Date: 2005-03-25
From: Icewater Spring Shelter

To: Tri-Corner Knob Shelter
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

What a gorgeous day! Sunny, clear, flat ridges and breathtaking vistas! a highlight today was having lunch at a place called Bradley's view. We stopped at 11am, stripped to our shorts and barefeet, and let our eyes soar across the the mountains and through the valleys of Western North Carolina. It felt like I could just reach-out and touch the place where the mountains meet the sky. The firs with their pointed tops, reached heavenward, and served wonderful reminders of why this place is a national park. It just doesn't get much better than this.We're at the Shelter with Uncle Bob, Superfeet, Lloyd, Cocoa Bean, Deisel, Chino, Andrew, Quarter of the Way, and the ridgerunner (Shatter, or Mark AT'99, who does a great job!) It's a little strange being with a new group. Even though theses are all good people, I believe I'm about to go thourhg a phase of introvertedness. You may not believe it, but the AT is not the best place in the world for peace and quiet. A typical shelter is a social gathering, not a time for reflection and meaningful conversation. Granted, I've participated in my shared of foolish conversations, but tonight I just feel like being quiet.Today we hiked 12.6 miles, but I could have gone 10 more. My body feels great after a night in town and yesterday's 3 miles. Hopefully we can pull the 17.8 miles tomorrow. I'm hoping to get out early.Since today is Good Friday, I did a fair amount of reflecting on the last days of Jesus' life. I've come to reconcile many of my beliefs with traditions practiced by the church, though I'm what some would consider a heretic. As a thinking adult, I find it terribly depressing to consider keeping the same theology I embraced as a teenager. I feel like Modern evangelical Christianity is no longer the faith or credo to which I ascribe. I do, however, sill consider myself a Christian, or moreso a follower of Jesus. I've learned that there is a place in my faith for mythology and humanism. In other words, Jesus doesn not have to be Divine historically, and the resurrection doesn't have to be historical either. What's important to me about Good Friday (and Maundy Thursday) is that Jesus was a real human who taught social compassion and anti-religiosity. He believed the message of justice so much that he let himself be killed for it. To me, that type of self sacrifice is the most meaningful part of Easter and the Christian life. I connect with Jesus' humanity because I am human. The resurrection is a spiritual renewal. Just as the disciples were energized to carry the message after Jesus' death, resurrection is that spiritual force within me that reminds me of what's important in like. It's meaningful to me if I try to search for ways to be affected by the theme of resurrection in my life. In fact, much more so than trying to dwell on the history of the event and its factuality.Right now, I'm searching for resurrection in my purpose for this hike. I believe the Smokies, rough weather and all, have served to nourish my soul in a way that brings true peace: the freshest fruit of the spirit.I'm just a Tennessee WalkerJosh Hill"Peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice."-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.