Date: 2005-07-14
From: Graymoor Friary

To: RPH Shelter
Miles today: 18.9
Weather: haze

Hopeful: Everyone got up before us this AM, and we didn't really even sleep in! We were the last ones to hike out at 8 AM. Red wing started out especially weary. This was an overall tough day for him, but I can see his energy coming back as we sit at the shelter this evening, relaxing. As we hiked, we realized that others around us were having tough days too. First, we ran into Hairball and Snowbunny, heading south TOWARD us on the trail. It turns out that after an hour of hiking they realized that Snowbunny's ankle, swollen from a bee sting, could really use a day off. So, they were going back to the friary to rest. Then, about 8 miles in, we saw a frustrated Free, who was hurting badly. A foot problem that had been naggin had escalated and he could hardly walk. We spent some time trying to encourage him and help him get a ride to some place like a hotel where he could take some time off. The problem is that we were at a road crossing in the middle of Clarence Fahnestock State Park (there seem to be lots of state parks in NY!), so there were no populated areas very nearby. However, you can't choose when your body is going to give you difficulties. In fact, this evening we heard from Thunder that at the very same road crossing Sparkplug and Snowman decided to prematurely head to a town, since Snowman's back was bothering him. We pray that all they'll all be in better shape again soon!   There have been lots of lakes in New Jersey and New York and they remind me a little of the Upper Penninsula of Michiagn, with all the surrounding rocks. There was no swimming for us today, however, just nice views of lakes. The shelter tonight is fancy (although that term is all relative!). It's actually a building with four walls and bunks. The lawn is mowed and there's a hand upm for easy access to well water. There is high iron content that makes it a very rusty color, but we hope that one night of drinking in won't hurt. We're visiting with Colonel Mustard, Thunder and One Pole. One Pole is a section hiker who made is first 19 mile day today. He's never gone that far before. Congrads!   Talking with Free really gave me something to think about yesterday. He got his name because he just got out of a career in the Marines, he doesn't have another job yet, wife or kids or house or too many ties anywhere. Somehow in the course of the group conversation about all of this, I found myself feeling kind of defensive about how being married gets the bad reputation of entrapment. Later on, when I saw Free again, I had thought about an explanation for my defensiveness. What I realize, maybe more surely every single day, is that the most freeing things in my life involve offering myself to another person. First and most of all is offering myself to Jesus Christ. Then, more recently in my life, is offering myself in mariage to Red Wing. Instead of trapping me, those choices to give my life to another have freed me more than ever to be who I was created to be. I think that to many people it seems contradictory that freedom could come this way. Our human nature urges us to self protect and worry thaht we're up too much by offering ourselves to someone else without holding back. It definately takes faith to trust that there's much more to gain from trusting Jesus than I can ever have without Him. Scripture says, "It is for freedome that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galations 5:1). What sometimes "feels" free, is actually slavery to sin and selfishness. I'm thankful for the freedom I experience in Christ, and in marriage, which God uses in my life to give me more insight on my relationship with Him. Sometimes while hiking I'm not sure I think about anything, but today, part of my hike was thinking through all of this.