Go Beyond

I have found a kindred spirit in my friend Bill Crenshaw. We both thirst for adventure and love the outdoors. Early this morning, we tossed our hiking gear into the bed of my truck and headed to the beautiful Brazos Bend State Park, located south of Houston. Our goal was to hike every trail in the park, something we could not complete today because some of the trails were closed due to recent rains.

When Bill reached for his backpack, he showed me a message that his daughter Lauren had painted on the bag when she had borrowed it for a trip to Europe. The message: My Feet Take Me Places. We laughed and nodded in agreement. I love Lauren’s simple message because I believe that we should allow our feet to take us to good places — places that challenge, inspire, and refresh us.

When the pressures of life close in on us, it’s not a bad idea to allow our feet to take us to places where we can recharge. Bill and I agree that you don’t always have to travel far to find adventure, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money. You just have to be intentional about looking for those places where you can enjoy different and pleasing vistas. Brazos Bend is less than an hour drive from my home and yet a world away.

In spite of some trails being closed at the park, we managed to hike about 10-miles this morning. We followed one trail adjacent to the slow-moving Brazos River and saw some of the most magnificent trees along the way. We also hiked down to the river and enjoyed some peaceful moments there. The park is absolutely beautiful at this time of the year and the overcast skies this morning added a peaceful hue to the landscape.

I also believe that we should allow our feet to take us in the direction of those in need. Tomorrow morning my feet will take me to another place, to serve people in need with some Kingsland volunteers. Serving others is an adventure that can refresh and recharge us and one that we should engage in often. I encourage you to get on your feet and to allow them to take you on an adventure. Trust me when I say that you’ll be glad you did.