OUT OF THE SLIMY PIT

While in South Louisiana visiting dear friends, we took a couple of hikes.  The first day found us at the Mary Brown Nature Conservancy.  Beautiful trails through the deep woods and bluffs of South Louisiana, I was prepared to enjoy a frolic through the forest.  



What I did not realize was two days before the area had 10 inches of rain fall in a very short period of time.  The National Highway had been closed for a period of time due to flooding.  AND there are beautiful streams that run through the land.



Add to this the unusually dry past few months they had experienced and you have all the ingridents necessary for a flash flood.  The dry ground had turned to sand and the vegetation was had died from lack of rain.  Then the waters pouring through the area pushed the sand and dirt down the dry creek beds.  It all comes to a halt when there is an obstacle such as a wooden bridge and the mud drops.


The first couple of bridges we crossed presented no problem, but then we found ourselves at the bottom of the ravine.  The mud was soft, gooey, and deep.  We began to explore ways around the deep mud filled trail.  It is NOT a pretty sight to see me pulling myself up the side of a deep ravine trying to get above the quick sand like obstacle.  My first try lead to turning around and retracing my steps to try the other side.  As I cling to trees and bushes trying to pull myself up and keep from sliding down, I am holding The Wonder Dog.  He may be traumatized for life.  FINALLY I make it to the edge of the bridge by walking the railing.  THEN there is another field of mud on the other side.  At this point, I get wise and follow in the footsteps of my friend, Mark.  Carefully placing my foot in the deep prints left when he crossed the mud filled path, I was able to get to the other side and climb the ravine to go around the remaining mud.  It was NO walk in the park.


While thinking this over, I began to realize how like life this little hike was.  The trail is often beautiful and luring us into a false sense of safety.  We turn a corner and there is the mud filled path staring us in the face.  Trying to get around it can prove to be a dead end and often we have to retrace our steps.  It often takes trial and error to realize someone is right in front of us pointing the way.  A trail of footprints, or crumbs, or arrows point the way for us.  All we have to do is stop looking at our toes (right past our navel) and glance in front of us to see we have been left directions on how to continue down the path.  

The mud of the trail and the mud of life can all be washed off.  The beauty of the trail can only be enjoyed if we work our way through the mud and continue down the path.  At the end of this trail was the most beautiful sight of the entire hike-

We would have missed it all had we not gone through the mud.  It was more than worth the struggle.


He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; 
he set my feet on a rock
 and gave me a 
firm place to stand.
Psalms 40:2

5 comments

  1. You be brave...no way I would do that, seeing how you have snakes in them woods. (apologies for my southern drawl, lolol)

    Have a beautiful day friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had the Wonder Dog with me for protection!! 🤣 It was SO beautiful!!
      Blessings, My Friend!

      Delete
  2. Like Linda Said. I was told wherever there is mud and slime there are snakes and alligator - especially in Louisiana. Whenever it rains here in the UK I don't go out in my garden in case there are snakes and alligators from Louisiana taking a holiday over here. Also, because I don't want to get wet. There is apparently a correlation bet ween seeing a snake or alligator and suddenly getting wet. That's why I never understood Adam and Eve having a conversation with a snake rather than pooping their non-existing pants. Do you think either of them was a ventriloquist?

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We didn't realize we could send our reptiles across the pond, Victor, on holiday. You need to prepare for boatloads of the slimy creatures!! I don't seek them out, and I keep my eyes peeled, but I don't let them keep me home!
      Blessings!

      Delete
    2. LOLOLOLOL Victor---thank you for the fits of giggles....you have snakes and alligators, Lulu and we have bears up here in upstate NY, LOLOL.

      Delete

Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!