profound way. 

Nature reveals:

His creative ways of working which are always changing. 

Three completely different days had fresh revelations for us. The weather was completely unpredictable and full of surprises. We did not know what to expect. In the mist we could not see clearly; our steps were unsure. Yet underneath was firm ground, even though it didn’t feel like it in the moment. But we experienced a sense of being enveloped even when we could not see clearly!

When we study nature, we realize in new ways how creative our God is. Like the covering mists, we can’t always see what He is doing. This can make it easy for me to unintentionally limit God’s work in my life, my children’s lives, or my friends' lives because I view Him through my experience. I think I know how He should fix “this.” The reality is that I act like I know better than He does. It's laughable.  

I forget that He is God, and He is not limited. He sends storms, rain, snow, hail, wind, sun, stars, tiny flowers sprouting from rocks in snow... He is always working in ways that I cannot see. His creative powers are unlimited and ever-changing. 

My mom used to say, “He is working while we are waiting.”                            

“Father, open my eyes that I might see how much bigger you are than I ever have before. Reveal to me the creative ways in which you have worked that I have been too distracted to notice.”

His character which never changes.

While His ways of working are unlimited and ever-changing, His character remains constant. We can count on Him always, no matter what. He is our rock. He is our strength. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). No matter what is going on around us, even when it’s misty, He is still in control. 

I have to remind myself that his creative ways of working are always changing but, “He changeth not.” (Hymn: “Great is thy Faithfulness,” and Malachi 3:6.) There is security in this. There is mystery in this. We cry out, “But what about…” Sometimes, we simply have to sit in the mystery, letting our questions hang in the mist until the time that He shines His light of understanding. 

Melody says it this way, “On our hike, I was reminded that I should not focus on how high the mountain was that I needed to climb but instead focus on the next few steps in front of me. This keeps me from getting overwhelmed.”

“Father, when I flounder in…help me to focus on your character in front of me which never changes.”

Some things we loved about our hike:

• Hiking with a good friend who knows you well.

• Times to pray, to share scripture, and to walk in complete silence.

• Sharing thoughts on the intersection between suffering, surrender, mystery, and peace.

• Being completely off-grid for almost four days–one of our favorite things! 

• Bug spray, a rare privy, the loving community of other hikers.

• Melody: Peanut butter rounders. Me: please, no more!!

As I anticipated our hike, I prayed the words from Psalm 71:8, “My mouth is filled with your praise; declaring your splendor all day long.”

 I longed to experience His splendor in fresh ways. This song came to us, “The splendor of the Lord robed in majesty, How Great Is Our God…” 

This comes with many thanks to all of you who prayed for us!

Read the rest of my hiking blogs here!