Living on the Line

Otter Creek Loop
8/14/13
Distance: 4.6 miles
Terrain: Mostly flat
Vegetation: Primarily pine-oak-aspen woods with some open fields and pine plantation
Comments: Beautiful views of Otter Lake

Living on the Line
By Sarah Anderson

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
-Matthew 7:13-14

The hike through Otter Creek Loop on the Platte Plains Trail is one of my new favorites in the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The trail has a wide range of vegetation including fields of large green ferns, cool dark woods, a bubbling brook, and various views of Otter Lake. Each bend in the path rewarded us with something new to observe. At times we were silent with wonder and other times conversation flowed as each section of the trail reminded us of a fantasy world or an epic film. My favorite part of the trail was the first half, and especially the beginning. The trailhead was in a sunny patch of knee length grass but within 30 feet you found yourself in ominous shadows of an old pine forest. It gave you the impression that you just stepped through an invisible curtain that separated two worlds, one bright and happy, the other dark and mysterious. It reminded me of The Lord of the Rings and I was expecting Gollum to scuttle out from behind one of the trees.

Much of the time the trail served as a dividing line, each side in contrast with the other. It almost seemed that we were walking through two very different woods, but on the edge of each. The path, though a line, felt more like a fork. We could step off the trail to either side and explore deeper into the wooded world beyond. But the choice was ours. Which way would we go? Which side would we choose? Every person in this world will face a similar fork in the road. We are all living on the line, the edge of eternity. But we're given a choice. Will we step into a world of temporary treasures? Or will we follow Jesus on the path to righteousness and fulfillment through the cross? This earth has it's appeal and many have chosen to walk in it's ways but the Bible is clear that it won't satisfy. Living for the eternal is where the true adventure lies.

Jesus says, "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Which way will you go? Which side do you choose?

Father, forgive me for living for myself. I know the things of this world will just leave me empty. Only You can truly satisfy. I long to be fulfilled by Christ. God, I've been living on the line. I'm at the fork in the road, and it's time to make a decision. I choose Jesus Christ. I believe He substituted himself on the cross for my sins and lives forever as the one true God. I give my life to You, Lord, and choose to live for Your glory. Amen.

Otter Creek Loop in the Platte Plains Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Michigan Hiked 8/14/13 Song: "Thank You God for Saving Me" by Chris Tomlin

Temporary Treasures

The Windy Moraine Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - Michigan
8/13/13
Distance: 1.5 Mile Loop
Terrain: Hilly
Vegetation: Beech-maple forest, fields, and pine plantation
Wildlife: Squirrels, chipmunks, deer, various birds

Temporary Treasures
by Sarah Anderson

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 - "I denied myself nothing my eyes desires; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."

As we walked through the Windy Moraine there were many educational posts with numbers along the path. On our trail map, it gave a small informative paragraph on a particular field, fruit tree, or view located by each post.

As we neared number #5 we read about a great maple tree: "This giant sugar maple is certainly a century old; perhaps even much older. Why do you suppose it was spared when all the other surrounding trees were cut for lumber or to clear the area for farming? Pause here for a moment and think about the changes that have happened on the land since this tree was a seedling. If you feel a sense of awe, then you understand another reason for preserving biological diversity. Every time the world loses a species, we lose the opportunity to experience its unique beauty and wonder."

However, when we reached the fifth post the "Big Maple" didn't seem so beautiful. Nor was it a grand wonder. Large it was but it had not been spared as the trail map read.

A disease had slowly eaten away at the maple and it was rotting from the inside out. Overtime, even the greatest of things can be destroyed. The Bible says nothing of this world will last. If we don't keep a biblical perspective in our daily living, worldliness can easily consume us. And if we aren't careful, it can eat away at us like a cancer. Temporary treasures will always decay. Therefore we shouldn't live for the things of this world. As Ecclesiastes says, "all of it is meaningless." We should live for and invest in the eternal. Matthew 6:20-21 says "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Eventually, park rangers had cut some of the remaining branches down leaving the grand disaster before us. We did stand in wonder, but not because of the tree's greatness, but because we were in awe of a God who is worth more than all the treasures on earth.

Lord, forgive me when I spend more time focused on this world and what it might offer rather than living as a holy sacrifice unto you. You are my portion and my cup. You are enough and you satisfy my soul. Let not my heart be distracted by mere trifles. Let my heart be consumed with love for you!

The WIndy Moraine Trail in Sleeping Dunes National Lakeshore Empire, MI 8/13/13 Pictures by Sia Song: "Countless Wonders" by Chris Tomlin