Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Dream your dream

I've had a long romance with the Appalachian Trail.  When I was seventeen, my Explorer Post did fifty miles of the AT in southern Pennsylvania.  When I was 28, I did another fifty-mile section with a group of teenagers with whom I worked in Youth for Christ. We started just south of the Smoky Mountains and ended north of Hot Springs, North Carolina.  Each time I hiked the AT, I met people who were "thru- hiking" it.  That means they were doing the whole 2185 miles of it.  If ever I was awed by something, that was it.  And I've kept that awe in my heart ever since.

So, last summer, my brother-in-law Mark and I were talking about our lives in his back yard.  We found out things that we never knew.  And one of them was that we both had dreamed of doing the Appalachian Trail.  He said he wasn't getting any younger, so why not do it now.  At first I said that it just wouldn't be possible.  But as I thought about it, this was the perfect time.  I would be turning 60 in June of this year.   My work would do fine without me for several months because our team was big enough that my absence would not seriously impact our work.  My last sabbatical had been in 2000 and I didn't take one in 2007.  So I was pretty sure Youth for Christ would allow me to take this as sabbatical time.   So...

.... last August (2013) I started fanning the flames of this dream.  I set early April 2014 as my starting date and late August as my ending date so I would get back to work and start our work in the Fall with my team.  I researched equipment.  I bought guidebooks. I read Jennifer Pharr-Davis' books "Becoming Odyssa" and "Called again." (Jennifer is the world record holder for doing the AT in the shortest time, 46 days, averaging 47 miles per day.  Check out her website at the right).  I started walking.  I worked up from 10 kms to 29 kms.  I did a five-day 100 kms hike with my new gear. But unfortunately, I injured my right achilles tendon.  It seemed like my chance of doing the AT was slim.  But I started doing physical therapy.  Things got better.  I started walking again. I set the beginning of March  as my decision day.

Becky and I talked about it over lunch on March 7.  Both of us realize that being apart for most of five-months will be one of the most difficult things we've ever done.  The longest we've been apart in 32 years of marriage was when her father had a stroke and she went home to the States for two months to help her mother.  But she has always supported me in my adventures.  So she agreed to let me go.

On March 31 I fly from Switzerland to Urbana Illinois to spend time with my mother and make final preparations.  On April 6, I fly from Urbana to Atlanta Georgia.  On April 7, some friends will take me to the beginning of the trail.  That is the day I'll start my hike!

In my work with young adults, I often say that when they are looking for direction, be sure to go with your dreams. Dreams are uniquely us and they are how God guides, directs and blesses us.  As I've shared my dream, a number of the young people with whom I work have been inspired to pursue their dream. One young women shared this with her father, and now they are going to hike for two weeks in Norway this summer!  So I'm thankful that God is giving me a chance to fulfill my dream and to inspire others to pursue theirs.

So, the Lord willing, I will finish my AT hike on August 27.  I covet your prayers for health and strength (and no achilles tendon pain).  Watch this space for regular updates.  And if you want to come and join me for a while, please let me know!