What’s in Your Backpack?

The West Coast Trail, originally called the Dominion Lifesaving Trail, is located on the southwest edge of Vancouver Island. It is 75 kilometers/47 miles long, and “hikers climb more than 100 ladders with a heavy pack, trudge through deep mud, wade through mountain-fed rivers in fast-flowing hip-deep waters, and push through whatever weather the wild West Coast delivers — often driving wind and rain.” (Parks Canada website)

My husband and I, along with another couple, took seven days to complete this “bucket list” adventure. It rained five days out of the seven. During the trek, the other husband encouraged me to “embrace the mud” when I tried to avoid getting my hiking boots dirty!

As we approached the campground at the end of our first day, we had to cross a river before we could set up our tent for the night. The other three chose to crawl over on a downed tree to avoid getting their backpacks wet, but I decided to take off my boots, hang them around my neck, and wade across. I can remember my husband cautioning me that the rocks might be slippery just before I fell into the river! My hiking boots fell into the water and started floating away, but I had the presence of mind to take my backpack to shore before pursuing the runaway boots.

I was so dependent on everything that I had in my backpack, as well as what everyone else carried, because our food, water, a camping stove and tents, as well as our personal belongings, were distributed among us.

As Christians, we are also dependent on each other! Yet it can be hard to share what we might need for ourselves before the journey is over. The early Christians who had seen Jesus suffer and die and be raised again would all have a tough road of persecution ahead, but somehow sharing freely bonded them together in a way that the church has been trying to emulate ever since!

Father God, help me to share what I have with others, trusting you to provide what I need as well. Amen.

For Today: Is there something in your backpack that someone else needs? Are you able to give freely to the needs of others around you, especially to those who are in the family of faith? Ask God to show you what to give away today.