May 2019 – Appalachian Trail Chaplain

May 31, 2019

Feeling the love

By Chappy Jack

May 30, 2019

Mile: 849.4

Location: Waynesboro, Virginia

John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”.

With a bit of sadness, I have walked through the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. Sad, because I have seen familiar faces and met many wonderful people! All have been extremely supportive of this unique ministry, and I have really “felt the love”!

Jesus, in speaking to his disciples before the Passover Feast, declared that all people would know them as his disciples by their love for one another. He then gave them (and us as his followers and disciples) a new commandment to “…Love one another as I have loved you,…”.

What a tough thing to do! Jesus loved us so much that he gave his life up for us! It sounds like an impossible command! However, I have experienced being the recipient of that kind of love from the great people of the Holston conference.

Lord Jesus, Thank you for loving me so much that you gave your life for me! Thank you that you use people like the people of the Holston Conference to demonstrate your love. Thank you that I’m “feeling the love”.

Jack with Pastor Rick Lindamood, center, and wife Carol. Rick is the pastor of West End United Methodist Church. Rick’s Grandfather attended Lindamood School. West End UMC provides Trail Magic (soft drinks, gator aide, snacks, and hiker toiletries) at the school. I was fortunate enough to run into them while they were resupplying the trail magic boxes. Their son Josh was the Holston Conference’s first Appalachian Trail Chaplain.

Pastor Alan Ashworth and wife Mary. Alan is the co-founder of the Chaplaincy and is the Chairman of the Chaplaincy Board. I had the pleasure of spending two nights with them and shared several meals.

Pastor Brian Burch and his wife DeAnne. Pastor Burch is the pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Pearisburg, Virginia. Brian and DeAnne invited myself and a hiker buddy to stay at their home for the night. Brian and DeAnne, along with their friends Tim and Trish, treated us to Italian at a local Italian restaurant. Hiker hunger was raging and I ate, then ate, and then ate some more.

2016 Chaplain Bert “Wildcat” Emmerson and his wife joined me on the trail at a shelter in the Smokies. He taught me how to serve others by gathering wood, building fire for the long cold night, and even providing trail magic for other hikers.

There have been many others in the Holston Conference that have helped along the way! Did I mention that I’m “feeling the love!”

May 23, 2019

Evening meal

By Chappy Jack

May 19, 2019

Location: Catawba, Virginia

Mile:704

Acts 2:46. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

The best meal on the AT is the evening meal. Not everyone stops to eat a full breakfast or lunch, but at the end of the day everyone is ready for a full meal. All shelters have some type of picnic table and the tables are full of hikers cooking, eating, and having lively conversation.

Meals are mostly made from some type of store bought dehydrated food that can be quickly rehydrated. Ramen noodles with tuna, chicken, or even peanut butter are a staple. I like instant mashed potatoes with spam… Don’t knock it ’till ya try it.

To me, the evening meal is the best time to get to know other hikers. It sounds to me that in the early church, immediately after Pentecost, early believers also used meals eaten together to get to know one another and to learn more about Christ.

Lord Jesus, I thank you for the privilege of walking the Appalachian Trail. Help me to connect with other hikers. Show me ways in which I can serve them in your name.

First pair of shoes just barely made 700 miles. I can’t believe how much they stank.

Dragons Teeth – Pictures do not give this massive structure justice.

Keefer Oak, the second largest tree on the AT.

Wild ponies at Mt. Rogers lick salt off of sweaty hikers. Cute at first, but after several smelly ponies surrounded me while I was trying to eat lunch, I had to find another lunch spot.

May 20, 2019

Tribute to ‘Stronghold’

By Chappy Jack

May 19, 2019

Location:

Location: Catawba, Virginia

Mile: 704

Psalm 31:1 In You, Lord, I have taken refuge.

This past week has brought much sadness, mourning, fear, and despair to the AT hiking community with the murder of “Stronghold.”

I did not personally have the chance to meet “Stronghold,” however all of us in the hiker community have a strangely close bond whether we have met, or not.

We have all become more cautious of people outside of the hiker community as we meet them on the trail, and as we visit trail towns and communitys. We tell ourselves that this was a very isolated event. And yes, this was a very isolated event, but we still have our fears.

I personally know of one hiker who left the trail in tears, and I am sure there are more that have left.

I wonder about the trail name “Stronghold” since stronghold is mentioned many times in the Bible mostly in relation to spiritual warfare. It is my hope that “Stronghold” used this term because of his relationship to his Heavenly Father.

Lord Jesus, with all my fears, I take refuge in You! You God, are my refuge and my stronghold!

Some of my favorite trail photos as a tribute to “Stronghold.”