2015 Resolutions

I only made one resolution in 2014, and that was to try to live by Micah 6:8.

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;

    and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness (mercy),

    and to walk humbly with your God?

The three actions in this verse - doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God – seemed to me to be what I needed to attend to in my life.  They are three qualities that would go a long way to making the world a better place.  Here is what I wrote about this resolution one year ago:

As a resolution, this speaks to two areas in life that always need attention - how I act toward others and my relationship with God.  Letting Justice and Mercy guide my relationships with others will mean putting others ahead of me and seeking ways to help others.  It entails patience, kindness, generosity, and gentleness.  Walking humbly with God is a self-discipline that requires faithfulness and self-control.

Looking back over 2014, I cannot say I lived up to this resolution every day, but keeping it before me through the year did make me more aware of justice, mercy, and humility.  The headlines of 2014 show that our world cries out for justice, for mercy and kindness, and for humility. 

For 2015, I plan on keeping this same verse as my resolution.  These aren’t things that can be achieved and checked off like so many other resolutions, but rather a way of living that is to be continued. 

I do want to add another element to my 2015 resolutions, and that is Hope.  Two verses come to mind:

Psalm 71:14

But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more.

Romans 12:11-12

Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

Biblical hope is not like our personal hopes that are dependent on external forces.  Biblical hope is rooted in God’s promises.   We can live as hopeful people knowing that God’s love for us is steadfast and He will not abandon us.  These verses say two things about hope: that we are to hope continually – never give up on hope – and that we can rejoice in hope through praise and prayer.

Happy New Year to you all!  May 2015 be filled with justice, mercy, humility and hope.

A Pin, A Wire, and A Button

Before I explain the title of this post, I have some pictures and a description of my last Smokies hike with the Margaret Stevenson Wednesday Hikers.  On December 3, over 30 hikers met at the Sugarlands Visitor Center to organize a key swap hike that had at least three variations.  The logistics alone will make your head spin, but organizing everyone in the right cars to the right destination was in Frank's capable hands.  We were soon on our way to Noisy Creek where our group of 15 would take an access trail to the Old Settlers Trail and hike east to the Maddron Bald/Gabes Mountain Trail junction, then on to Cosby Campground on the Gabes Mountain Trail.  At least that was the plan.

The Old Settlers Trail stretches 15.9 miles west-to-east from Greenbrier to the Maddron Bald Trail.  On the map there are no other trail junctions, so a long day hike seemed to be the only way to hike the trail.  One advantage of hiking with this Wednesday group is the trail knowledge of the leaders; like where to access the Old Settlers Trail at Noisy Creek on Hwy. 321 at almost the halfway point on the trail.

After 3/4 mile through the woods along Noisy Creek we came to the Old Settlers Trail.

As the name implies, this trail winds through an area of the Smokies that was heavily settled in the 1800s by families who farmed the land.  There are dozens of stone walls, chimneys, and remnants of homes all along the trail.  To me, the stone walls were an amazing sight.  The walls in this area are higher and longer than walls in other parts of the park.

 This wall was so level along the top and about 3 feet wide.

This wall was about 5 feet high.

How big was this tree when the wall was built? 

The trail went through this wall.

We took a break at the McCarter Barn, restored and recently re-roofed by the Park Service.

A half mile or so from the next trail junction there was a creek crossing that didn't look too difficult. Large rocks separated by rushing sluices of water seemed to afford a way across.  Each hiker began crossing, choosing which rock to hop to next.  It all happened so fast; one moment I was on a rock about to step to another, and the next moment I was in the creek with my right hand hitting hard on a rock.  Several hands had me out of the creek and safely across where I adjusted my glasses that were knocked askew and noticed my thumb was scraped and quite crooked.  

I cannot say enough about the care and concern for me by the group.  My thumb was taped and splinted with a plastic fork, and an icepack was taped and tied on.  A bandana was rigged as a sling to keep my hand elevated, and I was given Aleve for swelling and pain.  I can't name everyone who pitched in to help for fear I will leave someone out.  I thank each and everyone who helped me with my injury and hiking out to a car and driving me to my car so I could go to the ER, and for all the well-wishes along the way.

So, the title of this post.  After X-rays at the ER showing a bone chip, or flake avulsion, and a referral to a hand specialist, I was told I needed surgery to reattach a torn tendon on the top of the first joint of my thumb.  With that surgery I have a pin inserted to keep the joint straight and a wire securing the bone flake and tendon in place with a button on the outside of the thumb holding the wire in place.  The surgery went well, and the pain has been manageable.  My main task is to keep my hand elevated.

With several weeks for everything to heal, I will have plenty of time to plan future hikes in the Smokies.  One of those hikes will be Gabes Mountain Trail that I missed after my fall, and another will be the other half of the Old Settlers Trail.  No matter the trail I find myself on, I will take time to wade the big stream crossings, not rock hop!  

When I do get back on the trail I will be adding miles toward hiking all the trails in the Smokies and raising money for Rotary International's End Polio Now campaign.

Thanks again for everyone's prayers and encouragement.