Live and Learn

Then call on me on the day of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall honor me. ~ Psalm 50:15, New American Bible

Have you ever been afraid?

I’m not talking about everyday fears, like seeing a snake in your yard or going to the dentist.

I’m talking about terror. The kind that makes your heart feel like it’s going to jump right out of your chest. The kind that stops your breathing. The kind that haunts your dreams afterward.

That happened to me recently, and I assure you, it wasn’t fun. Even now — more than a week later — I shake when I think about it.

It began with Walktober.

I’d been pondering where to take my annual group walk and finally decided on hiking at a nearby lake. The Internet told me there were nine miles of trails and, while I’d never been there and didn’t know what to expect, I walk every day.

How hard could it be?

Arming myself with sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and bug spray, I took off.

When I pulled into one of several parking lots, I looked around for other visitors.

Not a soul.

Then I checked for directional signage to the trails.

Nothing.

Then I spied a path that seemed to lead in the right direction toward the lake, and I entered it. At first, it struck me as rather narrow, gravel and dirt covered, and a slow but steep downward trajectory…

That quickly became a Drop. Straight. Down.

I found myself running. Like a demon was on my shoulder. Unable to stop, unable to grab something — anything — to break my descent. Gravity was taking over, and I was panicking.

At the bottom was an asphalt road. I dared not fall. Twist an ankle, break bones, get run over by some idiot in a maintenance vehicle.

So I leaned back and SCREAMED aloud a prayer for help.

After what felt like forever, I reached the end of the path — still upright and in one piece.

My prayer had been answered!

Yes, I was winded and shaking like an autumn leaf. I struggled to catch my breath. My heart was pounding.

But I was alive!

Then I saw the right path — graveled, but wider — circling the lake, and I started walking. Slowly.

This was the right path — hilly and gravelly, but walkable. That thing I took first was a disaster waiting to happen!

About halfway around, I came upon two women chatting on a bench. We exchanged pleasantries, and one said, “You know there’s no cell signal around the lake, right?”

Well, no, I didn’t know that. If I had, I’d have never embarked on this little venture in the first place.

I’m not a “nature girl.” I grew up in a city — a small, rural one — and hiking by myself in the woods isn’t something I do.

Nor should I have done it this time, despite the pretty pictures I got.

But, should I be foolish enough to try again, here are some things I’m filing in my Live-and-Learn folder:

1) For hikes, wear sneakers with treads, not fashionable flat soles (yeah, I was worried about gooey mud).

2) Remember that critters occupy woods. Snakes, deer, rodents, and so on. I’ve heard they probably won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.

3) Don’t be in such a hurry to get started that you don’t fully examine the surroundings. Somebody should’ve placed a “Danger” sign blocking that treacherous footpath.

4) Be sure at least somebody knows where you are. Taking off solo isn’t good planning, just in case you run into trouble.