Hail No

One of the unexpected gifts of following Jesus is discovering that joy is not determined by circumstances. Sometimes, joy looks like laughing while the sky is dumping hail on your head.

During part of his sabbatical, our friend Pastor Ryan stayed with us at The Dwelling Mountain Home, the hospitality ministry of Abide Mountain Ministries. One afternoon we hiked to Cave Basin, one of my favorite places in the world and a destination I never tire of sharing with friends and guests. The hike in was spectacular. The hike out... was memorable for an entirely different reason.
About halfway through the 5½-mile return trek, a classic Colorado mountain storm rolled over the peaks. Within minutes we were soaked, pelted by hail, slipping through mud, and laughing more than complaining. The beauty of the day hadn't disappeared; it had simply taken on a different form. As the storm did not show signs of letting up, I asked Ryan if he had enjoyed the hike. His response perfectly captured the spirit of Joy for the Journey:

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