- photo by Susan PageA good friend called and asked, “Do you want to go hiking tomorrow?”

I responded, “Have you seen the weather forecast?” Accounting for the wind chill the forecast predicted -19 Celsius.

"Oh, we’ll be fine!" was her enthusiastic response.

Always up for the challenge, combined with my love of the great outdoors and nature photography, I ate a hearty breakfast and bundled up for the weather conditions including wearing snow pants and a balaclava, which I rarely pulled out.

The plan was to travel to a local conservation area with a beautiful waterfall. I had been there several years earlier cross-country skiing with some friends, when the waterfall had been completely frozen.

We arrived at our destination and were not surprised by the lack of people. Many Canadians in Southern Ontario do not brave the winter elements. We grabbed our cameras, and I took a firm grip on my walking poles and then we checked the signposts and started on the trail towards the falls. There were beautiful ice formations on the cliff and crevices surrounding the falls, but surprisingly there was also a powerful rush of water over the gorge that we could hear on our approach. It reminded me of these beautiful words from the Psalms, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42: 1,2,7,11).

I was ravished with wonder as I took in the sights and sounds.

The pure white of the freshly fallen snow, the beauty and intricacy of the ice formations and the vibrancy of the green moss clinging to the cliffs. Then, glancing up, I spotted a tree, standing straight and tall, growing with a root system that seemed to be sustained within the rock formation. It created another word picture from a comforting verse from the Psalmist, “He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Psalm 40:2b).

After taking some photos, we decided to take a different trail back to the parking lot.

Historically, I am not the one that people rely on for direction. However, after hiking the Blue Trail for a while I was ready to get warmed up. The afternoon was waning, snow was gently falling, and we were without a cell phone which is not recommended. It was time to decide the direction to take, we were at the crossroads. A Scripture from the prophet Jeremiah that means a great deal to me came to mind, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16). I said a silent prayer and assured my friend that I knew the way back to the car. She was filled with doubt (rightly so,) but was agreeable to follow. I will admit that crossing over a large reservoir, rounding the curve at the bottom of the hill, and spotting the parking lot, I was truly thankful we had been guided to the right path.

It's a picture of a life with Jesus. Not that it’s always easy to see, feel or sense the direction God is telling us to go. The Scriptures tell us “Thy Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Psalm 119:105). This points to the truth that we need to spend time in God’s Word to know the direction He wants us to take. We are also told that the Holy Spirit is our guide, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13).

It’s hard to quiet our racing thoughts, hear that gentle whisper and find rest for our souls. We must “Be still and know that He is God” (Psalm 46:10a). The way to do that can be unique to you. For me sometimes, a good brisk hike in nature surrounded by beauty and stillness is a reminder that our Father, the Holy Creator God, our Friend, Jesus, and our Comforter, His Holy Spirit is here to guide us when we come to a crossroads.

May we be encouraged to walk the good path!

Susan Page is the daughter of the King, His beloved child, wonderfully forgiven and blessed! Susan longs to age gracefully, becoming more like Jesus as she seeks the hidden treasures revealed to her through Scripture, literature, the arts, humankind, and nature.