I was just journaling about how critical it is to have someone in your life that is there to support you, through the good and the bad. It got me thinking about my trekking pole I always take with me whenever I am out hiking and camping. Most of the time I have it collapsed, strapped to my backpack or lazily hanging off my wrist as I meander through the woods, trails and ravines in the mountains of Colorado.
But when I come to an incline I’m quick to employ the pole. These 50+ year old knees just ain’t what they used to be and I need all the help I can get! And this weekend was no different. I spent the day hiking in Colorado and just like clock-work, as soon as I approached an incline, I started using my trekking pole.
Why do I use it? I don’t have to use it. I can climb/hike without it. I don’t use it all the time. So why? As I made my way up the incline I happened to glance down at my feet and then it hit me – I knew why I used it – it was an extension of me. Instead of just two feet there were three ‘parts of me’ moving my body up the incline.
The book of Ecclesiastes says, “A chord of three strands is not easily broken” and there is truth in that…even when I am hiking. By using the pole as an extension, it makes my life easier and I can scale the incline much more efficiently.
The same is true on this journey you and I are on. We need each other, we need community, we need help, especially at those more challenging parts of our journey. My trekking pole does three things for me during the most difficult parts of the hike…three things that happen to be why we need others on this journey with us.
Provides balance and stability. As I am moving up the incline the pole helps form a triangle (see my picture up above) The triangle is one of the strongest shapes in nature, because it allows the weight to be spread evenly. Those who accompany us on our journey can be a stabilizing force when they help carry the load, instead of you and I trying to go at it alone.
Gives me an extra boost when I need it. I noticed there where times when I just need a little extra boost to get up the steeper parts of the hike. Being able to firmly plant the pole and use it as leverage kept me moving. When we are facing some of the biggest challenges in life, those who accompany us on our journey can give that extra boost we need. It may be words of encouragement, physically helping out in some way or keeping us focused on the end goal.
Gets me in a cadence. I noticed when I use the pole I develop a cadence that keeps me moving in a nice rhythm. I don’t tend to experience the extremes of moving too fast or feeling exhausted. Those who accompany us on our journey can help us keep a cadence and help us avoid the extremes…especially during difficult times.
Can you and I do this journey alone? Sure. Many an individual has gritted it out. But we don’t have to. We can find those who will journey with us, to provide us the stability, cadence and…when needed…they extra boost to live a life of no regrets.
I don’t use my pole every step of the way, but it sure is nice when I come to the steep parts! We may not always need someone right there with us on the road less travelled, but it sure is nice to have that person we can turn to, to help us through the difficult times. I know I am so fortunate I have found that someone special in my life to to journey with me.
Who is with you on your journey?