Last week, a few friends of mine hiked into the backcountry of Manning Park. For the first time, they took a satellite phone as a safety measure. Each day they committed themselves to send a text to me between 6 and 9 PM. If they missed their check in, I was to wait 12 hours before notifying the authorities.
Each day I received a text with an embedded website link. It told me their exact location in latitude and longitude. In terrain mode, I could zoom in to see their exact camping spot and their hiking path. I showed their texts to other friends and my husband; knowing exactly where they were each night captivated us and captured our imagination.
The experience got me thinking. How does a daily spiritual practice of walking, meditation or prayer impact my life?
I asked one of my hiking friends about the experience.
She said that sometimes it was a real pain to remember to check in with me. It felt like they were safe already – Manning is not as remote or dangerous as some places. They texted me because they had committed to the practice. Is this how it is with our daily spiritual practice – do we pray even when we feel safe? Is it our commitment that keeps us connecting with God?
As a group, they agreed that having the satellite phone and the structured discipline of the safety check, meant that they could take more risks in the backcountry on future trips. Travelling into areas that may have felt too remote, were now within their reach. Does having a daily spiritual practice allow us to take more risks with our lives and our hearts?
When I check in with God, is God zooming in on my location, my path and my life? Is God captivated by the details of my human experience? Is God ready to pull the “safety chute” should I go off track?
Written by: Rosa Flinton-Brown