Yosemite Reflections

Could I walk or climb that path if it was the way? Could I do that?! 

False alarm. We rounded a bend and our eyes saw clearly we were not required to climb that ever upward road of large rocks. No, the trail took us in a different direction, just as hard in its own way. 

The second picture above shows a mere few feet of it that I thought spoke volumes about choosing our paths in life. Lo ok at all those stones making the path. What if we were required to make our way through those stones as if each step and each stone were necessary for us to make it through? I would have stopped right there. I did. This is the walk of life. But how do we walk it? And what is required of us?

Let’s reference Micah. He is usually considered a minor prophet in the Bible, but had gained enough respect and esteem in his life’s work among the poor and disenfranchised to be referenced by later prophets and teachers in their own work. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and prophesied of the birth of a Messiah who would claim Micah’s folk as a part of His people. In Micah, we are told clearly what the Lord would require of us. Hear the word:

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a] with your God.

I had been praying my way along this hike when I came to this pathway of fitted stones. It spoke to me as if it were my life journey. How am I to choose my path through the confusion of our world? Every stone looks as good as the next. But is it? No, every path is not as good as the next and Micah voices how the Lord wants us to make our way through life – justly, with kindness and by walking humbly. (By walking humbly, we might just be able to hear God speak to us instead of hearing only our very own voices or someone else’s who is intent on misdirecting us. Just one of the advantages of walking humbly.)

Whoa! Not an easy ask, is it? How well do we do that without asking God to come along side us on our journey? I prayed at those stones before taking a step forward for the gift they were to me and I thanked God for showing once again just how much I need Him every day and in every way. 

There is a song that came to mind as I considered what God requires of me. It’s in our chancel choir files at church and I always loved to make this music with everyone involved in choir whether they be singers, musicians, directors, sound techs etc. – I love coming closer to God working in harmony with people from our various walks of life. For me, music serves to ground God’s message deep inside me – much like hiking does. 

Our church does have an anthem that matches this verse exactly and I love that one too! But, today, I recall the piece we did more than once called “Order My Steps”. It is written as a gospel song and I love to let my fingers reach deep to get a ‘good hunk of Jesus’ as my niece, the Reverend Megan Walther is known to say , when I play the accompaniment. She usually says that about communion bread – she wants everyone to get a good hunk of Jesus. I laughed out loud when I first heard her say it and briefly wondered if my mother, Barbara Crumm, Megan’s grandmother would think it improper in some way. (She didn’t.) I have come to love Megan’s way of referencing this sacred part of communion and find it eminently appropriate. 

We need Jesus so much every day all the way. How else are we going to find the path and be sustained along our journey if we don’t always have with us “a good hunk of Jesus”? Listen to the YouTube recording of our version of the piece “Order My Steps”. I knew I needed help before I continued my journey in Yosemite. I am sure you are no different. 

I wish I had a recording of Goodrich UMC singing this. Why? Because the GUMC choir takes risks and we have always sung, played, and directed with our hearts wide open. I only hold that rendition in my soul. But prepare your heart anyway and listen to Mark Hayes’ arrangement and God’s message will come alive for you, too. That song and it’s message remains alive in me, so I will hike on and we will meet again. May God’s blessings be upon your journey, my friends. 

~Shauna Weil