Ascension : Grotto News - Thought For The Week
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 26.06.2008 (Article Archived on 10.07.2008)

This week I went on a hike with a friend. We started in the North East Bay area at the Echo Canyon Parking area and ended up at the Residency.

This week I went on a hike with a friend.  We started in the North East Bay area at the Echo Canyon Parking area and ended up at the Residency.  It was a long walk, uphill all the way (well, except for the ravines we had to descend into just to climb out the other side!), and passed from rocky, barren lava fields to lush tropical forest.

It got me to thinking about change, and how fast it can happen.  At the start of the hike, we climbed up a rocky cliff where nothing grew.  There was no path to follow; as we went further we made our way by guessing the best ridge to take to get to where we wanted to end up.  I must admit, we didn’t always choose the easiest route.

As we crossed the Echo Canyon plateau, you could start to see small trees, usually hardy Mexican Thorn.  As we headed farther up, sparse grass started to appear, and a few more types of shrubs were growing.  As we got closer to Devil’s Cauldron and Weather Post, the foliage became thicker.  There were more trees, more grass, and it was greener than at the start.  By the time we made it to Scout’s Path on Green Mountain, we found ourselves entering what is really a tropical paradise. Sisal, trees, and tall plants were all around.  At times the path was almost totally obscured by thick vegetation. 

It was almost dark by the time we reached our destination.  But we made it out of the rain forest in time to not have to bring out the torches, although we had come prepared; it wouldn’t be the first time I’d been caught out after dark!

It seemed to me that this hike was a good example of life in general.  It was amazing how much change could occur in both such a short time and in such a small distance.   As we climbed, the distance seemed to stretch on forever, but in reality, in the grand scheme of things, we traversed the distance in a short period of time.  It proves the old adage that our lives can change in a heartbeat.  We can lose a loved one, get that phone call that changes our lives forever, have an accident that limits our health for the rest of our lives; the list is endless.  Most of us have experienced at least one of these occasions. 

Life is a constantly changing entity.  Sometimes we can think we are in a rut, sometimes we can think that we are in total control of our destiny, but fate can make us rethink that in a hurry.  As I said, it only takes a moment for everything you know to change.  I’ve experienced it a number of times in my life, so I speak from experience.   

Having said that sad events can happen in a moment, so can happy events.  We seem to forget that all happy occasions usually start as a chance moment in time.  It might be the moment that we meet a special person, it might be the phone call about a great new job, or any other good news.  We just never know what is around the corner.

This uncertainty in our lives is why we need to always be open to change, and be strong enough to handle it when it arrives.  Change even creeps up on us slowly sometimes, like the gradual change from barren rocky lava fields to the lush tropical environment that took us a couple of hours to go between.  In the grand scheme, though, what are a few hours?  Not much time really. 

To be open to change, and accepting of the changes that will undoubtedly happen in our lives, we need the strength that comes by having a solid faith.  Faith will help us get through a lot in our lives.  And faith also comes in the guise of good friends, those people who will stand beside us when change happens in our lives.  Faith will give us those people who will hold us when we cry, support us when we need it, and help us smile again.  These are all gifts to the faithful that is born of our faith. 

So keep your faith strong, your friendships strong, and you will remain strong yourself.  Accept that change will come upon us, usually when we least expect it, or feel the least prepared for it.  But with faith, friendship, and love, it will not defeat us.  We will be stronger for it.  And may God bless all those of our friends who are experiencing change, and need our friendship at this time.  May we prove our faith by being the strength they need.