From the Home Place

August 18, 2025

Yesterday was quite an adventure around this outfit. Our daughter Kami and her husband Jeremey are here for a couple-of-days visit. One of the things they wanted to do while visiting was to go on a nice hike, preferably in the hills. So, we traveled over to Glendo Lake and lit out on one of the trails there.

I dropped Miss Deb and the kids off at the trail head, and then I went on to the other end of the trail with the pickup. I parked the pickup and slid down a steep embankment to get onto the end of the trail to eventually meet the rest of my team.

Though none of us had ever been on this particular trail before, I was somewhat familiar with the area. They were headed in a northerly direction, while I was meandering off to the south. Both groups walked along a creek, surrounded by mountains. We eventually met each other along the way.

Because of where I had parked the pickup, we decided to finish the trail and then climb out of the canyon to find our trusted steed in the parking lot. I won’t lead you on, the climb out was a tough one! It was pretty much straight up for around 1,000 feet. But climb we did, along with slipping and sliding on rocks and slick grass. We had to have a couple of rest breaks, but in spite of many comments of “I can’t do this,” we finally made it to the top! It took a lot of encouragement to get us all to the finish line, but we did it. With the nasty climb behind us, we enjoyed several cheers and celebrated the fact that “We Did It!”

Here is today’s lesson, none of us know how this hike called life will end for us. Though we often face difficulties along the trail, it may very well be that the last part of the hike is the most difficult?

My point is this, each one of us needs to make sure we have others on the trail with us, for they will be our support team to help us make the last climb up out of this canyon called life. Our friends and family are there with us to take us by the hand and help pull us to the top!

By the way, there are two other folks of great value in this final climb – yourself and Jesus. If you are truly a Christ-follower, Jesus has promised to stay with you to the very end of your earthly journey, and then He will welcome you into eternity. Your attitude about the whole climb is extremely important as well. Before we started our ascent out of that box canyon, there were several comments about “I can’t do this.” My reply to such comments is this, “The moment I think I can’t, I won’t.” It’s too easy to quit before we really start. Each one of us is capable of far more than we think we can do, especially with friends beside us!

No matter how difficult your last part of the journey might get, take ahold of the hands around you, let them help you to the finish line. And above all, trust Jesus to fulfill His promise when He said, “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” After all, Jesus has also told us, “Fear not.” Faith and friends will help each of us on our final ascent!

Looking forward to last part of the journey with you, Neal