Walking in Sunlight: Hansel and Gretel

This past week I have been in Germany for a wonderful time of renewal and refocus. I was able to connect with several of my friends and just enjoy God's creation. It was great.

One afternoon a group of us decided to go on a "walk" into the hills to enjoy the scenery. I was pretty excited. So I bundled up against the cold and off we went.

First of all, it should never have been termed a "walk," this was definitely a hike - a fast paced uphill kind of hike. Which would have been great, except I have been sick for two weeks and definitely didn't have the stamina for such an adventure. About halfway up the hill, I admitted defeat and left the group to return to the lodge. All I had to do was go back the way I came . . . right?

I did okay, until the turn in the road. Fortunately after just a bit someone else from our group ran past me (they obviously are much more fit than I) and pointed out that I was going the wrong direction.

Once I got turned the right way I walked forever - and the longer I walked, the more I wished that I had left some breadcrumbs along the way. The old adage you can't see the forest (beautiful) for the trees (kind of scary) was quickly becoming true.

The longer I walked, the more I felt like Gretel, but then, there it was - the correct path to take me to my home for the week. When the trees felt like they were closing in and the forest was really dark, the only source of hope was to look up - to see the light. What a great object lesson. When things are closing in I should always look up.