I'm a genius!

Well... over the course of the last few weeks I have been trying to send updates to the blog... but it has come back to me every single time... very frustrating... until i found out that I have been sending them to the wrong address... I'm a genius!!

So... I haven't disappeared!!  I am still very much here... kinda!  I am currently in Franklin, NC staying at a shady hotel.  I know... just what you wanted to hear!  Really though, I came into town this morning after 11 days of hiking.  I left from Springer Mountain in Amicalola State Park in Georgia on Wednesday, April 27th.  I took two other days off in Neel's Gap and Hiawassee, Georgia.  I am hiking along the Appalachian Trail and as of this morning we had hiked about 108 miles.  WHAT?!  Seriously.

I met some fun people my first night out at Hawk Mountain Shelter... now, for perspective's sake, I will let you know (don't tell mom!) that the first night I was out was the night the huge storms blew across the south with tornadoes and huge damage... picture little old me, city girl, in my tent on top of a mountain while the quarter size hail and 65 mph winds blew... uh, yeah... good times!  =)  I survived though and have tacked on miles every day.

Now, you may wonder what this has to do with Sabbatical at all... I mean... huh?  But I'll tell you exactly what it means... I thought and thought about spending time doing retreats or conferences or anything to feel that "God connection" and try as hard as I could, I really couldn't find a way to make it work, nothing I really wanted to do... but hike the Appalachian Trail?  I've always wanted that!!  So, I packed up my pack and here I am 13 days and 108 miles later.

Sabbatical has come to be defined as something different for me now... more of a pilgrimage.  There are crazy high mountains to climb over, its hot, its cold, I sweat, I shiver, I STINK, and I slug my 30 pound pack up and over moutains all day, usually alone.  I have great people hiking with/around me who I didn't know 2 weeks ago but they watch out for me and laugh with me, encourage me and push me forward.  They are a blessing.

Although I didn't know really where sabbatical was headed when I walked out of SGUMC 6 weeks ago, and I still don't a lot of the time, I can tell you this... I feel God's presence with me more and more every day.  When I lay down exhausted in the shelter at night (or, more likely, in my tent) I feel peace... exhaustion and peace.  I pray a LOT out here... I walk like crazy and work my but off to get over those mountains... mostly on my own, at my slow girl pace...

And its beginning to feel a lot like my relationship with God.  There's much to be learned... I'm getting stronger every day... and there are hard times every day too.  God is pushing me... and growing me in amazing ways, ways I may never be able to fully explain.

So there you have it.  I am reading a book right now called Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton.  It's GREAT and its speaking to right where I am!!  I am off in the morning, hopefully by Friday we will be knocking on the door of Smokey Mountain National Park!!  Super excited!!!  I'm not sure how much longer I'll be out... we shall see.

Now that I figured out the RIGHT address hopefully my updates will be more regular!!  Hopefully *(when I have cell service!!)

I love you and miss you all!!!  I hope you are well!!!