Encouraging the Hiker

The hike seemed doable, even easy. Two miles to the waterfall and two miles back. I walk a lot, so no problem….

We didn’t take into consideration the heat of the day – who knewCanada got that hot – or the intensity of the incline – whoa!

So, my husband and I started out, and along the way I learned a few things about encouragement.

I knew I was in trouble before we hit the halfwaypoint.  The steepness of the inclinecombined with the heat was overwhelming. I had a hiking stick in the car – I didn’t bring it.  I had a long-sleeved shirt for sun protection– I didn’t bring it.  We brought minimalwater.  Talk about spur of the momentunprepared.

I tried to keep a stiff upper lip and joke along the way when my breathing allowed it.  At the half-way point, I sang (sort of) “I’m at the top of the world looking down on creation, and the only explanation I can find…” while I looked pointedly at my husband.  He caught my meaning but still urged me on.  He really wanted to see those falls.

We passed a lot of people on the trail.  Many came from behind, and since they weremoving much more quickly than we were, we let them pass by.  Others came from the trail ahead.  They had already been to the falls, and theywere on their way down.  I should be embarrassed(but I’m not) that several of the hikers realized how much trouble I washaving.  They saw my red face and my heavybreathing (did I mention altitude here); they saw my kind husband trying to besupportive; they saw an out-of-shape lady ready to repent of every chocolatebar ever eaten.

These kind hikers tried to offer encouragement. 

Let me stop right here and tell you that I now know manymeanings of ‘almost there’.  As thehikers passed, they would attempt to encourage by saying ‘you’re almost there’.  Here is what I determined ‘almost there’ means:

• You have no idea what is ahead.

• You poor lady.

• You are going to die.

• You haven’t even gotten to the hard part yet.

I quickly learned to nod politely and ignore thecomment.  ‘Almost there’ was false hope.

Others would pass and say encouragingly, “The falls areworth it.”  Worth me dying?

I appreciated the sentiment, but my lack of breath by thistime was not conducive to any type of productive reply.  All I could think of was the next step andthe fact that if I made it to the falls, I would still have to walk the twomiles back, which at least would be downhill.

When we made it to the halfway point, the view was amazingthough my body did not allow me to be as impressed as I should have been.  We rested there. Or I should say I restedwhile my husband waited and took pictures. Had he not been urging me on, I would have never taken another step.

There was one gentleman who stopped to talk with us at thispoint.  He was very clear.  He looked me in the eye and said, “You arehalfway there, and you have already completed the hardest part of the trail.  The rest is not as hard, and you will be gladyou made the trip to the falls.”  Underneathhis words I heard “you will be glad you didn’t quit”. 

He was not flippant. He did not downplay the difficulty of the climb, and it was a climb, buthe did offer realistic input, hope, and challenge.  This was encouragement.

We did make it to the falls. There I soaked my feet in the clear water and watched as children hoppedon the rocks like mountain goats.  Wesavored the shade and the beauty of the day, and we rested.  A kind gentleman offered an additional bottleof cold water, which I did not turn down, and we enjoyed a break from the arduousjourney.  The climb down was easier andfaster, and I lived to tell the tale – glad that I didn’t quit halfway.

So, what did I learn about encouragement?  The journey that is easy for one may be extremelydifficult for another person.  Falsewords that minimize the hardship do not build up and may serve to add to theproblem.  This was how ‘almost there’worked for me. 

On the other hand, a realistic acknowledgement of the adversity along with a word of hope can give a person the extra ounce of energy needed to keep pursuing a goal. 

My challenge now is to be an encourager for those who are walking with me on this path of life.  The journey can be grueling and demanding, so my words must be thoughtful and offered in a way that will strengthen and lift those around me.

Ephesians 6:22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.