Finding God in the Wilderness

The call of God comes in many forms. For some it is a specific frame of mind or time of day that opens the line of communication.  One way I hear God is in a place. A place where the magnificence of God is evident in the formation of rocks, the fragility of vegetation, and the smallest creatures of the desert.  The Grand Canyon.

            May of 2010 I proceeded into the depths. I marveled at the scenes around me and how God is such a creative being.  I was starting to feel fairly confident when I heard it.  The unmistakable sound of a rattlesnake. I backed up five or six steps and the snake slithered off the path.  Then I kicked some rocks, made some noise and ran past that angry snake. 

            When I reached the bottom of the incline I was in a place where I could rest and refill my water.  I sat there for almost an hour, talking to God. He called me here, why would He scare me? He didn’t.  A reminder that the world does not revolve around me, but God is always available and willing to guide. I put my pack on and started down the trail again.

            As I continued on, I met other hikers who shared their experience and encouragement. I was traveling through the bottom layer of the Grand Canyon which is made of volcanic rock. This stretch of trail is known as “the box” because it heats up like an oven.  I remember repeating Psalm 23 to myself, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

             I reached for my straw to get another sip of water and got a trickle of water and several air bubbles.  I was out of water. I asked God to carry me. In less that half of a mile, I walked into the compound that is Phantom Ranch.

             On the second evening that I spent at Phantom Ranch, one of the women in my dorm asked if I would like a walking partner. We agreed to hike out together after breakfast. 

            The hike out was hot and difficult, just as the hike down had been.  The difference was that I was not alone. God called me to this journey to show me the dangers of trying to navigate life without Him, and the ease and joy of a shared burden when I rely on Him. He put exactly the people I needed along my path. As for the snake.  How many times do I wander into Satan’s domain completely unaware that I have moved so far away from God?

            My soul was greatly renewed on that trip.  At the end of that journey, I found a renewed sense of confidence and reliance on Him. That painful place didn’t go away, but my perception of it changed dramatically.