Treks are good: they often help one slow down and breathe, reflect and see reality in a clearer way. This, at least, was the way I felt as we hiked up La Travesía, pushing ever further in the heat of the afternoon. I felt so free and energized; it was great to get away for a while. Catching a glimpse of the enormous green valleys, endless winding red paths and radiant sun rays breaking through the clouds, I was forced to ponder the greatness of our earth, which is only a speck of dust in the vastness of space. Then, throwing down my pack in the shade to take a short break, a stunning flower caught my attention: its sapphire petals seemed to spin harmoniously and fold dynamically within one another- and the leaves! The tiny details God had put into each vein and tributary upon the miniscule face of this plant was incredible. Creation is staggering on any scale.


We ascended the final slope, affectionately known as the Saca Lengua (or stick-out-your-tongue) because of how hot, dry and steep it is. As we approached the humble mountain-village, we could see many people out working: drying coffee beans out in the sun, gathering bananas and stuffing them into burlap sacks and riding mules laden with belongings. Others were enjoying some music from their radios or simply sitting in front of their brilliantly painted, creative houses. Later that evening, as the sun set and cast a dramatic, God-painted lighting across the landscape, I opened my Bible to reflect on the genealogy of Christ, and something titanic hit me; it made me sit still in my chair. I suddenly felt I had grasped some of the magnitude of what God is doing in history- in our world.

In the monotony and dryness of everyday life it is easy to sink down into a sort of discontented self-obsession. Day after day I heard people saying: Where have you been at? Are you avoiding me? You’ve been lost lately, man. You’ve abandoned me as a friend. Why don’t you visit my house more often? This, of course, is the way Dominicans relate, but initially you get the impression that everyone around you is disappointed with you. I had reached a point of such egoism that my lack of popularity made me feel ready to give up. What’s the point of even trying? I cried out loud one afternoon.

But an existence where everything revolves around oneself is slavery and anguish. It embraces such a small, limiting view of life that it inevitably ends in anxiety, fear, regret and depression. I suppose the ultimate tragedy of such a mentality is that it distances us from God, because the moment we approach him we must wake up from our arrogant little dream. We essentially have two options: die to ourselves or die because of ourselves, and as I pondered all of this atop God’s wondrous crossroads (this is the meaning of La Travesía) I realized I had encountered a previously undiscovered wonder, mystery and romance- all by feeling small.

Thank you LORD, I said, for the chance to haul a heavy log laboriously uphill- a joyous challenge-, thank you for the warmth we enjoyed at night as we worshipped around the fire, thank you for your daily grace: for the sunrise, a cool breeze, lemons- better yet, lemonade, thank you for the chance to walk far and share your gospel, thank you that you have called me friend. The beauty of everything around me tore me away from myself and caused me to appreciate that which is bigger.

The flame I felt in January sunk down, but the embers kept burning even underwater, and my faith endured like a submarine, surfacing anew into God’s light, beholding his shining face and finding that mine shone as well. God’s glorious faithfulness has prevailed over all. As I end this entry I am brought to contemplate the unshakable nature of Yahweh, and as I do so I am reminded of Rod Davis- with a mouth full of chewing tobacco and speaking in broken Spanish- expounding on grace and the Keys of the Kingdom; the Identity of Christ. Jesus is the Son of the living God, the Champion of the world, the Branch that has flourished and brought hope, the Gate, the Path and the Destination; on this rock he has built his Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.