I mentioned in my last post that I was walking the PCT to “To find out more about myself and my relationship with God” but that there was more to it.  This is not meant as a justification for walking as  I do not feel that any justification is necessary.   This is an explanation for those that are confounded by it or just plain curious.

I think if you asked each person on the PCT why they were hiking the PCT you would get a different answer from each person you asked.  Therefore  each reason is unique and that is cool.  I have a unique story to tell… yay!!!

There is a 3 fold reason why I am walking the PCT.  The overall encompassing reason is to get closer to God.  To speak with God every chance I get.  To see and marvel at the world that God created and gave to us to live on.  I believe at this point in time I am doing God’s will and that He has something out there for me.  But the 3 sub-reasons are:

1. One of the reasons for walking the PCT has the same answer as the question “Why does a dog lick himself?”.  BECAUSE HE CAN.  I am walking the PCT because I can.   I am physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially able to walk the trail this year.   Not all of those factors would have been true last year (when I thought I would walk the trail — more on that in my next post) and may not be true again.  I expect that walking the trail will actually help me in 3 of those areas as well.  At the end I believe I will be stronger physically, stronger mentally, stronger spiritually.
2. My mother died at a very young age and some years after that my dad gave me the following advice.  Do not put your dreams on hold for some future thing to happen.  He said that he and my mom had many plans for what they were going to do in the future and that future date just never happened.  Lenora and I have been pretty good with that advice and generally followed our dreams.  However we always talked about walking the Appalachian Trail while back east and when we came west and found out about the PCT wanted to walk it…. together.  The walking together is not going to happen because of some hip issues but Lenora and I are doing this together.   Lenora has been there for all the planning, all the training, and will be there for most Sundays so that we can go to Church together.  Basically she is putting her life on hold so that we can do the PCT.  The only difference is that I get to walk while she patiently waits for me to reach the next destination.  I have the easy part.
3. When faced with a decision especially a decision that has moral implications but also represents a sacrifice I have always been fond of the statement “If not you, who?  If not now, when?”.   The last part applies to the PCT.  If not now, when?  Similar to reason 2 but biblical.  There are many Bible verses that apply but these two are my favorites.
   Luke 12:16-21 “Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” ’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”  
    Matthew 24:36-44 “But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.  For as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away. So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.  Two men will be out in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken, and one will be left.  Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour of night when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not let his house be broken into. So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
   So like I said, similar to 2 but biblical.  Don’t put off your dreams because you just never know.  If not now, when?