Day 1 Thru-Hiker post, Beginning my Thru-Hike

Nunc coepi " Latin for
"I begin once more with your help, O Lord."

The Thru-Hikers Thoughts

It has taken almost 2/3 of my life to realized where I'm really going each day. Yes I have spent 71 years going somewhere even though I did not acknowledge this fact. As I have enjoyed watching others with their grand adventurers as thru-hikes of 2,000 miles or more from Southern parts of our country to some very Northern point of Canada,I finally see my life as my own journey and a thru-hike.

Do I begin this journey from the beginning of this journey of life, I think not, today's struggles  while fresh may help me focus on finding and seeing my weakness and being able to open my eyes to truth about life, and the journey the Lord has prepared for me.  Just realizing all of us are on our own Thru-Hike is taking a giant step in the right direction. I hope to see my giants and storms  as what they are and their purpose, for nothing comes in our path whether storms, Mt. or scary nights with out some purpose for our good says the Lord. 

One of the goals with this project is to see each day as a true thru-hiker. I so often lose sight of the fact I'm not at home here but heading home. So Lord keep this life altering fact in my most forward thought. 

One of my hopes is to be able to observe others on their thru hike, some of which are unaware they are even on a thru-hike.. Where did this picture of seeing my life as a thru-hike come? It first came from reading the book "The Pilgrims Journey" but it is more than that, it is spending years watching thru-hikers of the At, PCT, and CDT and almost lusting to have my own journey and test my own ability to endure. My hope is picturing these journey will keep me focused on the goal and ending destination of my own journey, not on the country side I am just passing through. but the forever paradise I'm trying to reach. One huge difference between these AT thru-hikers and my own is that I travel with my own wise shepherd guiding and directing and training me for my end destination. I'm never alone as many hikers find themselves on much of their long hours of walking. I'm being trained as a soldier in the army of the Lord and am given direction and faith in his wisdom.   

Blinders Removed

When did the blinder or scales fall and the truth revealed and the veil was lifted as to finding myself on this journey. When did I see that my life was about the destination not claiming setting squatters rights on where I find my self at this time. Easy answer, when my mustard seed faith cracked a pinhole through the veil all humans are unaware that lies before us. For me it was a slow removal process. There has been for many years a sure faith base passion and reality and love for my Creator. But the process of being able to deeply drink in the word of God was much slower. After seeking God through his word and allowing him to teach me truth the veil broke open wider and wide over time. But the process of deeply accepting what I was reading verse by verse as the absolute truth, and begin to visualize the truth of each chapter, one verse at time was much slower. Then just like that, I was overwhelm with the truth of my life on planet earth to be just as Paul describes as a place of passing through. So the long thru-hike I had longed  for and the thrill of discovering my own strength, weakness, and meeting my own giants, bears and storms has always been right before me I just couldn't see it. But unlike the PCT thru-hikers My journey could only end in success with the help of the Good Shepard. 

Jer. 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

The official beginning began the morning after one of my evening Bible study. I first read of Jesus  journey to Galilee and quickly saw Jesus life was most diffidently a journey from birth to the crucifixion and easily was a true thru-hike, carrying with him only item necessary to complete his journey to his final destination, which was seated at the right hand of the Creator of this Universe and his father.  With the new awareness of this trail I now see myself on, I realize there is a needs to do some serious planning for this adventure, I'm pretty sure as I proceed I will need to rid myself of some of my heavy load on my back of unnecessary items  if I'm to have any chance at all of reaching my destination all in one piece. I must plan my route and look ahead for know hazards.

How to accomplish this is the question? Answer, easy, seek the shepherd who is travelling with me. This is the part of this awareness that makes it different than many thru-hikers, I have a guide who if I follow him will lead me to success, encourage me when tired, and calm fears when facing danger. So let me begin tomorrow with a new awareness of the true purpose for my and all persons life. 

As a fellow thru-hiker use to begin his new days entry with an I want to us to reinforce the fact that this life is a journey and that only those things that lead me closer to my heavenly home or things along the way that will please my father are important I will begin each entry with  Nunc coepi " Latin for

"I begin once more with your help, O Lord."

Today Nov. 9, 2018  Nunc coepi " Latin for

"I begin once more with your help, O Lord."

I decide to map out a planned route to my destination Also there was time spent laying out my fears, frustrations and pleasures I would most likely pass through this one day (Lord said not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will take care of itself.). Where do I want to find myself in the evening. Are any of these plans accidentally leading me off course, (this one may be one of the more import thoughts)? Is there anything slowing me down. What might be some of my obstetrical be and how to prepare for them? What dangers might I encounter as the evil one is engaging in plans to misdirect me? 

I'm sure I have not answered all my questions from this morning but I know I passed through this day with a feeling of a lighter load knowing there was advancement even if I felt it was a boring day. When I saw difficulties with different people or just frustrating situation I found myself more at peace knowing it was all apart of this journey.