A Wall in the Woods

A couple weeks ago I took a trip with a friend to Knoxville, Tennessee. The trip was a last minute thing and our weekend had a really “go with the flow” feel.

When I travel, one of my favorite things to do is plan the trip. Booking the flights, finding the best place to stay, and finding the best things to do while staying in budget. I guess this is why I spend most days doing logistics.

The spontaneous nature of this trip was a nice change of pace. My friend and I found ourselves at Great Smoky Mountains National park.  Opting to avoid the crowded main trails, we ended up parking along the side of the road and made our own. Like all expert outdoorsmen, we found a nice creek to sit by to enjoy a lunch of Subway sandwiches.

We enjoyed a bit of hiking and exploring, then we found our own places to relax and spend some time alone with God. I stumbled upon an old wall. Six feet tall in some places, a foot tall in others, and overgrown by brush, this wall had seen it’s better years.

I walked along the top of the wall, keeping my balance as pieces fell to the ground below. I wondered about the story behind the wall. Was it an old property line? Was it from the Civil War? I don’t know, I’ll bring a history major with me next time. (I did look around to see if I could find any old guns, no luck).

Eventually, I found a place to sit on the wall. I spent some time reading the first chapter of Crazy Love, where Francis Chan talks about the “awe factor” of God. Chan talks about all sorts of crazy things about creation – from the biggest things created to things seen by a microscope.

One of many things God is reminding me of lately is just how incredible he is. With the words I had read in Crazy Love moments before, I reflected on the wonder of God within the space I was sitting.

I considered the wall I was resting on. I didn’t know anything about the wall. All I knew it was there before I went hiking that afternoon, it was there when I was sitting on it, and it would stay there after I left.

I was reminded of a verse in Hebrews about the presence of God.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

As I considered how God was there when that wall was built, was there in that moment, and will be there when the last stone crumbles, I reflected on where God has been throughout all seasons of my life.

I love moments where God reminds me of his faithfulness, and this was one of those moments. I left the woods that afternoon with a renewed perspective and confidence in his faithfulness throughout my past, today, and for days to come.