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My Grand Canyon Experience by Michelle D Howe

One of my greatest mentors while in leadership training said, “How you do anything is how you do everything, to some degree.” We all have a belief system based on past memories, traumas, and genetics that cause us to show up in life and situations the same way in all aspects. Whether church, work, or home we tend to react in similar ways when life gets hard or uncomfortable.

For me, when stuff gets hard or uncomfortable, I go to control or confusion. I need to find out the “why” and fix it. I’m a solutions kind of gal. That’s how I’m wired, and it comes in handy in some situations but many times my strengths can become my demise. I believe confusion comes up when I don’t have clear answers and life becomes too chaotic. You’ve heard the saying, “A confused mind says no,” meaning I’m now in shut down mode.

Can you relate? Well, I say all this because this would be true of my Grand Canyon hike experience. Now let me say, not all the ways we show up in life are negative but through learning and growing you shift, change, and so does your experiences.

From the beginning of my training, life wanted to challenge me. I had really hard news the day of my first training hike. It was devastating but God showed himself evident as my Shepard Wes prayed for our family. Actually, let me go back just a bit before that first hike. I had experienced another health scare with a terrible reaction to a supplement that caused hives and eczema all over my body. It was awful and scary. I searched for answers on Google and ended up harming myself more with ways that I thought would help. Did I talk to God before that to pray for myself or seek out Godly wisdom? The answer is a big fat NO! As I was recovering, I kept being directed to Proverbs 3:5-8 that says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” The Lord was asking me to TRUST Him like for real! Yes, Lord, I trust you but is it just a head knowledge of trust or is it a heart knowledge – one that has experienced the evidence of His goodness to want to do so.

The week before I left for Arizona we were dealing with a hurricane in Florida. Due to this concern, I shifted my flight from Friday to Saturday. I was trusting God that this was the right decision. Well, He clarified it to be so when within a couple hours one of the participates reached out to connect with me. We had not talked before and wanted to know when my flight was coming in on Saturday. She told me she was coming in at 6:10 and I was 6:20pm so I felt so cared for and seen by God to have this connection when I showed up in Arizona. One other event got shifted which as a women’s event that got cancelled on Thursday and ended up going to another church location for the same event on Friday evening. Well, most of my fitness class was going to be there too. The message was all around trusting God! Of course, it was! When the event was over, I was prayed over by my sisters in Christ and felt so supported. God again was so evident!

Coming into Orlando airport to fly out on Saturday, I felt so much peace. I wasn’t anxious but open to God’s leading to encourage others around me. When I woke up on Sunday, I felt good, had a wonderful breakfast with my new friend Jodie and we were on our way to the Revelation Wellness headquarters to meet up with our team. We connected as a team, got prayed up then it was time to travel up to the Canyon. I tend to get car sick, so I need to sit up front but hadn’t mentioned that to anyone. When I approached the vehicle, the ladies I was with, invited me to sit up front with the driver. WOW I was so grateful and again felt supported and seen.

It was a great ride up jamming out to worship music and singing to the top of my lungs. That felt so good for my heart, mind, and body to prepare for the hike. As we approached the visitor center at the Grand Canyon, our driver asked if anyone that hadn’t seen the Canyon before like to be blindfolded as you walk up then reveal the beauty of this Wonder of the World. I said, “I’m open to that!” I had visited the Grand Canyon when I was 14, but it had been a long time, so I was willing. Plus, this hike was about trust so why not have that experience of someone leading me blindfold. As we approached the Canyon, I had to go downstairs, I took one at a time, sliding my foot then stepping down at least 20 or more times. I didn’t want to get myself hurt so I took my time. When we got to the edge, I removed my blindfold and took in the majestic beauty of the Grand Canyon South Rim. It almost doesn’t look real like I’m staring into a picture or something.

Due to record heat temperatures in the inner canyon the next day, we were going to be starting at 4AM. So early to bed it was. Thankfully I had a good night’s sleep and woke about 2:15AM to get ready and eat my breakfast along with my room mates. Some of the participants shared they were feeling nervous in their bodies. For some reason, I felt very calm and ready for whatever God wanted to show me through the hike.

I was the 2nd group to start on the Bright Angel Trailhead on the South rim. My shepherd or leader was Tom along with a couple other ladies, Bethany, and Theresa. As we started in the pitch dark, it felt fast as we began our decent. The path was very rocky and unstable at times. As we went back and forth down the switchbacks, my headlamp seemed to not be shining down correctly. I had not spent much time practicing the headlamp, so I was fiddling with it as I was hiking. I eventually did take stumble and hit my knees. Thank God I was wearing pants at the time so that helped it not be worse. Soon after, Bethany said to take off the rubber tips on my hiking pole. WOW that sure did help to get more traction with them. I have to say I sure was feeling the fear of the unknown during the first couple miles down. It was dark! It was unsteady! It was uncomfortable! BUT GOD! He carried me and showed me from His creation and from His people that it’s ok. We started to see the first light of daybreak out on the rim, and it was beautiful. We say a baby owl resting and then took to flight.

As we continued to venture further down the South rim, the beauty and majesty of this Canyon kept showing itself. The colors kept changing as the sunlight revealed the walls of the Canyon. I’ve never seen anything like this. It brought so much peace along with awe and wonder. Soon we would hit our first rest stop and water refill. For some reason, I choose into frustration as we were redirected back up the path, we just walked by to refill our water rather than filling up with water bottles that were sitting there for hikers. I quickly shifted and realized the logic of leaving them for hikers with no water at all coming up the south rim. We were soon on our way and my body found a rhythm. By this time, we would have a couple hikers shift groups. Mindy joined our group while Theresa moved up to the 1st group. This group stayed the same for a while until we reached what is called the corkscrew for the steep grade and dangerous heat. We were moving through this area at an early part of the day that the heat was not as much of an issue but the decent was no joke. I could start to feel my right knee begin to throb a bit. Mindy had mentioned she had knee braces in her backpack and only needed the left one if I wanted to use the right one. I said, “YES, PLEASE!” Wow God was meeting a need I didn’t even know I need to ask for. He is so good!

It's amazing the different terrains and ecosystems in the Grand Canyon. As we were approaching the Colorado River the ground turned into thick sand almost like beach sand. At that point, we began to put on our sunscreen because just on the other side after Phantom Ranch was what they call “The Box” – the hottest area of the Canyon due to walls towering over the trail enclosing the hiker in a narrow passage of granite and schist. Before that we did stop and did an intention around what we were going to be leaving on one side of the bridge and stepping into as we crossed it. We were encouraged to pick up a rock to drop in the river at some point as we walked over the river to represent that “thing” we were letting go of. I choose to let go of worry, anxiousness, and control and step into trusting God. As I walked crossed, I simply dropped the rock nonchalantly as a release - no drama needed.

At Phantom Ranch, we rested, took in some food and electrolytes then we were back on our way into “The Box!” The first part of the hike was my absolute favorite as we ventured near the bubbling creek and lush valley floor. A couple times, we crossed through the creek stepping so carefully on the rocks that would support us. It was so lush and beautiful! Lots of green along with birds, butterflies, and cool water. As we walked by the creek, you could feel a coolness in the air that brought much relief as the temperature began to get warmer. Unfortunately, that only last half the time in the Box soon we shifted to all sun and open dessert like areas. It got really hot fast! Did I mention that at Phantom Ranch the temperature gauge read 112 degrees in the direct sun. Oh JOY!

Our next rest stop was Cottonwood which had said 6.4 miles, but it lied because according to our shepherd we had gone that far, and we were still miles away. Let me tell you this is where me and Jesus met – in the heat of the box. As we moved, I felt tired, and my legs felt so heavy. It was so hot, and I was running out of water. Fear and exhaustion were setting in. My mind was like, “How am I ever going to make it if I feel like this already. Let me preference that by this time, we had already hiked 15+ miles and on our feet more than 7 hours which was the max training hike we had completed. So, at the point, we were now working in a space we didn’t train for. Isn’t that just like life, we can prepare all we want but at some point, we get to lean into the strength of our Heavenly Father to get us through the really hard and so uncomfortable moments. I had practice here in this experience. Walking through some pretty hard stuff with my health for 3 years off and on had developed in me practices to lean into the Lord, to cry out to Him and to calm my heart and mind. In that inner canyon at 105 degrees, I had a mental breakdown with my group of hikers and shepherd. They allowed me the space to move that emotion out and feel my feelings, not make me wrong or even try to comfort. It only took a few minutes to recover and allow God’s word to comfort me. This was new for me to move out of this so quickly. Like I mentioned I had had practice from the last few years of the roller coaster ride of my health opportunities. Before, those I not sure I would have processed it as quickly and been able to move on without shame or guilt lingering in my heart for holding up everyone. I never said sorry rather I said thank you to my group for holding space for me.

Moving forward we found the most amazing gift from God – a bubbling creek we could soak our whole bodies in. This was much needed for all of us to get the inflammation down in our legs and regain some refreshment. Truly this was life giving in so many ways. It was like God provided this oasis of water to refresh our bodies, souls, and mind on Him leaving the pain of the past so we could endure the rest of the hike. Thankfully, our next stop Cottonwood was only half mile for us to rest, change clothes and refuel our bodies for the climb up the North Rim.

At Cottonwood, I noticed my hands were starting to get cuts on them from the hiking poles, so I was supported with KT tape on them. That helped so much. Others were dealing with blisters and getting help there too. Some of our group was feeling ill and rested longer. I was feeling so much better and was ready to take on the next challenge with the Lord leading the way. As we began on the trail again, I felt a new sense of focus, strength, and courage. This was totally God because not just 30 minutes before I was ready to give up.

It was all up from this point on. The climb out of the North Rim is no joke. There is a point they call the Red Wall which is the hardest ascent climbing 1000 feet in 1 mile. By this time, we had to put on our head lamps which was probably good as we couldn’t truly see in front how steep the climb was. I just remember the path in some areas of the ascent was so narrow that I could envision myself falling off the side. Kind of scary! One of the coolest things going up towards the South rim was the wind on our backs. It was like the Holy Spirit was giving us a good push up the hill. At the same time, I had my air pods in my ear blasting the worship music. This truly carried me as it just felt at times felt as though it was never going to come to and end.

Let me tell you about the guardian angel God provided for me to get me out of that Canyon. Her name is Jesse! She was in the 3rd group which I ended up joining after my group went ahead in the Box. What a joy she was and lot of energy that was contagious. She has her own story of overcoming to get to that Canyon. As we keep moving up the South Rim with our head lamps on, Jesse would be like 30 feet in front climbing then switching back. At the top of the switch back she would look down shining her lamp on the path ahead of me. It was like she was saying, “Hey I got you just follow me with this little light of mine.” It gave me much comfort knowing she was leading, and I was willing to follow. How cool is God to use this to remind me that He is the light unto my path! Light is my word of 2024. I pray that the light of Christ shines out from me to others so to see his love, forgiveness, and grace.

About 10:30PM, we reached the top and was greeted by the Revelation Wellness hospitality staff. One of those staffers, Elizabeth I had met exactly a year ago at an event called Rev on the Road in Atlanta, GA. She set her mat up right next to mine and we got to chat. She shared she was a RevWild instructor and shepherd of Rim2Him. I remember telling her I was going to do it the following year. How cool that she was the one to greet me and hug me really tightly as I cried in gratitude for finishing the hike of the Grand Canyon. Not just a hike but an experience of my heavenly Father in the deepest parts of myself.

As I was hiking and began to feel just a bit overwhelm, I would say to myself, “I’m just taking a walk with Jesus.” I would repeat to myself audibly and sometimes in my head to calm myself and to remind me that it’s one step at a time. Other times I would sing hymns or worship songs that came up in my Spirit. I remember singing “How Majestic is Your Name in all the Earth. I sang, “Our God is an awesome God!” Some of the group sang along and others listened as I sang out and tried to breath at the same time.

It was truly a Holy hard experience. I believe it’s true “How I do anything is how I do everything!” My experience going in, across and out of the Canyon proved that the 3 years of walking with the Lord through the health opportunities with myself and husband showed up in my experience in the Canyon. He met me then and he will meet me now. There’s nothing to fear for He is with me! I have so much evidence of support that God provides with each trusting step of this life. As I honor and glorify Him in my life and stay in His will, He promises to go ahead of me, be with me and behind me at each point of my life to meet my need above and beyond all I can think or imagine. He is a good good Father!

I HIKED RIM TO RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON IN 18.5 HOURS AND 27 MILES! Temps from 59 degrees at the South Rim to 105 in the Inner Canyon to 44 degrees on the North Rim.

I would guess you have had a Grand Canyon type of experience in your life.
Ask yourself, how did God show up in your experience whether health related, relationship or a loss of something?
What behaviors came up for you that honor God, didn't honor God or yourself or others in your life?
What shifts/changes are you willing to make to allow you to respond differently next time?

Asking these kind of hard questions allow you to dive in deeper with the Lord to allow him to examine your heart and show you what needs to shift or change. This is the holy work we get to do with the Lord. When you are ready, I am here to support that journey as your Biblical Health Coach - a guide next to THE GUIDE per say. Contact me for futher info or signup for a 15 minute discovery call.

Blessings,
Michelle Howe

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My Grand Canyon Experience by Michelle D Howe

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