There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV)
This is a picture of a noticeably popular resting spot. Its popularity was made abundantly obvious by the smoothness of the log and the well packed ground around it. I could not help but burst out in laughter though, feeling considerable sympathy at the same time for the many who foolishly chose to rest here.
Before you continue reading this devotional, take a few moments to look at the picture above and see if you can detect the biological nightmare awaiting for all who foolishly and probably naively chose to rest here.
If you see the peril you probably thought something like, “Oh my goodness!” or “Oh those poor people.”
The log and area are covered with poison ivy! Notice the one strand running along the log about calf height!
That single log in Georgia, the first state of a north bound hiker, NOBO, has probably been the downfall of many a poor folks. It may have even ended the hike and dream of some of them after it barely got started. ☹
What appears to be so inviting and rewarding, is laced with peril and heartache, leaving one later in agony. The sad thing is… it could have and should have easily been avoided.
I saw poison ivy, oak and sumac from one end of the Appalachian Trail (AT) to the other. Stinging nettles was another potential nightmare of biology along the AT that has a nasty bite to it.
I am not generally susceptible to poison ivy, but in New Jersey, there was a section of trail along a wet area that was not well maintained. It was inundated with several types of poison ivy everywhere along the trail as well as above it as the vine type extended it slender poisonous tendrils into your personal space.
I tried to use my trekking poles to push the poison ivy out of my path. I had to look like James Bond when he would go through all kinds of bodily gyrations and contortions to avoid infrared laser lines making his way to his goal. But alas, there was so much poison ivy it was impossible to avoid it all. And yes, I did end up with a touch of poison ivy on my arm. ☹
Even when we are aware of dangers and do all we can to avoid them, sometimes we still fall prey to them.
Think how much worse it would have been if I did not recognize the danger though!
There is much on the AT that appears innocent enough but could get us into a great deal of danger.
Maybe late in the afternoon you look at your topo map and it shows a fairly easy grade ahead of you. As a result, you decide to get some extra miles in thinking you can make it to a further camping spot. Later you discover that the grade is not bad, but the trail is full of rocks and you get to your camp late, extra sore and exhausted as you have unsuspectingly overextended yourself.
Maybe your map shows multiple water sources ahead, so you decide to go light on your water to keep your weight at a minimum. Later, one after another, you find the water sources are dry or stagnant, and now you are mistakenly out of water and hurting.
Or maybe you decide not to put rain gear on thinking the storm will not last long and you are hot and sweaty anyway. Hours later the cold rain is still coming down and you are inadvertently shaking from the cold rain.
There are numerous matters that may appear to be innocent enough on the AT but are actually fraught with hidden potential dangers.
So how do we not fall prey to false appearances and see things as they really are? A few of the best ways are to:
- Seek counsel. Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22 (NIV)
By asking hikers you meet traveling in the opposite direction about the terrain and water sources ahead of us, or even if they have heard an up-to-date weather report, we can avoid many hidden dangers.
The same goes for getting wise counsel as we journey though life. By talking with others who have been where we are going, we can obtain some invaluable wisdom that will make our journey much more agreeable and fulfilling.
- Experience. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw, Proverbs 24:32 (NIV).
On my first section hike on the AT I had almost twenty pounds in my pack that I did not need. I not only asked counsel from other seasoned AT hikers, but I observed carefully how they wisely used what little they had. In applying the lessons I had learned on my first section hike, my second section hike was demonstrably more pleasant and productive.
Again, the same goes for everyday life. We carry a lot of extra weight (worry, guilt, fear, sin, etc.), around with us that is not only unnecessary, but counter productive as well.
- Knowledge. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, John 8:32 (NKJV).
I never once set foot on the AT without first pouring over maps and other information about the section I was planning on hiking. For the most part I always knew what I was getting into and was well prepared to handle it.
It is utter foolishness to ignore the truth about anything, especially about eternal spiritual matters of life and death, of bliss and torment, of rewards and judgment. No matter how hard we may try, we will NEVER be able to dodge the bullet of truth.
Maybe it would be good for us to carry a business card with a picture of poison ivy on one side it. On the other side we could write counsel, experience and knowledge. Then at least once a month take it out and ask our self, “Is there anything that is wrong with the picture of life that I am painting right now?” If we sense there might be, let us start seeking counsel, learn some lessons and do some binging on the truth concerning our present path.
Faith Aids 