A Late Summer Hike in Northern California & How It Relates To Life

Glenn & I started out early this morning.  Jordi was still in bed.  It was beautiful weather.  Starting to be a little cool in the mornings and looking just a bit like fall.  The sign at the trailhead says that the summit is only 4 miles away.  That's a little bit deceiving... it's about 1.5 miles of gently rolling, wide trail and the rest of the way is straight up!For some reason Glenn wouldn't let me pick the pretty leaves for our fall bouquet. 
There were a few other hikers, joggers, & bikers along the way.
Here we are about halfway up.
Then the trail got narrower and steeper.  
This is "Glenn's tree".  He took a picture of this tree on one of his biking trips with his friend.



Glenn had been most of the way before on biking/hiking trips with other friends but I hadn't been on this trail before.  There were a few times that we were sliding down, crawling up hills, or times when Glenn was helping me across rocky spots.  I made the comment that this trail was kind of like life.  We've spent some time this week with some people in our church that are going through tough times.  It was nice to be on the trail with someone who knew it and could tell me, "This is a short hill... we'll be going downhill soon."  Glenn commented that he's thought about that when they're out biking, too.  One of them may want to quit and the other will encourage him to go just a little further.  It's nice to have Christian brothers & sisters come along with you, too, and encourage you through the ups & downs of real life.  It's a long, hard climb but it's worth it!

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  

For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.

But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm,

but how can one be warm alone?

And if one can overpower him who is alone,

two can resist him.

A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12