I love to go hiking. At the mere mention of the word, I almost begin to drool, as I run for my shoes: “A hike? When? Where? What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” I feel so close to God, so connected to life, when I am hiking. It isn’t that I think God is any closer to me; it’s more like I’m less distracted and more able to listen more closely. My heart is more available to His touch.
When I am at home or at work, I tend to focus on the minute details of the tasks before me or the needs of others around me. I ask myself, “What am I supposed to be doing right now? Who needs my help?” A thousand things run through my head all at the same time, like a whirlwind: “Do I have any appointments today? What am I going to make for dinner? Don’t forget to stop at the store and pick up some bread and milk. Did I tell my husband that I love him before he went to work this morning?” I’m answering phones, assessing patients, and taking orders at work, folding laundry, cleaning showers, and helping with homework once I get home.
When I am out in the woods or up on a mountain, however, I leave all of this behind. There is only God and myself, and the evidence of His love, His beauty, and His creativity all around me. I can’t get enough of it. I guess I am kind of a hike-a-holic. but it works for me.
One particular afternoon hike stands out in my mind. I was out with my kids and a few friends, up on one of the mountains near my home. It was a bit windy that day, but the sun was out, and the sky was clear. The views from the ridge we were following were breathtaking! I was just imagining what we would be able to see when we got to the top, as one can see for miles in every direction from that vantage point, when something grabbed my attention.
To our left was a huge basalt cliff, several hundred feet high, near our destination. But the cliff was not what stole my attention. This was brought about by a small group of very large, black birds, maybe 8 or 10 of them. I think they were vultures, but I couldn’t quite tell. In any case, it wasn’t their presence that drew my attention. It was what they were doing that intrigued me.
They were standing in line at the top of the cliff, and, one at a time, they were falling forward into the wind and performing all kinds of aerobatic flips and dives and summersaults in the air. Of course, it is not unusual for birds to dive and circle around in the sky, but these birds just seemed to be having so much fun doing it. They weren’t searching for food or migrating to a specific destination. They weren’t working at all, as far as I could tell. They were just taking time off and enjoying themselves.
I must admit, I was a bit jealous. As I watched them tumbling and soaring, I couldn’t help feeling a little more light-hearted myself. I felt the joy growing inside as I watched them and imagined myself joining them. How the wind must feel rushing by as they dove over the edge, their wings catching the air just right and send them flying back up, high above the cliff! How free they must feel! As I left them and continued on with my own journey, I began to walk with a little more spring in my step.
Then it hit me: Is this how God feels when He sees me fully experiencing life? Does He look down from heaven and say, “Yes! That’s it! Go ahead and have fun. Take it all in! I made this for you. Do you like it?” Think about that for a moment. If we can feel the joy of watching animals, other people, our friends and family experience exciting, fun things, don’t you think that God enjoys helping us to experience them, too? I think He loves sharing life with us and watch us discover the amazing things He has in store for us.
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