As Lent approaches....

Lent is a little bit like an opportunity to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail...

Your first thought is how long it is....

and potential difficulties along the way....

but whether you've planned well or not

Ash Wednesday arrives

and the journey begins.....

 the blaze we will follow is purple.

we are all in this together, it's true....

but our path is single file.....

 with our Lord by our side...

whatever each day brings.

Thru-hikers face challenges along the way

but one of their frequent battles are with the numerous hungry mice in every sleep shelter...

trail food must be hung from the rafters

but the mice leap from above and try to get the food anyway.

i'm sure we will face a few mice during Lent, too, nibbling away at our desire to persevere.

but the ultimate goal is to draw close to Christ.

Thru-hikers get a trail name by which they are known--names like

Stretch

No-hear-um

Bear bait

Nova

Tipperary

Grey Squirrel

...

In Heaven the thru-hiker receives a stone with his name on it.

I guess we will learn our trail name then!