Hiking the Appalachian Trail (Hopefully, Someday)

Last night, Jill and I watched a National Geographic documentary on the Appalachian Trail. It was terrific. I love nature, and though I haven't visited many national parks, I believe that I have seen some of the most beautiful parts of this country. I have seen the coasts of Maine, Connecticut, and Oregon; I have seen the waters of Puget Sound and Cape Cod Bay; I have seen the hills of Virginia, Vermont, and yes, New Jersey; I have seen the woods of Massachusetts and North Carolina; I have seen the grasslands of Illinois and Iowa; and, I have seen the rivers of New York and the deserts of Arizona. I have seen all these things, and I have enjoyed them immensely. But I haven't seen the Appalachian Trail with my own eyes. And, after watching the documentary last night, I am now convinced that the places I have seen, while certainly beautiful, represent only a portion of America's rich natural heritage. In fact, they are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. (And no, I haven't seen any icebergs yet.)

Friends, the Appalachian Trail is breathtaking. It stretches from Georgia to Maine. It crosses the Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Parks. It is the home of black bears, wild horses, and moose. It boasts dozens of bird species, and there is enough tree and plant diversity to make a botanist happy. So, what are you waiting for? Grab some trail mix, get out there, and start hiking.

There is nothing wrong with cities. In fact, urbanization has bestowed many benefits on modern society, from art museums and sports franchises to good Thai restaurants. Nonetheless, we should all spend some time in nature. We are built for beauty - we long for it. And, while there is great beauty to be found in our cities and towns, nature possesses a special beauty that cannot be found anywhere else. We are built for silence - without it, we cannot hear ourselves think. And though urban dwellers can find refuge from the noise of society in their homes and local parks, nature affords a unique opportunity to unplug and reconnect with ourselves. Finally, we are built for God, our Creator and Redeemer - it is in God that we find true happiness, peace, and love. God is bound by nothing, and there is no place where His power cannot be seen or His presence cannot be felt. But nature furnishes us with remarkable evidence of the goodness, power, majesty, beauty, and love of God, and we should expose ourselves to this evidence from time to time. Let us remember the numerous psalms and other passages of Scripture that extol God's glory through praising the beauty of His creation.

I urge you to visit nature, and to visit it often. In particular, I urge you to visit a national park. Here is the website of the U.S. National Park Service. If you live outside the United States, then visit one of your own country's national parks. Or come here. We have enough to go around, and we would be glad to see you.