Tunnel Falls at Corbett’s Glen near Rochester, New York
I was talking with a friend about last week’s post. Our conversation diverged into some of the truly lovely people we have met on our respective travels. The people who blessed us when we needed it most, the people who left us delighted that we’d had the privilege of meeting them. The ones who restored hope that there are still good people in the world.
Marsh marigolds on the way to Ibantik Lake in the Uinta Mountains of Utah
I remember being tired, hungry, and totally sick of a particular hike in the Canadian Rockies many years ago. A group of three or four individuals came down the trail toward us and, as normal, we moved to the side to let them pass. “It’s beautiful up there!” they enthused. “You’re almost there. You’re doing great! You can do this!” It changed our entire day. Instead of being tired and wishing we could just go back to the trailhead, we just about danced up the path (and no, we weren’t “almost there”) to the alpine lake. It didn’t change the fact that we hadn’t brought lunch (again!), but our attitude was totally different – just because some people were encouraging.
Walking along Cracker Lake in Glacier National Park, Montana
On our last trip, we came upon Cracker Lake about the same moment as a couple in their 60s. The husband asked if he could take a group shot (yes please!), but as he was taking our photo, he started cracking jokes. Really terrible jokes, mostly, but they were funny. Most of us were already overawed at the scenery, but for a couple of guys in my group who weren’t as thrilled with hiking, those jokes turned the hike into something worth doing.
Hiking along Skyline Divide in the Mount Baker Wilderness, Washington
I could go on and on – I’ve met so many delightful people on the trail and while traveling – and it’s always an encouragement. (Sometimes it’s as simple as driving down the highway and passing another van filled with stair-step kids and both sides are counting of heads, and holding up fingers, to tell just how many people are in each family.) They bless us, whether they know it or not.
Rock formations in the Valley of Dreams, New Mexico
But then there are the others – the people who seem to be trying to snatch away your opportunity for joy and enjoyment on the trail. To make you as stressed and angry and bitter as they are. It’s not too difficult for them to draw in unsuspecting victims (we see it done by the media every day). And at times, it’s so frustrating that they have done their dirty work on us or on those we are with.
Wildflowers in Hidden Valley, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California
At times like that, my only way out is to remember that these people are loved by God no less than the people who make me feel so blessed. It makes no sense: How can God love people who are doing satan’s work (stealing, killing, and destroying; see John 10:10)? How can He love them just as much as those who are spreading His kingdom of love and peace and joy (see Romans 14:17)?
Little pond near Milner Pass on the Ute Trail West in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
But it’s true: God loves them all with an infinite love. If it wasn’t true, then God would be showing favoritism (see Romans 2:11) to “good” people. And that would mean that none of us would be in a category to be saved. So I’m grateful that God loves everyone – yes, everyone – with His incredible, amazing, infinite love.
Purple phlox on Mt. Agassiz in the Uinta Mountains of Utah
And since God calls us to be like Jesus, that’s an invitation to see everyone as He sees them: with infinite love. Even the ranger who oversteps her administrative boundaries in her passion for what she believes is ‘right’. Even the cop who notices your registration is overdue. Even the random hiker who steals a piece of your lunch right off your plate as he walks by.
Hiking across the Snowy Range in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming
For me, these people are an invitation to step back, take a deep breath, and remember that God loves them as much as He loves me and those around me. Sometimes, it’s more of an invitation for me to dig deep into the heart of God for His love for them, to bless those who curse me (Matthew 5:44), and to take the love that God has for them and be the hands of God to give it to them.
