July 27, 2004

My 15 mile hike today was awesome, start to finish.  The forecast called for heavy rains, but I hiked most of the day with droopy overcast skies and cooler temperatures.  Midway into my hike I noticed a south bounder carrying a full pack.  The elderly man was nicely dressed in long dress pants and a white, long-sleeved collared dress shirt.  He was wearing his huge backpack and carrying a hat.  As he approached, I asked him if he was thru-hiking the A.T.  He was hiking southbound through the state of New York with two of his 21 grandchildren.

The gentleman said, "Question."

I suspected that he wanted info about the trail.

"Has anyone told you today that Jesus loves you?" he asked.

"No," I replied.

"Well, he does," said the gentleman.

"Thank you for reminding me," I responded.

As I hiked onward I thought to myself...does this mean that I won't get lost today?  Actually, I hiked many more miles thinking about my encounter with the elderly man.  And then I thought about my sister, Cheryl, for whom I am doing this hike.  God's natural world has many unique ways of unfolding itself to me.  Today, God was present through the elderly well-dressed south bounder.  A footnote: I didn't get lost today!