Trail Mix-Up

​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

It was definitely one of those “uh-oh” moments as a parent. My 10-year-old son and I were descending from the 10,358 ft summit of the South Sister. We had completed two-thirds of the round-trip hike, and had just passed the last water hole on the main trail. Not wanting to delay our trip, I gambled that the amount of water left in our hydration packs would be sufficient for the remainder of the descent. But within an hour, we were out of water, and the discomfort of my dry mouth was of little concern in comparison to the signs of heat exhaustion in my 10-year-old son. Suddenly, my knowledge of the surrounding area and the availability of alternative water sources was put to the test.

Whether paper or digital, maps are very important to provide guidance to various situations in our lives. On the surface, maps are just colored paper or collections of pixels. But they represent hundreds or thousands of people who have already experienced that location. A map combines all those different experiences together.  Unless you are content with only walking your neighborhood, or constantly getting lost, you’re going to need a map to successfully experience all that life has to offer. You will never get anywhere by just looking at a map, nor will you have safe and successful adventures without one.

God has given us His map that exceeds any product from Rand McNally or Garmin. First, He has spoken directly to us through creation, prophets, and His son Jesus. He also continues to reveal Himself to His church, as those who are really in touch with Him experience Him in their daily lives. The pursuit of every disciple is founded in this revealed truth God continues to map out for us.

Fortunately for me and my son, I recalled a lake a couple miles off the trail where we could replenish our supply. My poor decision resulted in painful extra miles and additional delays recuperating on shady snow fields crunching on dirty ice. My opinion that we didn't need to refill earlier had no impact on the truth of the remaining distance of the trip and the heat of the sun. While life may be full of mistakes, the right map can provide the guidance to get back on track. I am reminded that without regular attention to prayer, God's Word, and spending time with others also on the trail, we can quickly lose our way.
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– Adam Kronberger / Head of School