Posted on by umcapp

It is completed.

By Chappy Jack

Miles completed: 2,192

Miles to go: 0

Location: Headed for home (Opelika, Alabama)

After finally completing this incredible journey I have been pondering whether the cost of the journey was worth the result.

The cost includes the financial cost, which I was very fortunate to have the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church to fund most of the journey. The biggest cost to me was being away from family and friends. There are so many people I want to see, asap. The cost also includes weight loss (which is a positive). However, I have had many blisters on the tops of my toes resulting in the loss of 4 toenails, and too many cuts, scrapes, and bruises to count. I developed trigger finger in 2 fingers. I had bruised ribs from one of my falls, which have totally healed. I have swelling between the lower knuckle and the little finger of my left hand. I also developed a hernia. The final cost was missing out on some prime fishin’.

Back to being worth the cost. ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IT IS FINISHED

John 19: 28-30

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty”. A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus lips. When he had received the drink Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED.”

Please note that in NO WAY am I inferring that the cost of my journey compares to the pain, suffering, and humiliation that Jesus endured for us! Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing can compare to the depth of his love for us in order to bring us into his heavenly kingdom!

Pastor Stephen Dean and his wife Glenna on each end. Co-founder of the AT Chaplaincy Pastor Alan Ashworth and his wife Mary in the middle. Stephen completed an AT thru hike in 1996 and then became a pastor. Steven and Glenna brought me my resupply in the Hundred Mile Wilderness along with trail magic for around 40 hikers. Alan and I were blessed to speak at Stephen’s two churches and were treated to a delicious pot luck.
Alan working his way down from Mt. Katahdin.
I ran across a Trail Maintainer re-painting white blazes. He was surprised that I asked to paint one.
Sign posted at one of Stephen’s churches.
Alan and I shaking hands at the summit of Mt. Katahdin.
COMPLETION!!!!!!!

3 Replies to “It is completed.”

  1. I would like to hear the stories of the hikers you helped/served. I purchased the first 10 miles of your hike.

  2. Alan must be a glutton for punishment if he accompanies each AT chaplain on the last (hardest?) part of their hike! But seriously, I think it’s an awesome service that he does.

    And let’s not make hernias an occupational side effect of these hikes. You may not recall, but Bert (Wildcat) developed one on the trail.

    CONGRATULATIONS!!

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