Tag Archives: exploring nature

A few years ago, my 2 sons James and Daniel, went through a mountain bike phase.  To encourage this new interest as a father, I began to invest an hour a day riding bikes with my boys after school.  Over a period of 6 months, the 3 of us discovered several miles of trails surrounding our development in Newark, formerly known as Purgatory Swamp during the Revolutionary War.

The main trail was clear and worn down by ATV’s, local residents walking their dogs and fellow bike riders.  Popular side trails were still intact with a couple of overgrown areas in need of pruning and trimming, a good project for a long weekend.  The deeper we explored into the thick forests and swampy conditions, we discovered a dozen other paths that faded away, hidden by fallen debris, exotic overgrown sticker bushes and piles of trash left by teenagers.

Like a Lewis and Clark expedition or Land of the Lost television series, my crew investigated these ruins for 2 years, mainly during the summer.  We unearthed an ancient shooting range, paths to no where vanishing into thin air and an inner chain of short cuts connecting the outer loop by 2 distinct inner section of trails.  Left for dead by a generation of young people addicted to cell phones, game systems and the internet, we revived as many paths as we could for future voyagers to enjoy.  Today, these meandering walkways are marked with spray paint every half mile forming 2 cross country courses of 2.1 and 3.1 miles.  While fads come and go, the path to heaven remains a constant, Matthew 7:13-14.

With 2013 fresh in people’s minds, its time to blaze a new trail.  Whether its in Delaware, another state in America or another country, the time is now to act.  My days of sulking are over with a new adventure, career and opportunity waiting for me and my family.  Like the classic Steven Curtis Chapman album The Great Adventure, its time to “Saddle Up Your Horses!”  As you begin your own journey in 2013, don’t forget the words of the prophet in Hosea 4:6, “people perish without knowledge and vision!”  Get plugged into the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:4-5 so that you will be able to endure any obstacles 2013 throws at you!  “Go with God and He will go with you,” Mark Lowry.

by Jay Mankus