Bass Lake Loop
8/15/13
Distance: 3.5 mile
Terrain: Mostly flat with a few rolling hills near the end by the trailhead
Vegetation: Primarily pine-oak-aspen woods with some open fields and pine plantation
Comments: Wear bug spray! Beautiful views of Bass Lake near trailhead
Waiting for the King
By Sarah Anderson
"Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes..." -Psalm 96:12-13a
The Bass Lake Loop is located on the Platte Plains Trail. The path cuts through towering trees that reach up toward the heavens as patches of sunlight dance between their leaves. The brush was low in some parts so you could see far between their trunks. Along the way, I was reminded of C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia. There was a beautiful silence in the woods, as if everything was watching for the arrival of Aslan. At any moment, I felt as though I too would see his golden mane appear, weaving between the open spaces bathed in greenish light.
Not far beyond the trailhead, we came across a tree with a trunk twisted to better reach the sunlight. Among the straight and tall waiting for Aslan, this tree was so bent, it looked as though it couldn't quite see the coming King. It's neck was "craned" around to get a better view. I was reminded of Zacchaeus in the Bible who climbed a Sycamore tree to see the arrival of Jesus.
Are we anxiously awaiting the arrival of our Lord? Do we live as though we expect him to return today? Or are we caught up in our daily routine? Waiting does not mean that we are idle, but actively serving Him with our lives, ready for His coming. Luke 12:35-40 says, "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Because trees need light to flourish, each one was stretched and bent to better reach the sun. Likewise, let us seek the Son so we may grow in our faith and bring Him glory. Let our lives reflect eager anticipation for the King's return.
Father, let me be like this tree, determined to adjust what I need to in my life so I can better see You! Forgive me for getting caught up in my routine. How easily I forget that my life's purpose is to magnify Your name. I tend to live for my own desires. Instead, help me to live with an eternal perspective, so I will be ready for Your arrival! What a glorious day that will be!