While we are doing our thru hike of the AT, we constantly see posters bearing various rules and regulations.
One
of them which appears all over the place says "Leave no Trace." Of
course the reasoning behind the injunction is great. It means as one
travels the AT he is to bear in mind that he should carry out all trash
he creates, and basically seek to leave all areas as he found them.
This
is important on a number of levels.
First of all, lots of people are now out hiking in America's Nat'l Parks. If they are not committed to the principle then the AT and the parks in general would soon be full of trash.
First of all, lots of people are now out hiking in America's Nat'l Parks. If they are not committed to the principle then the AT and the parks in general would soon be full of trash.
Secondly, but
not in terms of importance, is the fragile nature of the environment.
The national parks of the East Coast of America have already taken big
hits in terms of losing certain species of trees, like the American
Chestnut, and many other species of flora and fauna are now threatened.
Leave
no trace us an important guideline if the current generation wants to
leave the forests and parks as they found them, or even in better shape,
for subsequent generations to enjoy.
However,
having said all that, I fear that too many professing Christians are
living by this guideline when it comes to living out their faith. As a
serious follower of Jesus, I
want to leave traces of His goodness and grace all over the place. As 2 Cor. 2:14-16 Tell us, we are always to be spreading "the aroma of Christ." I am to bring a witness to the scene and also leave something behind that will point people to faith in Jesus.
want to leave traces of His goodness and grace all over the place. As 2 Cor. 2:14-16 Tell us, we are always to be spreading "the aroma of Christ." I am to bring a witness to the scene and also leave something behind that will point people to faith in Jesus.
So please pray for
me as I hike. Pray I will leave in this environment a witness to the
One who made the world and every thing in it.
No comments:
Post a Comment