Hiking, anyone?

I have discovered that when life begins to drone on, all a person really has to do is find a way to step out of routine. I remember Dad's lengthy trucking trips, ones where he would be gone two weeks at a time and how my family could spend time normally without him. But when he came home, there were those moments, when the bills were still unpaid, when the garden was still not weeded, when the house needed desperate attention, that Dad would say, "Alright, tomorrow morning we go fishing." And with my brothers, my dad, and me, all scattered down the shore of Canyon Ferry, we cast our lines and sat around in lawn chairs, embracing the grace in getting away.

Somehow, in the midst of studying with my nose in a book for the past three and a half years, my life has drastically changed its course. I am much more used to spending time studying than exploring the outdoors. But because of this new direction, I have grown to love two things: living life and reading about living life. I suppose that if I could read and hike and enjoy God's gorgeous New Mexico sunsets, I would.

This weekend, even though I had only spent one whole week in school, a getaway sounded like the perfect chance to see another side of Rehoboth. A person would never believe the kind of natural monuments that bulge and poke out of the New Mexico brush. The sandstone is jagged and fierce in some places and in others flows and glides with the land.

The Crevice was our first hike. Majestic towers of burnt red sandstone surrounded us on three sides. Jalynn and Ben guided us. The group climbed over big boulders and through shrubs and through snow at some parts. At the very end of the hike is a part where two walls of rock begin to form a canyon. We descended down into the canyon, following flash flood trails toward The Crevice. "Okay, you guys," said Jalynn, a native to this area and an expert rock climber, "You just rest your back on this wall and push your feet on that wall and shimmy your way over." And we did. We shimmied and scooted and looked down nervously at the long drop in some parts. This counts, I thought. This place is unlike any I have ever known. And I'm sure Dad would approve.

Church Rock we hiked last night, and we spent the better part of the trip bushwacking through the brush to find our way. It's amazing how these seemingly small towers off on the horizon are really large and daunting. But we made it, all of us. And the hike was beautiful. And it makes me more excited to keep exploring and to keep stepping out of routine.

Anyway, I met all kinds of people here who make Rehoboth the place it is. Mike and Gail De Young. Aleke. Jenna, Erin, Hannah, Megan, Jalynn. Rachael and Sean. All the teachers. Carol. These people are who make enjoying the hikes and the school and the town worthwhile.

I suppose that my Dad and brothers were the ones who made those Saturday fishing trips worthwhile.

So, I guess this week step out of routine with people who make life important. Thank the Lord for them!