Sunday, May 16, 2021

Sometimes You Can’t Turn the “Mom” Off

My husband and I did a weekend getaway to Beaver’s Bend State Park in Oklahoma, and opted to do a 9.5 mile hike with elevation change on our last day.  I had not previously done a hike that long.  While I was confident in my ability to walk 9.5 miles, the addition of elevation change was another story.  While this trail had a reported elevation change of 1800 feet, our app showed it to be closer to 2900 when all of the “uphills” and “downhills” were added together.   Suffice it to say I was pretty spent during this hike.  

About midway through we were passed by a young man hiking by himself.  He had hiking poles and a backpack, with the appearance of a young but experienced hiker.  He stopped for a break and we passed him.  Then we stopped to take pictures and he passed us.  A couple of miles later we saw him hiking the opposite direction back towards us and sensed something awry.  This hike was longer than he expected, and he was concerned this circular hike might end at a place he was not familiar.  We compared maps and assured him he is much closer to the exit going the original direction rather than doubling back.  We also told him where the trail ends and how to get to his campsite from there.  He was appreciative and headed out ahead of us in the original direction.  

At that point I started to be a bit concerned for him.  He clearly landed on a trial longer than he expected.  Did he have enough water?  Did he have any snacks for energy?  Perhaps he would let us drive him to his campsite when we ended the hike.  In short, I could not turn the “Mom” off. 

He paused for a break and we passed him.  Then we stopped for pictures and he passed us.  Then he stopped for a break, we passed him, and we did not see him again. We climbed another hill giving me a pretty big view of the trail behind us, and I still could not see him.  My husband thought that he abandoned the trail for the road we crossed about a mile back.  That would actually make his hike much longer, but my “Mom” self was satisfied that he would have access to help on the roadway if he needed it.  We finished the hike and headed back to the cabin. 

On our drive out of the park, we saw him walking along the road.  We couldn’t help but turn around and ask him if he wanted a ride, which he gratefully accepted.  He still had another 2 1/2 miles to go on the roadway to his campsite, and he did not seem to know exactly how to get back.  My “Mom” self was satisfied.  He was delivered back to his campsite where he had supplies, security, and rest.  

When I’m on vacation alone with my husband, shouldn’t I turn the “Mom” off?  I think not.  In the end, this is the “love your neighbor” commandment in action, and that is never supposed to be “turned off” or ignored.  I wish I could say I am this receptive all the time.  Those brief encounters along the trail were sufficient to develop enough of a relationship that we offered the ride, and he accepted it.  

Before we saw this kid on the roadway during our drive out of the park, we saw another guy walking along the roadway looking pretty tired.  We did not stop for him, and in fact that idea never crossed my mind until I sat down to write this.  Did he need help?  Probably not.  Unlike the young man, did he have friends or family at the park he could call for help?  Probably so.  His car may have been parked right around the bend.  Yet then again.....

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