Some lessons are painful

 Recently, Lochlan went missing on a trail hike he was on with a friend of ours. He sometimes bursts with energy and takes off at a gallop, no matter the technicality or elevation gain of a trail. My most serious concern on this particular trail system was that he might become confused about all the adjoining trails and ultimately lose his way back to the car, even though this is a trail he is familiar with. However, we all spread out to find each of those intersections and we did indeed find him at one of them, clearly debating which path to choose. He was completely unconcerned about the fact that he was solo hiking at the point and he wasn't worried about whether he might not know the way. 

{Lochlan will be wearing a GPS device on all hikes now}

I've been considering this incident a lot; it is representative of so much. With Lochlan, I've been searching, hunting for answers, desperately trying to find the path (forward) where he can be found, feeling incredibly lost in the process, rabidly fighting fear, not knowing where to look, wondering, waiting, running, hoping, and trying to remember to breathe. The search feels endless, the mountain(s) daunting. 

And, simultaneously, I wonder in my own life, in my own walk of faith, of living, am I so often like Lochlan, running the trail ahead of me in oblivion to all that I'm missing as I carry onward, not realizing I'm alone when I don't have to be? Am I approaching the crossroads without careful consideration, without the input and perspective of others who might well know better the path forward? 

I'm responsible to train up these young men to be all they can be. Yet, I find they are the ones training me in the way(s) they live their lives, in the fullness of their compassion, through the kindness in their hearts, through the challenges they face and conquer. I also find myself learning through the incredibly difficult things we encounter together, like the hunt for our missing wanderer. 

Tomorrow's mountain paths may be familiar, or they may be new and require something we don't yet know we have.