The Call of God

  Here we go with another philosophical post about my quickly approaching attempt to hike the whole North Country Trail. I warned you there would be more posts like this, and this is one of them.

Why am I doing this hike? As a person who puts a lot of mental and spiritual energy into doing what God wants me to do (although I don't talk much about this, it's central to who I am), I have to be honest and say that I don't feel any particular "call" to do this hike. OK, the trail is calling me, and I want to do it. But does God want me to do this specifically? No clue. Being honest here, we humans don't get too many knocks upside the head with God-directed two-by-fours. We ask questions, we pray, we sometimes decide that when "doors are closed" the meaning is that we aren't supposed to do something. Every once in a while God actually reveals some really specific direction to take.

But... no heavenly head smacks about this hike. No voices in the thunder or whispers in the wind. No direction from this bird in North Dakota in 2007 near the end of my last NCT Quest.

But here's what I can tell you. "The call of God is portable." I stole that line from someone within the past month. The problem is that I didn't write down who said it, so I can't credit it. But it's a great line. You don't have to have a specific vocation, avocation, recreation, or spouse to do the will of God.

Micah 6:8 is often quoted-- and with good reason. "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Everything we require to know the will of God is right there. Justice = truth. Mercy = grace. We need to embrace, exhibit and celebrate both. And how should we conduct ourselves while being just and merciful? We aren't to get a big head about it all. The minute we start thinking we are just or merciful or humble... we probably aren't. And walking with God-- like right WITH God-- that's how we stay on track for all of the rest of it.

The song "Somebody Bigger than You and I" says "He lights the way when the road is long, and He'll keep you company. With love to guide you He walks beside you."

So, I'm taking this portable call of God on the trail- 4800 miles. I think that counts as "long." I'll be thinking a lot about walking with God and walking a lot to think about God.

Meanwhile, the sky cleared after some rain this afternoon for a brief October moment of beauty!

In other news: I worked on the trailer ALL DAY because it's the last nice day there will be for a while. (this included a trip to the store with Cathy's vehicle to return some sheets of product that won't work, and get something different that will) Sigh... didn't get as much done as I'd hoped, and I still don't get to cross anything off the list. 34 BIG ITEMS and 23 small ones to go. 41 days left.

See Choices