Since I was in high school, I have liked the idea of
backpacking. We did some camping as a family, and I thought it would be great
to be able to take that to the next level. I liked the idea of getting away
from the beaten path and getting out into the wilderness. I still have the
Sierra Club book that I bought back then. But, for the most part, my experience
was all theoretical.
After
I was accepted to Wheaton College, I was given the opportunity to go on a program
called Vanguards. It was a true wilderness experience set in the back country
of Wisconsin and the UP. Wheaton owns Honey Rock camp, which was the launching
pad for this three week adventure. I went into that experience all excited
about finally getting to do some real backpacking. Little did I know how much
it would put me to the test. The first day of our experience took place at
camp, where they gave us some basic training in canoeing and in using the
equipment we were issued. Then it was on the trail for the better part of three
weeks.
The
first week was spent canoeing north. At the end of that week we relinquished
our canoes, shouldered our backpacks, and headed into the wilderness. We were
given a compass, a topographical map, and a daily destination. The rules were
that we had to avoid populated areas and we could not use any established
roads. Each day, two of our team were selected to determine the course for the
next day, and to lead the team. Our official leaders were there to keep us out
of trouble, but they made us lead. At the end of each week, we had to find our
supply depot, which had our food and other necessities for the next week. At
the end of the three weeks we arrived on the shore of Lake Superior in the UP
of Michigan. After a three day solo experience on the lake shore, we were picked
up by the camp bus and transported back to Honey Rock for a day of debriefing.
Before that experience was over, I was pushed to my limit, only to discover
that I could go farther than I thought.
I didn’t have any opportunity to continue my
backpacking adventure until I moved to Minnesota. I discovered that Minnesota
is a prime place to get in touch with nature, up close and personal. On my family's many trips to the North Shore of Lake Superior, I discovered the Superior Hiking Trail. When my
boys were in high school, we took a couple of long weekend backpacking trips.
Each trip was a learning experience. Each trip offered new challenges.
Since then, I have led two men's backpacking trips on the Superior Hiking
Trail for men from our church. I am hoping to be able to carve out the time to lead another one this year.
In
my office, I have one of those tin signs that depicts a wilderness experience.
At the top of the sign it says, “Partners in the Voyage.” It reminded me that the spiritual life is a
journey, not unlike a backpacking trip. We begin the journey with great
enthusiasm, but little knowledge of what lies ahead of us. We soon discover
that the journey is harder than we thought it would be. There are times of
great excitement, interspersed with unanticipated challenges. We quickly
discover that this is a journey best shared with others. I could go backpacking
on my own, but it would not be as much fun, and it would be more dangerous. I
can try to live the Christian life on my own, but it is not as rewarding and it
is far more dangerous.
The
Bible says much about being partners on this life-long journey. One of the most
well-known passages is Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.
Two are better than one, because they have
a good return for their work:
If one falls down, his friend can help him
up.
But pity the man who falls and has no one
to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will
keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can
defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly
broken.
There
are some important spiritual truths in this passage for all who embark on the
adventure of this spiritual journey.
We
make better progress in life when we work together. When you are
backpacking with others, you push each other to give your best effort. It is
not really a competition. It is more a drawing out of full effort; not wanting
to let the others down. Solomon put it this way in Proverbs 27:17. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens
another.
When we work together we
accomplish more than if we try to do it on our own. Paul refers to this as
being a part of the Body of Christ. He reminds us that God’s design for the
Christian life is that we would take this journey together. The
body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts
are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)
Now
you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
Later
Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the importance of working together. From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as
each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16)
There
are times when we all stumble and fall. We need a companion to help us get back
on our feet. There are two incidents from my wilderness experience that
illustrate this important truth. There were ten of us on my Vanguard team, plus
two upper class leaders. One of our team members was a small guy, who I’ll call
Eric, because I can’t remember his name. Eric did fine while we were canoeing,
but once we had to carry our heavy backpacks, things got a little more
difficult for him. Sometime during our second week, Eric pinched a nerve in his
shoulder, which made his left arm go completely numb. Our leaders took Eric to
a doctor who diagnosed the problem. He said Eric could continue on the trip,
but he could not carry any weight. Each of us took some of Eric’s equipment so
that he could continue with us.
Because
of Eric’s arm, he became the defacto head of the line. Although he was not the
daily leader every day, he would be the one out front of the group. One day we
hiked across a marshy area with Eric out front. Another team member, call him
Bruce, was following right behind Eric. Suddenly Bruce dropped straight down
into the ground. At that point we discovered that we were hiking on a floating
bog. The extra weight of Bruce’s backpack had caused him to break through the
top layer. He was suspended there; his backpack saving him from going all the
way through. Together we hauled him out of the hole.
On
this spiritual journey there will be times when one of us will need extra help.
There will also be times when one of us will step into a spiritual hole, and
need someone to pull him out.
Brothers,
if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.
But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and
in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)
Having
a fellow traveler helps us to overcome the inevitable discouragement that we
will face along the way. On my last men’s backpacking trip, my two
companions were not in as good of shape as they thought they were. The initial
excitement of hitting the trail soon faded, and they began to feel the weight
of their backpacks. It would have been easy for them to give up and cut the
trip short. But we encouraged one another to keep going.
There
are many times during our spiritual journey when the weight of life will wear
us down. We can become discouraged and want to give up. It is at those times
that we need others to come along side of us and encourage us to keep going. I
have a couple of friends that I can turn to when discouragement begins to creep
in. They don’t have all of the answers, but they can lift my spirits and give
me the courage to keep going.
One
of the greatest gifts we can give to one another is the gift of encouragement.
We all need it, but we don’t all get it as regularly as we would like. During these
unsettled times, we need to be intentional encouragers. Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Let
us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)
A
lone traveler is vulnerable. Those traveling together can offer a
greater sense of security and protection. We are often braver when we are with
others, then when we are on our own.
One
of my fears whenever I am backpacking on the North Shore is that I will run
into a bear. Having other people with me lessens some of my fear. I figure if
there is more than one of us, we can scare the bear away more easily.
We
have an enemy who is far more menacing and far more cunning than a bear. The
Bible describes Satan as a roaring lion. He
is always looking for an opportunity to attack the vulnerable or the
unprotected. When we band together, we are better
equipped to fend off Satan’s attacks. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy
the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the
same kind of sufferings. (1 Peter 5:8-9 )
On
this journey, we can follow Christ’s lead. Ecclesiastes says that a cord of
three strands in not easily broken. The glue that holds us together is not our
determination, or our skills and talents. It is our faith in Christ. Our strength
comes from Him. He has not only set the course for us to follow, he has
traveled the course before us.
I
mentioned that we had two upper class leaders on our Vanguard team. They were
there to watch over us and keep us from making any real bad mistakes. They were
able to guide us on our journey because earlier in the summer they had taken
the same trip. They knew the path we would be taking, as well as how to get us
out of the wilderness if an emergency arose.
The
Bible assures us that Jesus has already blazed the trail before us. For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been
tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
We
can trust Jesus to lead the way, and to give us the strength we need for the
journey. Therefore, since
we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run
with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the
author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
I
hope to be able to do some more backpacking in the future, if the Lord allows.
But every day, I am on a journey of far greater significance. It is a journey
of faith that will last until I stand in Christ’s presence in eternity. We are all
on this journey. Christ wants us to travel together; partners in the journey.
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