One of my favorite places to be is outside. There is just some majestic feeling of being connected to the universe when I am outside taking in all that nature has to offer. John Muir said: “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”, and I most certainly have to agree. Many times I have gone to nature, not even sure what I was looking for, and every time, I come back with so much more that I could have ever expected.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take in several different trail hikes in the North Georgia mountains and since it was an extra beautiful weekend as far as the weather was concerned, there were a lot more feet itching to get on the trails and take in some of what nature has to offer. One of the things I am noticing is more and more folks getting outside which is awesome. But I am also noticing with a lot of these new folks, there is an absence of understanding about hiking and how it works, so I thought I would share five unwritten rules that make the experience better for everyone.

As I thought about these unwritten rules I could not help but think that these things are just common sense, and I also could not help but notice that these same rules apply to the living of life. Practice these five things everyday and your life and hike will be better! So here we go:

Number 1 – Step To The Side! I noticed on the trail, a lot of folks taking pictures, which I think is great. I love taking pictures of things that grab my attention or a selfie to remind me of the special moment. The problem was that a lot of folks were taking pictures and then stopping right in the middle of the trail to look at, assess, edit and post their pics and all the while they were totally oblivious to the hundreds of other people trying to get up and down the trail. Two girls stopped in the middle of a suspension bridge and had hiking flow stopped in both directions as the rest of us dangled a few hundred feet above the gorge waiting for them to decide which photo they liked the best and who was goin to post first. Again, I don’t have any problem with any of that, just make sure that you step to the side and not block the trail and hikers that are coming or going. This is also true in life. I have noticed that most folks seem to move through life totally oblivious to there being anyone else around them. Let’s wake up and notice one another and give to others what we expect for ourselves – respect. It makes the trail and the world we live in a better place.

Number 2 – Say Hello! What do you do when you pass someone on the trail that you do not know or have not ever met? You make eye contact, smile and say hello. What do you do when you pass someone in life who you do not know or have not ever met? You make eye contact, smile and say hello. This word is a very lonely place and everyone needs a little acknowledgement. It’s nice to know that you exist and that your existence matters. Eye contact, a smile and a friendly word goes a long way in making this world and the trail a better place and a sweeter experience.

Number 3 – Turn Off And Turn On! When I head out to the trail it is usually to get away from my cell phone. This is usually not a problem for me, because a lot of the places that I hike have very bad or spotty cell reception. Our phones have become more than just phones. They are our cameras, maps, calendars, encyclopedias and everything else. If you can’t turn it off, then at least turn it down, so that it doesn’t distract you or others from the natural miracles that you are surrounded by. A break from the screen is a good thing for everyone. The plain hard truth is that we are surrounded by beautiful miracles everyday, but most of us never witness them, because we are stuck in the thing that is wearing us out. Turn off, tune in and turn on what really matters!

Number 4 – Downhill Yields To Uphill! The hardest part of the trail is going up the mountain because it’s a hill of course, but also because we don’t have as clear a line of sight. This is why downhill hikers always yield the right of way to those that are coming up the hill. Hiking downhill is easier for obvious reason but also because you have a much better line of sight about where you are going and what is coming at you, so the courteous thing is to yield. In life some of us are blessed and it’s like hiking down hill, we need to yield to those that are going through challenges, give them a break, cut them some slack and be an encouragement. On a hike this weekend on the way up the trail to the top of the mountain to see a magnificent waterfall, the folks that were coming down would say to those coming up the trail: “It’s not much further and it’s worth it!” They had experienced the struggle of pulling the up hill climb and knew what it was like and it was there way of saying: “I know what you are feeling and thinking, but hang in there and keep pulling because the view at the top is worth the climb!”

Number 5 – Leave No Trace! This is one of those that should go without saying, but we live in a world where folks are often so wrapped up in themselves that they give no consideration to others. “Leave No Trace” is actually the number one rule of hiking! We appreciate nature, we enjoy nature, we share nature, but we do not disturb nature. Someone said that a flower is a beautiful thing, but once you pick it and try to posses it, the flower begins to lose it’s beauty and die. On a trail if you pick the flower, then those that come behind you will never get to enjoy it. If you leave trash, then those behind you will not get to enjoy the clean and beautiful trail that you enjoyed. My Grandmother used to say that we should always try to leave things better than we found them and this is why if I am walking along and I see a piece of trash on the ground, often I will bend over and pick it up, even though it was not mine. Think about it just a moment: How much sweeter and more miraculous would this world be if we left things better than we found them???

So rules of the trail and rules of life, they are kinda one and the same. So why not put these into practice everyday in every way and see what kind of difference it makes???

When I was a little boy, growing up in children’s church, we used to sing a song called “Peace Like A River!” It said: “I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul…” I used to really love that song and the older I get, the more I love especially the idea of the song – PEACE.

In the Old Testament book of Isaiah 66:12-13 King James Version (KJV) it says: “12 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream… 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

Our Creator wants us to have peace. The above scripture makes it clear, that He offers it to us. All we have to do is jump in and enjoy the ride. When we are right with our Maker, the natural by product is peace that cannot even be explained with words or understood with out limited human mind. But it can be experienced and it should be, every minute of every day.

The absence of peace tells me that something is wrong and needs some attention in my life. I have found that most of the time, it is because I have done something that I should not have done or I have failed to do something that I should have. The absence of peace is telling me there is something between me and my Creator that needs to be dealt with.

God wants to bless and take care of us, but that requires our staying in connection with Him, His will and His ways. This connection is possible through our relationship with Him. If you are looking for peace, then I want to encourage you to take a look at your relationship with the One who created you. Make sure this relationship is right and you will be amazed at how all the other pieces of life seem to fall into place.

Make sure your relationship with God is right and before you know it, you will be free floating down the river of peace and enjoying the beauty of everything amazing that you were created for.

What do you want out of life? Seriously, take a moment to think about your answer to that question. Most people have a vague idea of what they want, but very few are really able to articulate it. And if you can’t articulate it, then more than likely you are not going to be able to experience it. In other words, you are going to have more of the same of what you supposedly dread. What if I told you, there is an easy way to get a better life? What if I told you, there really is an easy way to live a life that is full of blessing? Well, the good news is: There is away and it is much simpler than most of us will allow ourselves to realize.

Are you ready for it? Can you handle it? Are you willing to do your part? If your answer is yes, then I am going to ask you the question again: What do you want out of life? You have to answer this question, in fact, the answer to this question is the first step to heading in the direction of getting the life you want. Once you have decided what you want and got it firmly fixed in your heart and mind, then it’s time to move to the next step.

Here is the next step: Be what you want! That’s it – right there. Be what you want, give what you want. Kristen Butler says: “Be a reflection of what you would like to receive. If you want love, give love. If you want truth, be truthful. If you want respect, give respect. What you give out will always return.” And right there is the amazing truth: Whatever it is that you want, you have to first give and when you give, it is a universal promise that it will come back to you.

The scriptures say: “A man harvests whatever he plants.” If you want corn, you plant corn and corn grows and you harvest corn and go enjoy a picnic. Whatever you are getting in your life right now, is a reflection of what you have been planting. If you want a different harvest, then you have to use different seed. Figure out what you want and then begin to give it and live it and you will be amazed at how your life will be filled with exactly what you have been looking for and so much more. Don’t wait! Figure out what you want today and begin giving it to others and as your life begins to fill up with exactly what you want, you will be glad you did!