Just as a week backpacking in the wilderness causes one to be ‘authentic’, it definitely also brings to the surface your true values. It tests your integrity. Will I do what I’ve committed to doing as a Christian and will I be who I claim to be as a follower of Jesus Christ? (This is also strongly tested in marriage by the way and in family life overall.)
Here are a few scenarios:
Scenario #1: Tonight, the crew on the trail is going to use the meal you’ve been carrying the past three days. This is good news, because it means that tomorrow you’re pack will be significantly lighter. That’s easier on your shoulders and your back. Less pain for you. But, you are well aware that a few of the folks you are backpacking with are struggling with the weight of their packs. Will you offer to carry some of their load?
Scenario #2: It’s your turn to help cook the evening meal. Tonight, you get to have GORP, which is a mixture of granola, oatmeal, raisins, peanuts, and M&M’s. After four hard days on the trail, this is like an ice cream sundae. You can’t wait. As you are divvying up the GORP among the group, do you take more for yourself? Do you pick out a few extra M&M’s for your cup? Do you even eat a little now while everyone else is off setting up camp? No one would know.
Scenario #3: It’s sharing time, and you’ve been encouraged by how people are really encountering God and experiencing His presence and strength. You haven’t been experiencing that at all. You’ve felt selfish, overwhelmed, and even discouraged as you’ve been seeing the truth of yourself come to the surface. Do you tell the truth or make up some story about how you also have been overwhelmed by God’s presence? People have also shared how they’ve been praying for you. You haven’t been praying for them, but is that what you say?
Scenario #4: One of the members of the team has been really struggling. They’ve complained about injuries, needed extra help, and have generally been very hard to be around. As you are walking with one of your friends, he/she begins to complain about this other person and even questions whether this person’s injuries are real. Do you join in? Do you spend time criticizing this person who has been struggling or do you lead the conversation in a more appropriate direction?
Scenario #5: Someone needs to go dig the community BIFF (bathroom in forest floor). You are tired from a day of hiking. Do you volunteer?
Scenario #6: You’ve committed to no impact hiking, and as you are walking along you see some trash – definitely not yours. Do you stop and pick it up?
Scenario #7: Someone asks if anyone has an extra pad to help with their blisters. You have one left. Do you give up your last one? Do you keep it in case you need it?
Consider how easy it is on the trail to let our Biblical values be trumped by worldly (selfish) values. Take a look at the following lists. Which values tend to have more of an impact on your life?
Biblical values / Worldly values
Serve / Be served
Give / Take
Suffering leading to growth / Suffering leading to bitterness
Humility / Pride
Compassion / Judgment
Least of these / Seat of honor at banquet table
Dying to self / Worshiping self
Looking for God’s approval in secret / Pleasing people in public
Storing up treasures in heaven / Storing up treasures on earth
Are you doing what you said you'd do as a follower of Jesus Christ?
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:17
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