High Aspirations

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” - John Wesley

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For my friends who worry that somehow I have become absent without leave (AWOL) on the Appalachian Trail: Houses of worship literally intersect the AT. It is but for the grace of God I do not stumble off the side of a mountain. I am headed once again to the Great Smoky Mountains to continue a sabbatical of discernment and bold decisions. I am not AWOL, but a dreamer determined to make something of my dreams. I hike the trail. When I finish, I will return to the trail.

Lord, let the high aspirations and goals I set be demanding of myself and not of other people.

Weakness versus Strength

"Never let weakness convince you that you lack strength." - Unknown

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There are thirty-two months that lie between today and Springer Mountain.  Time to physically prepare.  When a 20 pound kettlebell sets my extended arm to quivering, my trainer scampers to find lesser weight. I want to pretend I do not feel his help on assisted pull-ups, but I must live in reality.   It is time to stop daydreaming and start living the dream.

“Weakness is not a fault … unless it's ignored.  Weakness is a requirement.  It's a prerequisite for strength.  In our weakness we are made strong.  We do not get stronger by lifting something we can already handle.  Our strength builds during weakness.  Without weakness, without challenge, there will be no change.”  
- Bonnie Pfiester