Cairns in the Word

Since Mally and I started our full-time RV living in November of 2021, we have slowly begun to enjoy hiking. We are not avid hikers, but we are getting the bug. It is curious what things play a part in our hiking experiences. We will plan out an excursion only to be thwarted by various influences.

In Zion National Park, we had gone on a short walk up the "narrows" trail and decided we would return the next day to do the full narrows adventure. It involves wearing water booties and using a walking stick for balance. It is an in and out of water experience which promises unforgettable photo opportunities and experiences. That afternoon we went to the outfitters and rented the appropriate gear, filled our camel packs with water, and stocked our back-packs with anything I felt we could not survive without (i.e. candy bars, peanuts, pretzels, etcetera). We got up at 5:00 a.m. and caught the shuttle to the trail-head. Once there we found out there had been an avalanche (right where we had hiked the day before) which blocked the narrows trail from any hiking.

Weather plays a part, as well as, temperature and time of day. Couple those with just not feeling it and let me just say we have not hiked as much as we have wanted. None-the-less, we have managed to fit in several outstanding hikes with some incredible views. Kodachrome State Park, Bryce Canyon's "Queen's Garden," and the "Birthing Cave" in Sedona to mention a few. We have rigged ourselves with back-packs, hiking boots, walking sticks (don't laugh if you haven't used them because they are fantastic), and just recently I purchased some trekking poles and gaiters. For the uniformed, gaiters are a boot covering that slips over the top of your boots to keep out mud, sand, spurs, and any other irritant that might impede your progress.

As a side note, you would be surprised just how much a small pebble can stop you in your tracks. Muhammad Ali was quoted as saying, "It isn't the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out, it's the pebble in your shoe." He wasn't referring to real pebbles in his boxing shoes, but was actually talking about those things that "distract" you in life and in your training. I know for a fact as you walk along with a pebble the size of a pinhead in your shoe, it is all you can think about with every step. Thus, the gaiters...lol.

I have noticed a slightly larger belly over the last several months and admit it makes hiking a little more challenging. Hopefully, I will be able to lose some of that extra girth over the next few months. Then there is the altitude we are hiking in now, ranging from seven to almost nine thousand feet. Did you know there is no oxygen at that level. Well, I cannot find any.

Recently we hiked about a mile down Bright Angle Trail located at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Going down was fairly simple. Coming back up was; well I do not have the words to describe how it feels when your about to toss up your lungs. Two rangers assigned to walk the trail to check on how people were doing with their hike asked that of me. I don't know what about my appearance prompted them to choose me. It could have been my flushed face. It could have been my standing with my belly laying against the side of the mountain in the only shaded spot for three hundred feet. Or, I suppose it could have been the higher than normal 60/min respirations coupled with the heaving of my chest. Whatever the reason, they singled me out and asked how I was doing. Keeping in mind how hard it is to carry on a conversation with that 60/rpms, I responded with all the strength and wind I could muster telling them I was doing fine but would very much appreciate if they would keep a look out for my lungs. I was certain I lost them a few hundred yards back down the trail.

And then there were the young bucks who were running the trail. That will boost your confidence. Oh, and then the couple who claimed out loud to each other (so that all within earshot could hear) how they had been down to the river and back up in just about eight hours. Last summer, on the same trail at about the same spot, there were some senior's, very senior, who were walking down the path with their canes. Not walking sticks, but canes. I new I could beat them back up the trail. In my mind, they were NOT going to beat me. Let me just say, there were a lot of places for them to stumble and things to stumble over including my feet.

As it worked out, I did not have to get physical with them. It is interesting how such a non-competitive sport like hiking does bring about a certain level of competition. This time at Bright Angles, I thought for sure I was going to have to tether myself to Mally in order for her to help me up the climb. I learned a lot of rope knots on the fire department and I knew I could tie one that would not turn loose and keep me from slipping into the abyss of the canyon. I could go on about our hiking experiences, but I shall save that for another post.

So, you might ask, "What is the purpose for this post Steve?" It is about our 24/7/360 over the time of our life span of hiking or living through this life. It is filled with potholes, quicksand, high cliffs, sheer drops, raging rivers, wild animals and situations; fogged in corners, bone chilling and heart breaking experiences. They grip you with fear, doubt, uncertainty, and excitement while offering challenges, thrills, and consequences to only mention a few. There are always questions about which way to turn, which trail to take, what preparations should be made and then the ultimate questions to answer, Am I ready? Have I prepared for the trip? Have I studied the terrain and fitted myself with all the necessary items needed for success?

This brings me to trail markers. I am not an expert on trail markers as witnessed by our first hike ever. It was supposed to be a flat, three mile hike that turned into a ten mile, "lost as a goose in a snow storm" adventure. Needless to say, but I will say it anyway, we have learned a little about trail markers since then. Keeping this to American trails, the first thing to know is the markers are actually called "blazes". In the 1700's, blazing was the means of carving a notch in a tree to indicate the route of the trail. Blazes are usually at eye level or a little higher than the overgrowth, painted on trees or sometimes rocks and posts according to onestepthenanother.com .

It is interesting that Native Americans used trees to mark a path. They are referred to as "Tree Markers" or "Marker Trees". They would take young saplings and bend them to the desired direction of travel. These trees can be found in many of the forest in America and are several centuries old according to masshumanites.org . Trail marking has taken on many forms, but to me one of the most unique forms is known as "cairns".

The name originates from a Gaelic term that means “heap of stones”. It was likely first coined by Scots who used them to mark trails across grass-covered, hilly landscapes. In the Andes Mountains and Mongolia, rock cairns were used to mark routes to safety, to food, and to villages as told in "Balancing Act: the history of rock cairns and why stacking" at zionnationalpark.com .

Rock cairns have been used to mark burial grounds, food sources, and directions for traveling from one place to another and yes, they have also been used as spiritual aids. We have seen a few cairns on our hikes. Most recently, Mally and I were hiking in Canyonland National Park and we came across one stack of rocks followed by another, and then another. We finally realized the park had put up a row of cairns that led us all the way around the top of a mountain. It was surprisingly easy to follow the laid out path of these stones.

Our last hike, up to "The Birthing Cave" in Sedona, had a few cairns as well. It is comforting to find them even though I suppose it takes an element of faith to follow cairns when you do not know who constructed them or for what purpose. One thing is certain; the wind does not blow them into pyramidal shapes along paths leading from one place to another. I know the wind can blow rocks. We were warned by one of the attendants on Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs the wind can blow rocks the size of softballs across the road so he encouraged us to be watchful as we traveled.

For this post, I would like to leave you with some of the cairns found in the Word of God. They are endless! Remember, cairns are to be used for direction. Single cairns were used often in the Old and New Testaments. Before we look at a few, let us recall something God used as a sort or cairn (directional) regarding the nation of Israel. In Exodus 13:22 we read how God led the Israelites out of Egypt. His directional "cairns" were a,

"Pillar of cloud to lead them by the day and a pillar of fire to lead them by the night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people."

The take away here is God always goes before His people never leaving them to wander aimlessly, both then and now.

So, in line with this thinking let's consider the following verses which I will call cairns. When you are considering the beginning of all things, you need only begin with,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1

You do not need to look at science, art, philosophy, religion, or any other source. You only need to trust that God created everything including you.

When you are asked to explain why there is so much evil in the world today, you need only to turn Genesis 3:1-7, 14, 16-17, to learn about the fall of man.

"Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals, that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say 'You can't eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent "We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.'" "No! You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. "In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves."

In verse 14, God cursed the serpent to move on his belly and eat dust. In verse 16, God told the woman,

"I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. You desire will be for your husband, yet he will dominate you. And He said to Adam, "Because you listened to your wife's voice and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'Do not eat from it: The ground is cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of painful labor all the days of your life...."

God then drove them out of the garden. Why is there so much evil in the world? The cairn of God's Word tells us it is because of the sin resulting from Eve and Adam's disobedience to His command.

When you ask yourself "Why am I here and what is my purpose?", turn to 1 Corinthians 10:31.

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Our purpose is to do everything for the glory of God. So, let us follow the cairn. When you ponder why Jesus had to go to the cross to die, look to the cairn.

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16.

God sent Jesus to die on the cross for your and my sins caused by the fall in Genesis 3! When you ask if there is another way to heaven, absolutely follow the cairn of Scripture when Jesus says,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

There is no other way Oprah!

A few final cairns of Scripture to follow. John 15:5,

"I am the vine, your are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me."

You can look these up for homework: Romans 1:18-32 regarding guilt of the world. 1 Corinthians 13 regarding the superior way of love. Ephesians 3:8 to direct us about the means of our salvation. Philippians 4:13,

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Colossians 1:15-20 to gain the knowledge of who Jesus is. Colossians 3:12-23 to follow the cairn on how to live a Christian life. Finally, having just scratched the surface, the last cairn I present to you comes from Revelation 22:12. The Apostle John says regarding Jesus,

"Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to repay each person according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

Be mindful! Follow the cairns! They can be relied upon to lead you to a fulfilling righteous life and an eternal presence with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Wear Jesus Well,

Blessings,

Steve