The Trudge & CotT (another dream)

I am trying to move past the fact that it has been 2-3 years since I have posted on here. It is not that my commitment to one day attempt a thru-hike of the AT has waned, it is just that parish ministry is as much a trudge as Mahoosuc Notch. Don’t believe me? That is okay; one day – when it is more appropriate, I will be able to tell my story with the appropriate amount of hindsight and perspective.

Because the trudge of ministry in a solo position got to be so isolating and difficult, I decided to make a move for my family. This move set me back 6-12 months from what would have been my start date for the AT, but I feel okay about it. I’m now in a setting that is much different; there is the fact that it is urban rather than rural, but that is just the beginning. Time will tell how all goes but for now I have started a countdown in my phone for my start of the AT – 1283 days until I hit the trail in GA and 888 days until I let the vestry know that I have one year before I do so. It does put things in perspective. At this point I know that the rest of the first year here will likely fly by. Beyond that, it is hard to say what ministry in this setting will be like. I definitely miss being beside the White Mountains on a daily basis, but I’m glad to still just be less than two hours from them.

This picture of Knife’s Edge was taken in 2019. This part of the AT (northern terminus) is awe-inspiring. I hope to visit again next summer or at least by 2025. It is an amazing hike and I definitely want to make it before I try the thru hike. Did I mention that I am also going to be trying to do the thru hike in only 4 months? We’ll see how this goes. It is time for me to start getting more fit; that is for sure. I am well aware I may not be able to complete the AT in 4 months, but I can try!

With hope, always, Sammy (oh yes – I have come out as non-binary since I last posted.)

PS – the other dream – I’m starting a project on the side (“Church of The Trails.”) Basically, the idea is for an event based church body where we ask ourselves: How have we, as Christ Followers, spent time with God’s earth in the past week or month to heal the world, including ourselves?