Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 99 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

10 Life Lessons Learned from Hiking

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 99 of our Trek, and yesterday we discovered that life is a lot like hiking at night – filled with uncertainties and fears. Since none of us can know with certainty the future, life is like hiking at night with a headlamp on.  We can only see a short distance in front of us, but if we continue on, we will see far enough to hike the entire distance.

Since we started Wisdom-Trek with Day 0, today we reach a podcasting milestone as we reach our 100^th episode of Wisdom-Trek. We have used hiking as our analogy for Wisdom-Trek, since life is a trek during which we explore our world each day.

I thought it would be a fitting topic today to explore the 10 life lessons that we can learn while hiking, but before we proceed any further, I have a special message. In celebration of our 100^th episode, I will be announcing a drawing later this week where we will be giving away 7 free Wisdom-Trek T-Shirts. We don’t have all of the information set up yet, so keep listening each day for the details.

 We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. This morning I spoke at Putnam Congregational Church as we began a 2 part series of the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. I feel that the lesson went well, and the congregation seemed to enjoy and learn from it.  Next Sunday I will present the 2^nd part of the lesson. If you would also like to hear a similar teaching, please listen to Days 2-10 of our Trek.

At The Big House this past week, we have been able to enjoy our twin fawns and their mother that I discussed in previous episodes, as they come out to graze in our lawn each evening. We also have another mother deer with her set of twin fawns that are much younger and were probably born within the past month. This is a little late in the year for them, and their mother also looks younger. We enjoy watching them as they meander around in the evening.  Our pair of hawks has been around this week again after some time of absence, so they may be checking on their nest. It is our hope that they will return again for next spring.

On this beautiful and sunny late summer day, let us break camp and head out on our trail to explore more lessons that we can learn from life’s trek. Life is filled with both wonderful and challenging expeditions. The key is to choose to enjoy your journey and to learn as much as possible from each experience.

Life is filled with both wonderful and challenging expeditions.

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Here is a list of 10 life lessons you’ll learn that make your journey worthwhile.

1. You can’t just give up in the middle. Once you set out on life’s trek, you can’t turn back halfway to your destination. Some days our trails will be easy. Others will be very challenging. Always keep your eye on the destination. Only God determines when our Trek is over. Until then, we need to keep moving forward.
2. Take one step at a time. All we know for sure is that we can take one more step, and we must take them one at a time. Focus on the next step while keeping your eternal destination in mind. The trail you’re climbing may be steep and slick, but millions of others have climbed through life successfully, and so will you. Ignore the magnitude of the overall trek of life. Take it one step at a time, and keep moving forward
3. There will always be a voice in your head that says “can’t.” Accept the fact that you will have fears and doubts. You are human. Stuff all of your “can’ts” into “cans,” and banish them to a corner of your brain. Tell the “can’ts” to shut up, and keep moving forward.
4. You are stuck with your own baggage, and it is up to you how heavy it is. No one else will hold your pack for you on your journey. Let go of the things that weigh you down, because the longer you go, the heavier that pack will feel upon your shoulders. As Hebrews 12:1 reminds,

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day…Everyday.

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5. Arrogance will come back to haunt you. Whether it’s thinking you’re better than those around you on life’s trek or shutting out other valid opinions, your ego will have a direct effect on your success. Be kind to your fellow trekkers. It’ll take you a long way, and keep moving forward.
6. A positive attitude will see you through. No matter how confident a fellow hiker may appear, everyone with you is just as nervous/frustrated/stressed as you are. Make the journey better for everyone with a little optimism and encouragement. Help others to keep moving forward.
7. You are only as strong as your weakest link. You won’t make it up that mountain and to your destination alone. If you don’t work together, you won’t successfully reach the summit. Treat the people around you as part of your team or, even better, your family. If they trip and fall, help them up, you will need the same from them, and keep moving forward.
8. You’ll be a burden to others if you’re not prepared. Prepare yourself for life’s trek. Take care of yourself spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you’re on the trail without enough water or resources, you put everyone else in danger by drinking theirs. Be prepared, and keep moving forward.
9. Learn from the times of suffering, and it will build your character immensely. As long as you learn from life’s lessons and allow them to improve you, the times of suffering will have meaning and purpose. We grow most in times of adversity when our trails are the roughest. Keep moving forward.
10. The view at the end is beautiful, but in reality, so is the entire journey. Enjoy every step you take because the scenery along the way is just as beautiful, in its own way, as the view from the top. Until God takes you to the ultimate summit with him, keep moving forward, enjoy your journey, and create a great day every day.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Philippi Chapter 3 verses 13-14, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

 And As Dr. Seuss said,

“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So…get on your way!”

 Today we saw a snapshot of 10 life lessons that we can learn for our trek of life. Join us tomorrow for another Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy, and tomorrow we will learn to look up, look around, and then get back to work.

Well, that will finish our podcast for today. If you missed any of our previous podcasts, please check out Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, YouTube, or Wisdom-Trek.com.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage you to take the time to invest yourself.

1. Invest in improving Wisdom-Trek by leaving your name, email address, and a comment on our website, so we can provide you with wisdom and insights that best fit your needs.
2. Invest in yourself by listening to our 7 minutes of wisdom each day.
3. Invest in the lives of others by encouraging your family and friends to journey with us on our Wisdom-Trek.

Thank you!

The journal from this podcast can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com, where we also have pictures, tweetable quotes, wisdom nuggets, and free resources.

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If you are interesting in hiking, check out this great comprehensive article on Top 50 Long Distance Hiking Trails In The USA http://bootbomb.com/info/hiking-trails/top-50-long-distance-hiking-trails-usa/

This link is provided with permission by Brian Bradshaw of http://bootbomb.com

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Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy the Journey, and Create a Great Day! See you tomorrow!