Date: 2019-08-06
To: Katahdin
Miles today: 0.0

I am waiting in a quiet library for Chris Martin and his son, JP. They are coming through Millinocket, Maine to pick us up. We have stealth tented just before Baxter State Park in preparation for the morning hike up Katahdin. To be in a library before the last hike is surreal. Everyone is whispering and besides the click, click of the computer keys it is silent. Seems like there should be some raucous yelling when we are this close to victory. No one here, except for those who know what thru-hikers smell like, suspect that we have just completed over 2,000 miles of hiking. Hiking over roots, rocks, bogs, hills, rock scrambles, in rain, lightening, hot sun, and more rain. I suppose this is what it will feel like when I return to work and home life. The feeling that something major has happened and yet the world does not realize it. I felt this way after our first daughter was born. I went to the store for the first time and no one even looked at me. I wanted to shout, "Hey everyone! we just had a baby!" to shock them out of their ho-hum day. But, I didn't. How many times have I walked by someone and not been aware? The saying, "You never know someone else's story", rings true - unless you seek to know. I remember one man in a nursing home in New Hampshire that was a world famous horticulturist. He even had some Iris' and Tulips named after him. Most people walked by him and had no idea that the Tulip growing in front of their house may have been developed by him. He didn't talk about it unless asked. Right after my wife and I had our wedding reception we went to this old cabin for our first honeymoon night. Unfortunately, someone had forgotten to turn on the water. We both had headaches. Really. So, I went a half-mile down the mountain, in my wedding tux to find water. I ended up driving a short distance up the road to a bar. I walked in - exhausted, dressed up, and a bit harried. Everyone turned to stare at me. "Hello'". I said and smiled. "I just got married and need something to drink.""Well, hell, yeah..." One of the old Vermonters drawled. "Can't even wait to get undressed, huh?""Who did you marry", a younger man asked."Dawn Denton". I said, suddenly realizing they thought I wanted a stronger drink than water "Hey, I know her!" One man exclaimed, laughing. "I'll buy this guy's first drink!"It took a few minutes to get a gallon of water and get our of the bar but by the time I left, my presence had cheered up the place considerably.In Mark, chapter 5, there is a story about the crowds pressing in on Jesus as he is walking. One woman sneaks through the crowd, and touches the wings of his garment. The lady was healed - she reached in faith. But, more interesting, is that no one else noticed her because she had a disease that would have made her unclean and she should have not been in the crowd. Yet, Jesus calls her out - he singles out the hurting woman and talks to her. Jesus crashes through every tradition and cultural norm to see the individual - even at the risk of being called a lawbreaker. The invisible woman no one else sees, He heals and calls forth.Stories like that happen over and over again in the gospels. We don't need to be Jesus to recognize those in front of us. Anna and Simeon, in Luke 2, recognize a 8-day old child being brought to the Temple, raise him up, prophecy, and declare that the Messiah is in their midst. No one else recognized the momentous event right in front of them. Lord, open our eyes and ears to see those around us. Make us aware.