Day 3 , 2019 Thru-Hiker, Making Plans

June 7, 2019

Nunc coepi " Latin for

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

As I woke up this morning it was a new challenge for myself to see this day as a new day on the trail. I reflected on one of my favorite thru-hikers "Jessica". To look at the place I spent the night, the place I find myself in this moment and realize it was just a temporary resting spot chosen by my shepherd who I have chosen to follow. The first gift from this new way of seeing a day as a journey was for me to begin avoiding the endless hours one spends in beautifying our resting place which many of us call our home. Most of us work endless jobs and spend extraordinary amounts of money to beautify our nest when the truth is it is all temporary and will all be left behind whether we like it or not. This does not discount the need for having a neat, tidy nest. Organization and neatness often relives many stress that other journeyers have.

Why do I feel this to be so important, because it is a place I can not nor do I desire to stay. I can't say that has always been a true statement for me and even now I get side tracked form my ultimate destination (heaven). It was time to rise and seek where the direction of my shepherd will lead me today. So I began to reflect on getting on the move. Sitting in my chair watching the box (TV) had to go. I for the first time spent a few seconds on the goal of this adventure day, yes I hope to see this as a journey to the grandest adventure one can experience. This will include storms, struggles, difficult climbs, and losses, and even boredom along the way. Looking for predators that seek to destroy me must be considered.   

So as I chose to eat what would strengthen me for the days I look to see what might be some event for the day. The first discussions I want to write about on this journal is to reflect on each thing I choose to do or are directed to do for the day that will advances me closer to my daily goal. What is that goal, it is to arrive at my forever home escorted by non other than The Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. Just a few moment each day is what I want to begin with . Do my goals help guide me or others closer day by day to our goal? 

Just how do I convert the events of this day in to the picture of a thru-hike will be the challenge and we will see how it goes. I think just a good look at the scenery around me and the awareness of where I am and continually focus on where I'm going will help me achieve my goal. This evening as I see the days end I will document what and how I deal with it. At some time on this documenting of daily travel I want to look at past events that need my action that was brought in by no action of my own.

• Bills cancer
• Gloria s foot injury
• Bills broken hip that still causes great pain and my dealing with this.
• Moms broken Hip
• Debs cancer.
• Caring for my mother

Yep these events seem to be tools my Shepherd has chosen to mold me in to the strong thru-hiker he has chosen me to be. But right now I seem to open my eyes to the truth that these are event along the trail not place to be stuck in for an unending time. 

Next the things I believe I chose as important desires I engage each today should be looked at. The goal is to decide if they further me to the end of my journey or if the feeling of having to complete these choices are weighing me down. 

• Cooking for my family (I have been using so much energy to feed nutritious food to them and myself). Is this a goal the shepherd approves or is it a self-seeking one. 
• Work around home whether it is necessary for a show home or does my Shepherd just want a clean functional place to rest and work as I pass through this area of my life. 
• Using the creative juices God has given me, and whether I am just fulfilling fleshly desire, whatever that is or use it for a tool of helping direct myself and others to our God ordained journey. 
• look at the burdens I am carrying and begin the process of letting the Lord directs me as to how to lighten my load. 

So as I finished this new way of moving through this day the lord has given me.I want to reflect on how well I moved forward to my end goal today.  I must say I envisioned my daily load to be a bit lighter just seeing the truth of what life really is.  I felt a light Peaceful feeling as this day ends. In another time I would have allowed my self to get angry or frustrated at dealing with difficult situation or frustration on not being able to work at my own self-centered goals. 

So this day ends and I feel the need to clean the slate and be ready to begin again.