Risk With Wisdom

Cynthia Williams

I am not a big risk taker, but I have been rewarded by stepping out of my comfort zone. One of the risks took place a couple of years ago when my husband Mike and I went camping in the Olympic National Park.

We were checking out the area when we spontaneously decided to follow the sign for a lake up one of the forest roads. As we followed the signs we were ascending a mountain. I know we were past the two miles the sign announced was the distance to the lake.

The pavement ended. The higher we went the narrower the road got. The dust was flying, the rocks felt like they were falling out from under the tires. I couldn't catch my breath. I was hoping we would find the lake around the next hairpin turn. I thought the signs kept pointing this direction, but now I was doubting there was a lake at all.

Ok, now I am really crying. there were no railings and no room on the goat trail for more than one vehichle. The shear drop off the side of the mountian was terrifying. I want to turn around forget finding the lake. I want to go back to camp.

I was willing to head out and start the adventure but decided it wasn't wise to continue. We had gone six miles past where the lake was supposed to be.
We decided to turn around as soon as we could find a safe place to do so.

A few more hairpin turns and drop offs latter we crossed a bridge . Just on the other side was a place to make a three point turn and head back down. I got out of the truck and moved away from the road while Mike turned around.

As I stepped to the side, I not only heard the rushing sound but saw the pristine, mountain waterfall rushing down the mossy rock wall and under the bridge, spraying me as it passed by. I stood in awe of the beauty. I forgot my fear, took a deep breath and thanked God for keeping us safe.

It was past lunch time so we headed back to camp. On the way back I realized that even though we didn't find what we were looking for we found a natural beauty etched into the world by Gods hand. If we hadn't risked following the sign in the first place we wouldn't have seen a magnificent beauty.

Sometimes in this life the road gets steep and rough I believe God will hold on to us, go with us and reveal his majesty even so.