Tisha and Jasmine come down from The Lighthouse
On Labor Day, Tisha and I took 6 kids whose ages ranged between 6 and 14 on a 6 mile hike in Palo Duro Canyon State Park in triple digit heat. The sign at the trailhead suggested that in making the hike each person needs a minimum of one gallon of water. That seemed reasonable to us, but after having completed the trek, I’m convinced that quantity is lower than I’ll ever take, should I return. I’m not convinced you can take too much water, to be honest.
We were heading back to the trailhead and we had about 2.5 miles remaining. We were out of water that we were carrying on us and I wasn’t liking what the rest of the walk back to the van was looking like. I told Tisha, “Why don’t you guys continue to walk, taking it easy as you go, and I am going to jog to the van and get two gallons of water and bring them back. I’ll meet you all somewhere between here and there. How does that sound?” She thought it was a good idea, so I hit the trail running.
I got two gallons of water and made my way back towards my crew. Along the way, though, I noticed two different individuals who were obviously thirsty and feeling the effects of the heat. I didn’t think twice about asking either, “Do you need some water?” Both said, “Yes” and I let them both have as much as they needed. One of them even said, “God bless you, man!”
I didn’t know either of these guys. I’d seen both of them at The Lighthouse, a rock formation that is the focal point of this trail, but that was the extent of it. Out there, though, under the hot Texas sun, that didn’t matter. What was mine was theirs! They couldn’t thank me enough, but they didn’t have too. Desperation like that dissolves so many inhibitions we have about dealing with people we don’t know.
Tisha and Cottage 3 atop The Lighthouse
I couldn’t help but be reminded of two stories from the gospels. John 4 came to mind as I thought about Jesus and the woman at Jacob’s well. Jesus used water as a metaphor for eternal life. The thirst many possessed that day was strong. Would to God we possessed a similar thirst for the zoe of Jesus!
The story of the Good Samaritan came to mind, as well. How could it not? Two guys were in need, and I could have ignored them. I could have pressed on and looked the other way, but I refused to do so. That I didn’t know them didn’t matter. They were in need, and Jesus tells me I am not to ignore one in such a need.
I met back up with my crew about a mile from the trailhead. They were fine, and I still had a gallon and a half to divide between us all to get us back to van. I was a wonderful experience, one I’ll never forget. I came face to face with the power of thirst and I got to make the story of the Good Samaritan my story. Those are life-lessons that get to the heart of Jesus, and that’s right where I need to be!
