Every hike begins with a question for the Master of the Universe. And then, a plea.
“Lord, what do you want to say to me on this hike today?” And then: “Lord, please hold my hand and walk with me.”
Whenever I walk in the woods, I remember where and when I first fell in love with nature, a place that has somehow always gifted me with clarity, serenity and understanding.
I grew up on a farm in Shinnston, WV, a former coal town. Our three-bedroom farmhouse sat between two steep hillsides. A narrow winding road, heavily traveled by rumbling coal trucks, divided the hillsides and a sulfur-scented creek called Shinns Run carved a shimmering swath through our property.
Continue reading “Walking Through the Woods: Facing My Fears”