Walking Alone

This morning I was going to meet a friend at a trail head to hike. 

I got up early, anticipating her gentle companionship along the trail, our dogs leading the way.

But, she couldn't make it and so...

I walked alone. 

I love to be alone so this normally wouldn't be a problem, but I was a little nervous because I was in the woods with not a soul in sight. 

And apparently I've seen too many episodes of Criminal Minds because I started picturing a scary man in the woods, jumping out from the trees with a Tazer and dragging me off in a van. 

This also has something to do with my mother always giving me the "worst case scenario" as a child before I ever did ANYthing. 

It also has something to do with being raised in LA and not Montana. 

My mind is trained to be wary of... well everything.

Luckily, I had my girl with me.

And her excitement to be free on the trail was contagious. 

I thought about fear and how it likes to be a thief, and rob us of moments that could be times of peace or joy or gratefulness. 

So, I walked the path and looked for beauty to be my companion.

And found it.

I walked smiling at the incredible variety of creation, 

at my chocolate girl glancing back at me to make sure I was still there, 

at the rain drops making their way through the tree canopy to my skin.

And I thought about new paths that we sometimes must take alone. 

But, we aren't alone. 

He is always there, just before us, causing flowers to bloom along our path, falling a tree to block the wrong direction, calming us with just the whisper of His name.