It was an August morning eight years ago that my brother Keith and I strapped on our backpacks and launched out from the Kinuseo Falls Campground to trek 22 km in to what is called the Cascades. A series of 10 waterfalls which are absolutely stunning! We live in such an amazing part of the world and Keith and I were exploring some of that on this adventure.
As we made our way down the first part of the trail, which was flat running along the Murray River, I could feel my muscles warming up and after a night in the tent, it felt good to get moving. The birds are singing, the sound of the river running next to us, and the smell of the forest combined to wake up my senses like nothing else. I remember thinking this will be a cakewalk and after 7 km we were crossing a suspension bridge and the trail began to change. I mean really change! It began to ascend and now those warmed up muscles were putting on a burn. There is a halfway campground but we had decided to push right on through to the cascades campground.
The trail became much more challenging as we pushed along. Sometimes you’re on all fours to climb loose rock and sandy portions that made footing difficult. I began to have those childhood flashback experiences and wanting to ask out loud, ‘are we there yet?’
It was an amazingly tough day but when we arrived at our destination drenched in sweat, gazing upon a body of water with two waterfalls flowing into it and one out of it, everything melted away. The cold water felt so good on the skin as we cooled down and made camp. A couple young trekkers made the point of telling us they have never seen people our age out here. I still don’t know if that was a compliment or not. We had a day of seeing the most incredible vistas, looking over mountain canyons that opened up before you and took your breath away as you contemplated the wonder of God‘s creative mind!
On our way back we stopped at the halfway point for the night and then very early the next morning began our final leg back to our start off point. With over 10 km to go, I felt my right hamstring giving out, 45 pound backpack and a 4 to 5 day hike squeezed into a three day hike was taking it’s toll. Keith pressed on ahead to bring the vehicle to a different part of the trail which would save me 2 km. As I hobbled along it was a very strange experience, a good strange as I talked to God and just enjoyed the challenge of finishing this trek! I set a goal to be at that meet point before he even got the truck there because I knew he was thinking he was going to have to come back up the trail for me. I arrived at the meet point and yes no truck to be seen!!! As I sat down and waited for his arrival, I knew I had not much left in the tank. That trail had required everything I could give it in that time! The funny thing is I felt great!! I had persevered and we had an experience that still impacts me today!
For a relationship, or finances, or FAITH to mature, which means to complete or to achieve completeness, there must be perseverance. These trails will require everything you got but it is what makes life amazing and impactful!!!!
Meditation: What adventure are you bailing out of that needs your perseverance?