Walking in His Footsteps

     In my last blog I wrote about my venture into a winter wonderland in Rocky Mountain National Park. I would like to detail my account of going back there to Emerald Lake in June a couple of years later. I had gone out to Colorado Springs on a business trip and decided I would spend a couple of extra days in RMNP by myself.

     I went back up to the trail for Emerald Lake, but this time there was not as much snow. So I hiked all the way to Emerald Lake and the trail ends when you come to the lake. Now understand that there are two rules when hiking. Those rules are to never go alone and never go off trail. I think my Mother must have made those rules for the NPS as one of their other suggestions is that if you get hungry you should eat something. Anyways, I was alone (although there were others on the trail) and I decided since this was such an easy trail that I wanted to go exploring off trail around Emerald Lake. Now the lake sits in a crater like hole surrounded by very steep walls and a water fall on the other side of the lake where the trail does not go. So I started going towards the south side of the lake which is covered by a countless amount of boulders. This gives the off trail hiker a fun challenge but is a sturdy path nonetheless. (Except when one tumbles out beneath your feet)

     Now for the difficult part, there was a large snow bank covering this way around the lake. So imagine a steep wall covered in snow and the only thing at the bottom was a thirty something degree lake with ice still floating on the top. The challenge this offered was not knowing where to place my foot in order to make sure I would not fall into this icy lake. So as I looked for the best place to begin and thought about it for a moment I noticed small footsteps going across this “mini-glacier”.  The obviously smart thing for me to do would be to simply follow in the footsteps of one who has already been before me. So I began placing my boots in the already made footsteps in front of me. I had my hiking stick with me and a loaded back pack on my back. As I hiked half way across this snow bank one step that I took gave out underneath me and gravity began to pull me toward my icy grave. With a heavy backpack on my back and no one around to help me hypothermia would have quickly set in and there is no doubt I would have drowned even if I had not been knocked unconscious by the rocks at the bottom of this embankment.

    Thankfully, by the Grace of God, I was able to stick out my hiking stick and retain my balance catching me from tumbling into the lake. As I paused for a moment to regain my focus I continued on across to the other side where I could enjoy the waterfall and a beautiful vista as well as some more climbing challenges.

Life Lesson-

     In leadership their must be the humility and attitude to follow. Anyone who is in a leadership role must understand that they can learn from others who have gone before them and who have experience in different areas. They must also have the courage and confidence to step out and lead those who follow or else they will never go anywhere.

     As a Christian we are to follow in the footsteps of Christ. As we follow His example he also gives us tools to help us along the way for when we stumble and fall. He gives us His Spirit, Word, and Church. Without these we could not follow Him in the ways we should go and if we don’t rely on these regularly we could fall into a pit of destruction. So often as Christians we want to do things our way, but it is only through submission to Christ that we will have victory and success in our families, jobs, and ministries.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1Peter 2:21)