I’m two weeks out from spending my entire summer in the woods. My first thoughts consist of excitement, occasional angst, peace, relief, and shedding off a few extra pounds ive gained since coming home. It’s like launching before the race. For me there’s a little too much spare time and no one around to waste it with. Which begs the question, “Steve why isn’t your head buried in your bible? This is a mission trip isn’t it?” Yeah it is. Honestly though, I don’t just need to have it buried for the sake of evangelism right now. I’m finding a lot of grace in the form of peace of mind from reading the Gospel of John right now. I’m reading that while reading the rest of the new testament and trying to finish up Exodus at the same time. That’s not what’s hard though. What is difficult right now is trying to stay off the internet filling my mind with fantasies of wild adventure, roaming through the woods making my way to Maine, expecting that to fill me spiritually. The trail is simply a means not an end. The end is God.
All this thru-hike is is a venue that God has provided to reach people. I wont find peace on this trail. I will find peace in The Lord. I wont find fulfillment in outdoor adventure. I will find fulfillment in The Lord. The very message I’m trying to tell to myself and to you now is the very message I hope to relate to other hikers on the A.T. I guess it’s a good thing I’m learning now from God rather than walk the whole thing in vain.
Please being praying for me and my buddy mark these next few weeks. Please pray for peace of mind, zero angst, a controlled disciplined excitement about the trail, and an explosive, loving, focused, greater excitement for the Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ and the sharing of it.
Thanks again for all your love and support
-Steven Buffington
P.S. If your interested in supporting me on this trip you can contact me at [email protected]. Thanks again!
