I had opportunity this past year to do more hiking & backpacking than I had ever done before. I love that I am making friends with a desire to get into the simplicity of the woods without technology or demands of life creeping in. There is true freedom to be found in the wild, the forest, the woods, the sticks or whatever you want to call them.
There was one thing I noticed on backpacking trips more this year than any other year. The night sky. With the lack of rain in the Northwest this summer, fire bans were in effect in many forests. Without a fire in the evening I found myself sitting or lying on the ground staring at the immensity of the stars, galaxy, planets and whatever else might be in the ‘black’.
The longer I stared the more I realized I was so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of history. I realized the world is small in the grand scheme of the universe. I realized I had more to learn about life than I had to teach. I realized I am in need of more than this world could ever offer. I realized how small I really am.
As a Christian I sometimes get lost in my own self-importance. I sometimes lose sight of what really matters in this world. I sometimes come to realize my need for a Savior who can teach me to love. I love my time out in the woods. It allows my life to recalibrate. My priorities realign – Jesus, Lanae, my girls, family, community of disciples, other relationships and stuff.
This is the order of my priorities. When I look closely at my priorities, I realize the importance of my relationships. I realize I am nothing without Jesus. I realize the importance and love I have for Lanae and how she is the single most important earthly person in my life. I realize how proud I am to be the father of two awesome and beautiful girls. I realize how important my family (both mine and Lanae’s) really is to me. I realize how a community of disciples chasing hard after Jesus sharpens me, encourages me and strengthens me. I realize I’m small in all of these.
You see I have to choose to be small. Because when Jason is big then Jesus gets crowded out. But when Jason is small then Jesus can be big and I want people to see Jesus, not me. So it’s good for me to get out into the woods. To hit the trails of the backcountry. To make sure my priorities are straight and if they’re not to re-order them.
The way I see it, to have a big impact in this world I have to be small. So, that’s what I choose for me.
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