What do you seek on a daily basis?
Edith Stein said, "When you seek truth you seek God whether you know it or not." As you climb what seems insurmountable today, checking off on your list of countless to do items, focus on the truth that lies in wait. You are not alone, but have a Savior who has navigated these days prior to your encounter with this life, lean on Him and not your own understanding. Trust in God and Seek the Truth and your days will be blessed.
When my husband and I were newly married and still fit, we took on the challenge of descending into the Grand Canyon with hopes of breaching the rim prior to sunset. This endeaveur ended up totalling around 27 miles of walking, running, and bearly moving up a rocky pathway to reach our goal. At the start of our journey, we parked our car near our exit point and hiked 2 miles to the path with which we would start our descent down to the base of the Grand Canyon. This path was tight and curvy at the top and then opened into a wider pathway, which we enjoyed bounding down with long running strides. We made it to the bottom with fair ease enjoying ourselves and laughing. We passed several others on the trail along with packs of mules carrying a rider down the tight path. We were both thankful we were not relying on a mule to ensure our safe arrival at the bottom of the canyon.
We arrived at the small store at the bottom of the canyon floor, where it was flat and somewhat barren. We did pass a small camping area with tents, and questioned why we hadn't rented one of those for the night. After our refreshing lemonade, we started our ascent to the top. There were miles of winding hiking trails until we reached the spot which actually started to incline upward. We sat on a bench alongside the trail and ate our sandwiches we had packed, and tried to cool down before we started the big push up the rocky switch back pathway.
We learned while on the pathway marching uphill that we had not prepared quite adequately. We passed hikers on the trail who warned us against not getting out of the canyon prior to sundown. They questioned whether we had a flashlight to see when the sun was no longer providing a clear picture of the rocky pathway we walked upon. We had never had a thought that we wouldn't make it out. We both were young and still athletic. Doubt was not something we put into our mindset often.
We continued to pass others who had the same goal of reaching the top before sunset. However, as we were still several long switchbacks to the top and the sun was quickly approaching the horizon, we were moving at snails pace. My husband, who is a large man, was lacking energy to make his big frame move even at a slow walking speed. We had a small amount of granola mix left, and I offered it to him, encouraging him to eat the remainder. There was no way I was carrying him out, and I was moving rather slowly at this point too. I joked with him that we were really moving now, "look at us run," I said, trying to lighten the feels we were experiencing with the levity of laughter. Internally, I was praying that we would make it to the top.
Our truth was that we had not prepared adequately. However, we both remained hopeful, and believed that we would make it to the summit prior to sunset. We kept persevering at our literal snails pace, and managed to perch ourselves at the scenic lookout on the rim with other tourists and watch as the sun disappeared below the great canyon. We were completely exhausted and starving.
Our spaghetti dinner was the best meal we had eaten in our lives that night. It followed the best shower we had ever had as well in our overpacked bath house at the campgrounds. We climbed into our little two person tent that night, and I said, "this is better than any Hilton." All of these were truths to us, because we had all of our needs met after pushing ourselves to the point of complete exhaustion and hunger.
We didn't give up and kept the faith. However, we also did the work of moving through the pain, pushing each other, and encouraging each other. This is what we are called to do as God's chosen people. We are called to encourage one another and lift up each other in prayer. However, each and every one of us must do the work laid before us. God promises us that He is with us, through His word in the Bible.
Matthew 7: 7- 12
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds,
and him who knocks it will be opened.
Or what man is there among you who,
if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things
to those who ask Him!
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you,
do also to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets."
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