What an extrodinarily difficult post to create.
I had the priveledge of sharing three weeks and a few hundred miles with Pete and his little dog Gigi. Countless nights passed with Pete and I engaged in conversation concerning God’s promise of eternal life, when Jesus Christ is one’s Savior and Lord.
I cannot pretend to know what compelled Pete to ask me about my own faith in Jesus Christ and His forgiveness of my sins but, I can tell you that his questions were of upmost importance to him personally. And, only three weeks later, he passed into eternity.
Each hiker brings with his or herself, a resume’ of experience or profession… my own “calling” centers on the hope found in a life submitted to the cause of Christ Jesus and His promise of eternal life to each one seeking forgiveness of sin and submission to His lordship over their lives.
I was given the unique priveledge of sharing this hope with a fellow hiker desiring to know such truth as found in God’s Word, the Holy Bible. I could not have known that I would be asked to share my own hope found in Christ in such a way, at such a time, with such a man and at such a place as the Appalachian Trail. I am the richer man for Pete’s allowing my sharing his burdens concerning eternal life or death.
Thank you Pete! You will be sorely missed by many and by me personally. I hope your final days hiking were full of God’s wonderous works and you truly found the peace you were so earnestly seeking.
Spanky