To Cross or not to Cross

It's been raining here for weeks.  And it's driving me crazy.  I spend every morning the same way.  I drop the boys off at school, and I head to a park to hike for an hour or two.  It's the best way to start my day and nurtures both my body and my soul. 

But the past three weeks, rain has been my constant companion.  Many of the parks I love to visit have been closed, so I'm stuck at the nearby city park that never closes.  The first week I skipped some days, figuring the rain couldn't possibly last.  But it has.  It has been the rainiest September we have ever had, and after about a week, I just had to give in to the rain.  And the mud.

I started hiking those muddy trails two weeks ago and haven't skipped unless there's lightening.  I even developed a plan of sorts.  I hike 3 or 4 miles in the mud, and I end at the unexpected creek pictured above.  Believe it or not, that's actually a sidewalk, covered by rocks and water.  I trump through the 'creek' until the bulk of the mud is washed off my shoes, go back to the car, take off my wet hiking shoes and socks and go home.  

The plan was working great until some of my friends found out what I was doing.  You are going to catch E Coli...  warned one of them.  Do you know how much bacteria is in the standing water?... Oh my gosh!  That's a breeding ground for mosquitoes!  

Apparently my friends and family had lots of advice about my shoe washing methods...

It merely reminded me that each of us make so many decisions, every single day; some big, some small and every level in between.  And every one of the those decisions have consequences.  I find that my decisions tend to work out for the best when I seek His counsel and don't act on my own.  When I go to His Word and don't try to control my own destiny. 

It's been two weeks of tromping through that rain water, and I don't appear to have foot E Coli yet.  I've spent that time praying and asking God to guide me on my path.  I'm feeling pretty confident I'm going to be alright with Him by my side.  

Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, 
but the Lord establishes their steps.