Called To Be A Trekking Pole

When we got our packing list for our hike there was a lot of stuff on it. Some of it looked to be completely necessary and some of it kinda seemed optional. Good hiking shoes, necessary. Hat, optional. One of the things that seemed discretionary was trekking poles. In fact, the list said something like, "Set of trekking poles - you can bring your own, or we have a limited number available for rental." We looked at them in the store and it seemed that they might be a pain to have to carry all the time and that they would make taking pictures tough. So, we skipped them. I think only one person in our group showed up with any.

Andrea wasn't having any of that. We were all given a set and told to get used to them.

Our hike started on the incline leading to Clingman's Dome. It's a steep, half mile walk up a paved trail. The trekking poles were a pain in the ass. They were just one more thing to get used to. Frankly, I couldn't see their usefulness at all. Neither could the rest of the group. One person in particular was pretty vocal in her complaints about having to haul them up that hill.

Andrea just smiled.

After reaching the peak, taking pictures and eating a snack we left the paved trail and stepped out into the wilderness on the Appalachian Trail. It wasn't long until I realized what those trekking poles were all about.

Having an extra 40 pounds strapped to your back makes balance a little more challenging. When the trail in front of you is full of rocks and moss, your feet aren't planted quite as firmly as you think they are. When the trail in front of you descends very quickly it's desirable to have a way to slow yourself down. When crossing a stream with fast moving water you need a way to test the rocks just ahead of you for stability.

Trekking poles do all this and more.

Towards the end of the second day of hiking I was starting to struggle. I had twisted my ankle and it was uncomfortable. I was tired from not getting much sleep the night before. We had several miles to go before reaching our campsite and my mind was wrestling with my body to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

It was in that moment I let go and learned to let the trekking poles do the work. I let them take the pressure off my ankle. Instead of thinking about putting my feet down I changed my mind-focus to the swing of the poles from my wrists in a forward motion. That meditation became almost magical. The light swing of the poles suddenly became light steps that floated me onward. Those last couple of miles flew by.

On the third day Ali began to struggle. It was the longest of all the days in terms of mileage. The trail began to flatten out and widen as we neared civilization again. The trekking poles weren't as necessary. Andrea had us put some distance between us and we spent several miles hiking nearly alone.

Ali was ahead of me on the trail and I knew she was giving it her best shot but that she was having a hard time. There wasn't much I could do, knowing that we had at least five miles left to go. So, I decided to be her trekking poles.

I could see her in the distance on the trail ahead of me and as I watched and walked, I prayed. I began by giving thanks for every quality and trait about her - the ones I love and the ones I lovingly tolerate. After listing my gratitudes I worked at surrounding her with strength and peace. We walked, and I prayed, for a long time.

She reached the river long before I did. By the time I arrived, she already had her shoes off and was soaking her feet and eating her lunch. She was sitting on a rock and butterflies were dancing all around her. I took off my pack and shoes and sat down with her. We ate and talked about why she was having a difficult time. By the time lunch was over she was feeling much better.

Ali named this spot Butterfly Island.

Was it the prayer? Was it the cold river water on her feet? The butterflies twinkling all around? The talking? Maybe it was the lunch. Who knows. I like to think that it was my decision to be her trekking poles – to give her unconditional support when she felt like she might slip, to be a bit of stability when things felt a little too shaky, to have something to lean on even for just a minute or two until she felt capable to lean on herself again.

The number of times she's done that very same thing for me are immeasurable.

Maybe we're all called to be trekking poles for other people on the life journey. 

Quietly, couldn't we just surround others with a little bit of compassion and peace? They never even have to know. Instead of maintaining our focus on other's shortcomings maybe we could give support when they slip. When someone we know seems kind of shaky maybe we can prop them up for just a little while.

It works with lovers and friends. It works on family. It even works on the ignorant driver in the lane in front of you and on the annoying woman in the grocery line. And the funny thing is, it has unintended consequences for me. When I'm busy being thankful for someone's individuality and looking for their special quirks I'm far too busy to think about their faults.

My only prayer is that others will be as gentle and supportive with me.