The quiet of the early morning was broken only by the squeaking of aluminum packs against leather belts and the occasional scraping of cold rocks on the trail. A northern front dealt the first freeze of the season to this alpine area. Their legs found fresh life as they easily hauled their packs up the incline to the final crest of their journey. Deer Creek Pass loomed above them, standing its ground as the gateway to this wilderness. Beyond its doors, the trail wound its way ten miles down a steep canyon towards civilization.
With the weight of their temporary world on their backs, Josh and his dad strode out without conversation, at least not with each other. They each contemplated all the experiences they had been through on this trip. The time passed quickly, and soon they were pausing at the pinnacle of Deer Creek Pass. Behind them lay a long trail of excitement and hardships; experiences that had brought them to intimate closeness with God. Ahead of them lay the fast, deep current of the lives they had left behind to come out here. A wave of anxiety crept over Josh, making him hesitate to take that first step down off of this high place.
"What will it be like, Dad?", Josh's voice cracked.
His dad inhaled the intoxicating moment deeply and exhaled an equally long sigh. Kneeling in front of Josh, he grabbed both his hands and looked into his eyes.
"It's hard to explain all that has happened to me on this trip, Josh. I feel like I have more of an understanding of the heart of God as a result of everything that has happened. I have to admit, I didn't know what to expect, coming out here. What I really needed, I found: God. As for the future, I have to conclude that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. All of His mysterious ways are meant to bring us closer to Him. Funny thing is, even though I have never been closer to Him, I have never faced such trials, tribulations, and scary situations. So I have to figure that that is the way God will work in our lives back in the city also. There will be tough times and a lot of battles to face, but their will also be times of unbelievable joy and peace. Something inside me says that I wouldn't be happy any other way. So, for that reason, I can't wait to get back and jump in feet first. I don't know what might happen, but I have made my choice."
Josh smiled as his dad rose to his feet and locked wrists in a covenant of unity. Together they took those first steps off of the mountain and into the unknown... (Wild at Heart)
The quiet of the early morning was broken only by the squeaking of aluminum packs against leather belts and the occasional scraping of cold rocks on the trail. A northern front dealt the first freeze of the season to this alpine area. Their legs found fresh life as they easily hauled their packs up the incline to the final crest of their journey. Deer Creek Pass loomed above them, standing its ground as the gateway to this wilderness. Beyond its doors, the trail wound its way ten miles down a steep canyon towards civilization.