Some hikes test your legs. Others test your lungs. But the rare ones, like the climb of Torreys Peak with my daughter, test your heart. We started late and unhurried. Trusting the forecast that promised clear skies through midday, we […]
Some hikes test your legs. Others test your lungs. But the rare ones, like the climb of Torreys Peak with my daughter, test your heart. We started late and unhurried. Trusting the forecast that promised clear skies through midday, we […]
When you learn how to navigate in the wild, you learn more than just how to read a map. You are taught that a map and compass are more than just tools; they’re a kind of truth. You learn that […]
Heat, Humility, and the Ascent The trail wasn’t long, just 3.6 miles on paper but under a heavy sun and 90% humidity, it might as well have been 200 miles. I was guiding a group of kids, teaching them to […]
At the edge of Harpers Ferry, where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers entwine, I once stood with admiration and something stirring in my chest. The sun shimmered off the water like a whispered promise. Two distinct rivers, each with their […]
Some Storms You Don’t See Coming We had barely made it through the gates of Busch Gardens when the skies turned. The kids and I had planned for a day packed with thrill rides, laughter, and all the sugary snacks. […]
There comes a point in the journey of faith where you stop trying to fix yourself and finally admit: “I can’t feel anything anymore.” In my last post, The Anatomy of a Hard Heart, I shared the quiet signs of […]
Life moves fast. The trail gets steep. The weather shifts. Fatigue sets in. And if I don’t pause to take stock, I get dangerously close to losing my footing. That’s where journaling comes in. It helps me slow down. It’s […]
Anchor Points and Empty Prayers Rock climbing is my favorite solo sport. In climbing, anchors aren’t just a piece of gear, it’s what keeps me from falling when everything else gives way. It’s what I trust when my strength runs […]
Mentorship, Prayer, Journaling, and Self-Reflection: Tools for Humble Growth There’s a version of strength that doesn’t shout. It doesn’t need to prove anything. It’s quiet, grounded, and aware of its own imperfections. That kind of strength is what I’m chasing—and […]
Curiosity is a beautiful thing — but it doesn’t live alone. It cooperates with something just as essential: courage.I’ve seen how often curiosity quietly waits in the background until courage steps forward first. It takes courage to ask the question(s) we’re afraid might change everything. It takes courage to admit we don’t know. It takes even more courage to enter into a situation we don’t fully understand. Not to control it, but to grow from it.