Date: 2008-06-14
From: Port Clinton, Pa.

To: Port Clinton,Pa.
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

At the beginning of this journey I told everyone that this hike was as much a journey of the mind as a physical hike. One question I wanted answered from God was why he asks us to do strange or seemingly impossible tasks. This question was answered at the Doyle Hotel in Duncannon, Pa. I arrived at The Doyle on Monday after Hiking 18 miles in 100 degree heat. The Doyle is a 100 year old hotel that has basically not changed much over the years. It is the only place to stay in Duncannon and it is a hiker tradition to stay there. It is 4 stories and many windows were broken. As soon as I came in the front door the owner met me with a glass of ice water. I asked for a room and was given one on the 4th floor. They have no air conditioning and as heat rises I knew I was in for a long night. The shower and bathroom were out in the hallway in the laundry room. I had a bed and a dresser and a floor fan in my room. I can't sleep with a fan blowing on me but I had no choice but to lay there with that fan blowing and trains rolling by all night. Now I have stayed at some beautifull suites in my lifetime and this completed the bookends for the worst place I've ever stayed in. Quess what? I enjoyed every minute there. Sure I didn't get any sleep but the owners were so generous and the food was great. They have some year round tenants staying there also. I had a 30 minute conversation withone man and didn't understand one word he said. He seemed satisfied with my nods and grunts of approval. But the best part was meeting Pilgrim. When I arrived at The Doyle Mountain Sailor my old hiking partner of 700 miles was there. He introduced me to Pilgrim. The next morning I was eating breakfast at Goodies, a small restaurant across the street. I was at the counter eating and talking with a local roofer about weather, roofing, and small town politics when in walked Pilgrim. This is starting to sound like a John Wayne movie. He stopped to talk with me and in the conversation he asked me about my trail name apostle. I told him its because my name is Paul and also because apostle means one sent out with a message. I told him I was a Christian and that my message was for folks especially men not to take their spouses and families for granted. I told him I was doing what God told me to do, namely quit my job and hike the trail with that message. He lit up like a Christmas tree. Turns out he was a preacher from Kansas. He got all excited while relating what God was doing in his life. He told me that God told him to grow his hair long. I know already your thinking, how weird is this. I know I had that fleeting thought but then thought about Samson and his hair. Most of us would question that call from God and would probably say, but what will people think. He grew his hair long and then even put dreadlocks in them. He soon was surrounded by all kinds of kids with spiked hair and kids we would never approach. He talked about Jesus and redemption and many kids were saved. It's then I realized thatw why God asks us to do things we do not understand. Somewhere he has an appointment set up with someone and yourself. Someone only you can reach. How often are we stopped from doing that strange thing we feel in our spirit because of fear or what people will think or say. You want to go to another church but are frozen in place because of wwpt. You are more worried about what other people think than you are about what God thinks. That is sad. I had a difficult time deciding to quit my job and do this hike. One day at home while struggling with this question I felt in my spirit God saying to me, would you give up your job even if I asked and wanted you to? My first reaction was what will people think. How irresponsible is he to quit such a good job. Well I quit the job, took the hike and for once in my life I am where God wants me. So ask yourself this question, that feeling you have that God is asking you to do something that is so strange that people definatly will talk about you, would you do it even if you knew God wanted you to. If God is asking you to do something big and seemingly impossible he probably has people ready whose eternal destiny depend on you being faithfull. But God I can't built that, that's too big for me. You want to do what? That's an icon. What ever will people say. God told Noah to built an ark not a canoe. Folks this entry has nothing to do with hiking but everything to do with my hike. It is the hardest entry I have done yet and I told God after posting this I want to go back to being funny again. What's that? God talks to you, what will the people think.