April 29, 2010 - Michael Wilt

April 29, 2010

Years ago, I was blessed beyond words to counsel a youth group at a small church in Shreveport. Our small group of high school aged students, was like most youth groups. We studied the Bible, nourished our relationship with Jesus, served our church and community, and created friendships. Like most youth groups, we capped every year with a trip to a summer camp. Our habit was to choose a different camp each year, one that specialized in high adventure backpacking in God’s magnificent wilderness. One year we had the adventure of a lifetime in the Great Beartooth Wilderness in Montana. That experience changed us forever and fostered a spiritual growth that still resonates twenty years later.
So on a beautiful day in the middle of July, thirteen of us loaded into a fifteen passenger van and drove for two days to Southwestern Montana. Our group included two adults and eleven students, aged fifteen to eighteen. Half of these had been backpacking at least once before; the other half, never before. One of the students, Brian, was not a member of our church, or any other church, but came along as an invited guest. I have no doubt that God did the inviting.
Our plan was simple enough. Backpack through the mountains for three days, summit Chalice Peak at 11,000 feet, and return to base camp on day five. We would study God’s word in a setting of unimaginable beauty, away from the distractions of our culture, and form a bond with each other and with our Creator that cannot be duplicated anywhere else. The physical struggles of backpacking would test our physical and mental strength and require us to rely on each other like never before. The reward would be a unique glimpse of God’s wilderness splendor, a powerful sense of accomplishment and confidence, solidarity in our group which we would share with our church and community, and a fulfilling spiritual renewal.
God’s plan was slightly different. This particular July was one of the coldest Julys in Montana history. We woke up the morning of day one, just before hitting the trail, to pouring rain. It rained on and off for three straight days, completely stopping only when we had gained enough altitude for the rain to turn to snow. We were all cold and wet. On day four, the day we were to summit Chalice Peak, it snowed so hard we had to cancel the summit bid. We were not lost to the irony of being denied Chalice Peak; it was to be our Eucharist, our quest for the Holy Grail.
Needless to say, it was sometimes difficult to maintain a positive outlook. But as challenging as the first days had been, this group managed to make the best of their circumstances. If one person was down someone else would come along and lift them up. Despite sometimes being cold and wet or physically and mentally depleted, this group pulled together and turned trials into triumph. It was an amazing experience. They encouraged each other, held each other accountable, and collectively put their faith in what God had planned for them.
Brian was the one exception. Although Brian was liked by everyone, he was kind of a tough guy and a little rebellious. He was probably the most physically fit among us yet he was rarely helpful or encouraging to his peers. He consistently tested established boundaries and resisted the kindred spirit of the group. While Brian did not actively participate in group devotions, he listened intensely, as if in stunned silence, amazed at the openness and vulnerability of others.
Day five on the trail was clear and sunny under a bold, blue sky. Because of the beautiful weather, and our disappointment from the day before, we decided to take a detour on our way back to camp and climb a smaller mountain, Horseshoe Peak. When we reached the summit, we were overwhelmed by feelings of victory and of humility. We had a short group devotional, praising God for His countless blessings, and then each set off for prayer in solitude. After a time, we descended the mountain, exhausted and exhilarated. On the way down the mountain, Brian pulled me to the side and let everyone pass. Fighting tears, Brian explained that for the first time in his life he felt like he wasn’t just talking to himself during prayer. He said he wanted to have faith like the rest of the group and accept Jesus like they had. And so in the wilderness, on the side of Horseshoe Peak, after seeing the fruits of faith in his friends, after being moved by the Holy Spirit, Brian came to know Christ.
I lost touch with Brian over the years but I think of him often. I believe God put Brian in our group to help us. Brian was there to help us understand the importance of small group, for those in the group and for those who were not. Brian was there to demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit. Brian was there to show us how our actions can transform the lives of others, even if unintentionally. Brian was there to teach us how to have faith in God’s plan for us. God invited Brian on that trip so we would learn how to love a friend when they are cold and wet.

Michael Wilt