Date: 2014-02-19
To: A Blessing And A Prayer
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

One of my cherished activities that I will miss while on the AT, is going to church. I enjoy going to church every week and I also enjoy attending all The Holy Days of Obligation. I especially liked getting to church about 30 minutes early, before Mass would begin, and praying in silence in the presence of The Eucharist.As serious planning for the AT drew near, I was trying to design a journey that would include church every week. At first, I wanted to hike Monday through Saturday and take off every Sunday for resupply, doing laundry, sleeping in a hotel, and of course going to church. I don't know if this has ever been done, or attempted, but I could not figure out a way to make it happen and still get to the endpoint, Mt. Katahdin, in a reasonable time.Instead, I will go to church as often as I am able along the trail and sometimes even during the week.At the age of nineteen, I met a Catholic Priest who to this day is a very dear friend. He taught me about the Catholic Religion, and after taking religious instruction from him, I converted to the Catholic faith.In Viet Nam, my new found Catholic faith was a comfort to me. I looked forward to Mass in the fields and I carried the Rosary along with my dogtags for my entire tour of duty.In the 1970's, I taught CCD and religious education to the Boy Scouts. I was a Eucharistic Lay Minister, and I attended religious functions, like retreats and Faith and Bible conferences.God was on my mind, but I was not letting God into my heart. There was a disconnect between how I was living my life and my Catholic faith. What was missing was the joy of knowing Jesus and a prayer life. If you keep trying, you will succeed, and in 2005, about the time Pope John Paul II died, I finally woke up to the fact that I am happier with God in my life and that I needed to get Him into my heart. I asked Jesus to start running my life and from then to the present, I ask daily for God to be in my life.Looking back at the events in my life, I now realize God was always near me and even though I didn't always open the door when He knocked, God had a hand in making sure I didn't continue down a wrong path.Now I work every day on my relationship with Jesus. It has transformed my life. And today I read my Bible every day including when I am backpacking. My relationship with God hinges around my prayer life, reading the Bible, and going to church.I would like to offer this prayer as my final home prep entry before starting the Appalachian Trail.Heavenly Father, I ask you this day for many blessings for many people. While I am away, please protect my wife, watch over her and help her to deal with this temporary separation. Give her peace in her heart and strength to carry on, and when she is lonely please comfort her.I pray for my mom, and I thank you that she has been on this earth for 86 years. Please bless all of my children and their spouses and loved ones and my grandchildren, and keep them safe, and help them with all their individual needs. I pray for my wife's family and for my sisters and all of my extended family; and I also pray for all the people I left behind at my last job, bless them and keep them safe and peaceful.For all the people reading this journal and for the Class of 2014 Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers, bless them and keep them safe in their lives and their journeys.I pray for those in the military, and I pray Lord, that all people will come to know you as I have.I pray for our Holy Catholic Church and all your priests, especially those most dear to me. As for me, Father, you have given me much already, but I ask that you help me keep my mind stayed on you. When I read your Bible, speak to me Lord. In prayer, I will stay close to you. As I walk your land help me to be safe, and to appreciate all you are going to show me even when I am tired, wet, hot, cold, and hungry. I praise your name and I thank you for this opportunity to walk your trail, and I ask for all these blessings through your son, Jesus. AMEN.