While my daughter and I were hiking the Long Trail, my son Ed was doing his military training. This involved a very long, very rough hike in hot Southern US weather. But the reward for successful completion was a long weekend off. While the guys bragged about where they’d spend their leave time, Ed maintained an embarrassed silence.

‘Hey, Ed, you haven’t said what are you gonna do.’ His fearless leader teased him mercilessly until he said, ‘Well, my dad and I are gonna meet up.’

‘Ooh, exciting, and what will you and daddy do then’?

Ed chewed out a mumble or two.

Somebody got the gist and choked. ‘You are going hiking? Hiking? In Vermont? After last week? How many miles did we do last week? You are either a mommy-pecked idiot or a glutton for punishment!’

‘Naw,’ somebody else said. ‘Either he is one lucky guy or God just plain loves him. You wait!’

The group, shaking their heads, took off for their fun-and-games destinations.

Dad met Ed at the airport, where they got into the Jeep and headed for the Long Trail, My daughter and I met them at a shelter. But the minute Ed stepped out on the Trail, the heavens opened up and poured rain. It rained so hard we had to give up any hope of hiking. We went home, where Ed slept in homestyle comfort for the rest of his leave.

Jesus said, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

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