In March 1993, 51-year-old Jean Deeds was reading The Indianapolis Star and came across an article about a young woman who had just hiked the Appalachian Trail. While reading about this woman’s journey, Jean was captivated by the idea of doing it herself. So one year later, in 1994– Jean hiked the entire Appalachian Trail!
Twenty six years later, at the Indy Chamber’s Women in Business conference, Jean shared her story with all of the attendees at the conference’s keynote speaker. I was one of the women there that day, listening to her journey.
One week prior, I had just made the commitment to go on The World Race, and had just told my bosses about my decision a few days earlier. I was terrified at the idea of leaving my job and was hoping my boss would hold my position when I’m gone– since that would be so comforting to know I have a job to come back to when I return.
I absolutely loved hearing Jean’s story that day… and couldn’t believe how similar it was to my current situation. She was the PR director at The Children’s Museum and gave up her job, sold her house, turned her finances over to her son, and said goodbye to her family and friends as she went to spend six months in the mountains. She even shared that the museum offered to hold her position, but she said no because she knew this was a “time of transition.” After hiking the AT, she went on to write a book (which I have now read and definitely recommend!), speak at different events, and lead backpacking trips all over the world. She completely proved that her crazy leap of faith was worth it.
I sat there in my seat while listening to her and thought, “Crap. I have to completely give up my job, don’t I God?”
For several years, when I had strayed away from the Lord, I found my identity in my work. In college and in my professional career, I let my work define me. I found it most important in my life. I even remember about a year ago one of my friends wanted to set me up with one of her guy friends and she shared how he had been on several mission trips after college graduation and was then looking for a career. Instead of admiring him for totally living his life for the Lord, I totally dismissed him and thought, “Oh my gosh– instead of a career, he chose to go to some random country?? What is he doing with his life?!” My, how my outlook on life has changed…
The more I listened to Jean, the more peace I had about totally leaving my job. I realized how taking this leap of faith is probably going to lead me to something really awesome– and something I would never even think of on my own without following this call!
After Jean spoke, I thanked her for sharing her story (and got a photo with her!), and told her how she helped me feel better about leaving my job and taking this leap of faith. During the rest of the conference, I told other ladies about my decision to go on The World Race and they were 100% in agreement that I should move on and see where life takes me when I get back.
Although this wasn’t a spiritual journey or story, I believe God used Jean and these ladies that day to show me that I made the right decision to commit to going on The World Race- no matter how terrifying it made me feel. While I still worry about what’s to come, I also have this feeling of freedom that I can start another new chapter when I return next year.
While yes, work is important and something God calls us to do– I now have found my identity is solely in Christ and He comes first no matter what! I can’t wait to know this truth so fully when I am on the race next year.
After the conference, I read her book and absolutely loved it. Now I am captivated by the idea of backpacking, hiking, and camping– and I sooo want to hike the AT after the race. I know I know, one crazy adventure at a time!!
I found so much comfort reading this book. While I can totally relate to the feeling of leaving everything behind to go on an adventure, it was also so great to read about her on the actual adventure, as it made me so excited to live mine out next year.
The following is an excerpt from her book, There Are Mountains to Climb:
“I believed so strongly that this journey on the Appalachian Trail was a life-changing experience for me. I think we all need life-changing experiences. They don’t have to be six-month adventures; they can come in much smaller increments. But we each need to be building a lifetime of significant events. They can be as simple as reading a book that causes a shift in our thinking, or hearing a speech that redefines our values, or spending a little time in the woods and coming away with new insights.
“Or, on another level, they can involve conquering a fear, setting a challenging goal that makes us push ourselves to achieve it, doing something we’ve never done before, or making friends with someone totally unlike us. Or perhaps spending time away from our family and friends, giving them time to miss us and ourselves time to miss them. I missed my family and friends terribly sometimes, but I was sure that when we reconnected, the bonds would be stronger than before.”
While I am going to help others in different countries, I hope I can help others right here in the states– now and while I am gone as I write these blogs and share my own personal story. I pray that my journey can inspire you in some way. Maybe it’s to make a much needed, significant change in your life. Maybe it’s to close a door that you have been terrified to close, but know you need to. Maybe it’s to stop going through the mundane motions of each week, and making it a point to read more, sing more, dance more, laugh more, question things more, watch a documentary that challenges and inspires you more– maybe it’s to DO MORE! Whatever it is, no matter how scary it is, know that God is right there beside you and He will provide! And you will never know what awesome place life can take you unless you just go for it. Yes I am terrified to leave everything behind for 11 months, but I absolutely cannot wait to see where life is going to take me!!!
More about Jean: https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2016/07/03/oh-where-appalachian-trail-led-indy-woman/84152178/
If you want to read her book: https://www.amazon.com/There-Are-Mountains-Climb-Inspirational/dp/0965148718
