Get Outside

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of official National Trails.

Hiking Life posted this …

“On October 2, 1968, 50 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Trails and Wild & Scenic Rivers acts, establishing the two systems. With the passage of these acts, America was given a gift – the creation and protection of some of Americans’ favorite places to discover the great outdoors.”

I can’t count how many times I have muddied my shoes on rivers, creeks, trails, and more in our state and federal parks and forests. Great times.

But the gift of protecting these wonderful settings goes way beyond the Act 50 years ago. It goes back to when the Lord gave us stewardship over all of creation. There are times I wonder how well we are actually doing this. May we never grow slack in our duty.

Also, we often squander the opportunity of enjoying creation. We get stuck in the squalor of technology that we miss the beauty of God’s creation. (Don’t get me wrong, I love technology. But I spend too much time on it at times.)

So here is the simple three-fold challenge …

– take a little extra effort this week to clean, straighten, tend to creation. Weed a garden, trim the bushes, pick up trash, etc.

– take a little extra time to enjoy creation. Hike, sit and stare at the stars, go to the arboretum, anything.

– thank our Lord for such an awesome job.

Note from Todd …

The next two weeks, Muddy Shoes will be a bit scattered in relation to my thought processes. By mid-month, my transition of life will start to settle down some (or so I hope). So, enjoy the crazed thoughts of a crazed man.

Also, yes, that is a bear in the picture. He and a buddy of His were enjoying the same trail I was on a recent hike.