Jennifer Phaar-Davis & The Trail of Faith

Jennifer Phaar-Davis --AT Record Holder

Finding the Trail of Faith in YOU!  

Yesterday's post tells a lot about this remarkable woman with unsurpassed hiking record on the Appalachian Trail. Her first outing was a trail toward maturity--and she gives us a very honest and open appreciation of her faith.  Let me add very quickly that what I care to make of it may be instructive for us---but her story is just that, her own unque story. 

At first there was the tentative sharing by metaphor that she was not a "squirrel" along the tail--a left wing skeptic of anything religious.  But neither was she a zealous evangelical without doubts--which she labeled as a "bear" because there are so few of them.  After that--don't push the analogy! 

She explains it to one hiker--that for her she has made this deal to walk with God and she trusts him to keep up his part of the deal.  Okay!  But then the testament to this belief came after the sheer shock of finding a suicide victim and then spending the night in shock alone in the shelter. You can hear and feel her reaching out.  And though no magic trail angel arrives, tangible gifts left along the way--she lies there sustained, albeit in shock, with the knowledge that the dawn will come.  Indeed--somehow God will be there.  Does she recognize it in the people she reaches out to?  Does she feel God's presence in the two hikers who join up with her?  As she completes the hike, one feels happiness for her and respect for her resolute spirit.

Celebrating her Summit to Mt. Katahdin in Tar Heel Blue Shorts

 I personally respected her on the 700 Club interview when she is pushed to witness for the Lord.  She sticks to her genuine spirit.  God was there walking with her and still does.  He did not rescue her from the pain of finding that young man as the victim of his own hands.  No, instead...God went with her and when she reached out there were people there to uphold her.  One wonders how many more sleepless nights in shock she will ever have to spend again.  We pray none.  But she showed herself to be "Pharr" more than a trail hiker!