After I finished putting everything into my backpack, it is 35lbs light.
(I did not pack that candelabra you see on the table).
I spent the last week at home going over my packing list, my food supplies, and my hiking equipment (most of which I have been using for 22 years with a few recent upgrades). I studied the Appalachian Trail maps, checked mileage between campsites and the amount of elevation change. I have made a plan for the next ten days, 110 miles, and I believe I’m ready… tomorrow I begin to walk.
Last week, I also spent time listening and sharing with beloved friends in my life. People whose journey’s have intersected with mine along the path and we have helped each other carry the load. We shared dinner, or went for a walk, or ate lunch by a creek. We listened to wind in the trees, reminded each other of our belovedness, and even shed a few tears. I felt honored and blessed by their time, reminding me that we never really walk any path alone. Companions along the way help us carry the burdens of our journey together.
Tomorrow, I am walking alone. I am looking forward to the solitude of the trail. I am also aware that there is no one to help share the load in my pack.
There is a (maybe African) proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This is certainly true in my experience. When I need to get out the door early, I go fastest without anyone else coming along. But if I want to go far, for instance, if I want to drive a great distance, it is advisable to have another adult in the car who can share the driving with me. We will go farther if we can take turns at the wheel and not grow weary of the drive.
Tomorrow, I am packing lightly. I have made choices about what is necessary to put in my pack and what is a burden that I chose not to carry. There are all kinds of extra items that I could stuff in my sack. Items that are packed by the hand of fear, control, anxiety, or simply the inability to let go. But these things make my pack heavy and burdensome. When I intentionally chose not to carry something, I feel free, light, trusting, and in communion with the trail I will call home.
Tomorrow, I am walking lightly, because I am never walking alone. I know that I have a whole network of support that makes it possible for me to step onto the AT full of trust and love. My parents will drive me to the trailhead early in the morning. My family is taking care of our household in Frederick. My colleagues are leading the church in my absence. My friends are holding me in prayer and giving thanks with me for this opportunity to hike. My pack is full of the lightness of loving kindness that I have experienced and the loving kindness I know I will encounter along the way. Thanks be to God.
If you are interested in a closer look at my pack contents…
