While visiting my daughter Maggie, we always find new adventures in Colorado. Maggie is game for adventure, so when I says, "Hey, let's...." she usually says, "Okay." On a recent visit, I suggested an "easy" hike to a waterfall in Boulder Canyon. Maggie was on board, so we hopped in the car and drove to the destination. Here we are at the start of our hiking adventure:
Have you ever gone hiking in the Rocky Mountains? If not, I encourage you to start with "easy" when you go. When I teach communication classes, one of the lectures I give is on words people use that have ambiguous meaning, like "easy," "challenging," or "difficult." For example,
Tying a shoe might be easy for some people and challenging to others.
Climbing Pike's Peak is a challenge; so is me touching my toes.
Tasks like playing an "easy" piano piece for me would be "difficult" for someone who has never learned to play piano.
Words like this can mean different things to different people.
On this "easy" hike, I wore sandals because I had forgotten to bring tennis shoes or hiking boots along. HINT: If you do any hiking in Colorado, wear a good pair of stable gripping tennis shoes or hiking boots. Easy is a term relative to the task. No mountain climbing task is without climbing, loose rocks, gravel, or other obstacles. So, when we went to Boulder Canyon--whose name does not belie the terrain--I found myself unequipped and precariously navigating the 1 mile hike.
My first impression of our destination was pure awe. The scenery in the frame of this picture doesn't really project the scope or magnitude of the mountains here, but you can get a sense of the terrain if you do a little "Where's Waldo?" search for the people on the trail (HINT: Look on the left side. Up the trail; down the trail. These are not 2 trails, they are 1 winding trip.) I thought I might expire with the sheer pleasure of the beauty of what we faced.
The majesty of God's creation here is difficult to put into words. So, here's a picture:
We made the climb. Based on mountain climbing standards, the climb was easy--easier than some hikes we've taken. For my physical ability right now, the climb was difficult and challenging--partly because I came poorly prepared. Still, I prayed every step and asked my daughter to "wait up" frequently. Steady by jerks, we traversed the rocky boulder and made it to the falls:
The good news is that in all things, God has purpose. God makes the way possible for us, even when we might see something challenging. For God, impossible is easy. Jesus says that on our own, we cannot accomplish what God has in store for us, but with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26 (NIV); Mark 10:27 (NIV)). This climb has not been my greatest difficulty, but the trek was a reminder of the greatness of my God and how his hand is in everything. Have faith; you can do hard things like me and my beautiful daughter.
God is the same today as He was yesterday, as He will be tomorrow. Don't let others or your own doubts get in the way of seeing or doing something extraordinary because someone put a label like "hard" or "challenging" or "difficult" on the task...and don't be deceived by "easy." Take on the challenge; do the adventure. You can do "hard" things with God.
Whatever task lies before you, have faith. Today, I am praying for you to be an overcomer.
Best,
Michelle
The pictures here are inside the mountain range panorama I posted in my blog on July 23. Check it out!
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