The Mountain Trail

Wed. 11/7/07 We worked on another railing at the Retreat House today; down to a group lodge. This is a much more complicated rail of a steeper and curving path. There are a number of pathways up and down this mountainside. I met a man today who hikes these paths daily. While drinking my morning coffee outside today and watching some folks do their Tai Chi (Spelling?) exercises, Wong sat down beside me. Wong has lived on this mountain all his life; at the bottom along the river. He is retired now and says that he walks up the mountain every morning for exercise...a one hour journey. Then, he walks back down. He was curious about me and about the people who come and go at this place. While he says he has attended the church service in the chapel here, he is not Buddhist, not Christian; says he has no faith system. Wow! How can a person walk this journey of life with all its' ups and downs, and not desire the God of Creation? How can they not understand that Life is not just a journey of exercise, but a journey with a most important purpose and destination?!