The 2020 Hike

Today is the last day of 2020. A day we have all been looking forward to. I’m reminded of some thoughts I had on vacation and realized that I never wrote them down. So here we go…..

In August/September we took our annual trip to Estes Park. Our family really needed a change of scenery after the hits that 2020 had brought.

Going to Estes Park is pure happiness for me. It has become my happy place. God’s creation is nurturing. The sound of a rushing river outside of the place where we stay is calming and to gaze at the strong silent strength of the mountain range restores my soul. My heart always skips a beat when we arrive!

This year, we wanted to try a new hike and start with one that wasn’t too challenging. So we decided to hike from Bear Lake to Bierstadt Lake and then to the parking area where we had parked our car. This would mean we only had to board the shuttle bus once, social distancing you know! When we began our hike, it was sunny, a bit breezy and really the perfect time of day to begin. The first part of the trail was easy with a little bit of down and up and down and up and lovely weather until we got to Bierstadt Lake. The trail was well marked and we felt comfortable and so happy to be in the fresh mountain air with the aspen leaves rustling in the wind.

Once we stopped at the lake and took a look around, we set off on the trail for the rest of the hike. Much of the trail was in flat forest land with pine needles carpeting the floor of the forest. The trail was not all that visible. And the further we walked the less certain I became. Positionally, I felt like we were headed in the correct direction. We kept walking and I started to notice that some trees had little orange flags nailed to them. About every ten or so feet, there was another orange flag. I realized that they were marking the trail. I felt so much better knowing we WERE going the right way. Then clouds moved in and it began to darken a bit. We are ALWAYS prepared for rain in the mountains EXCEPT for that day. I didn’t have our ponchos or even rain jackets with us. It began to rain just a little bit. I started feeling really worried about the rain and Tanner and how much longer it would be until we got to our car. The rain quickly ended and we kept going. I knew that the trail would descend as we kept on towards the park and ride lot. What I wasn’t prepared for was how rocky that descent would be. When we hike with Tanner, we have to constantly tell him where to place his feet, always encouraging him to watch his step. I was holding up the rear and I could see every misstep. The LAST thing we needed was a sprained ankle! We powered on as the rain came and went and I prayed diligently that we would make it down this part of the mountain safely. As I hiked, I was constantly telling Tanner where to step and yelling at Steve to slow down. I kept thinking about how this whole hike was exactly how the year 2020 had been for us.

• The year started out with the best day. The Dallas Stars played in the NHL Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl. For a hockey fan it was the highest of high. Just like starting our hike at Bear Lake and going down in altitude, 2020 was so much the same. There were some good moments at the beginning of the year. A trip to NYC, Tanner’s LEAP day birthday celebration, an Eagles concert!
• But then things got dark and just like our hike it started to rain and the path became unclear. We lost 2 members of our family, one to Covid-19 and one to cancer, Steve lost his job, Tanner’s day program closed. Our future was so uncertain. All we could do was pray and keep our eyes on Jesus (little orange flags). Steve and I powered on and kept putting one foot in front of the other, trying to encourage one another, not letting the other person know how worried and anxious we really were. The journey was rocky, the rocks weren’t always stable, the rain came and went.
• On a hike there isn’t much to do except keep going. It’s always longer and harder than you think it will be. And then you see what you were hiking towards and realize you are almost there! We were relieved when we could see the parking lot through the trees! All of a sudden the way was clear.
• Much like one August Monday morning, out of the blue Steve got a call about a job. The perfect job. By Wednesday he had an offer. We were so relieved and grateful to God for answering our prayers. We could suddenly see the end of that trail!
• There continues to be so much uncertainty in our lives. Tanner is still home 24/7. We are doing our best to stay healthy and we mostly stay home. Who would care for Tanner if we were both really sick? We are not willing to take that risk. We are protecting our boy.
• All around me I see pain and uncertainty, but also joy and simplicity.
• 2020 has taken away many things, but that’s not all bad. It’s given us new things as well.
• For 2021, I’m praying for a new beginning, a new reset, for an end to the sick and the crazy and the unrest. That may not happen anytime soon. But I’ve got my eyes on the orange flags, focusing on where my Lord is leading me, and totally trusting that He knows the way!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!