Godspeed: An expression of good will when addressing someone, typically someone about to go on a journey or a daring endeavor.

This summer, I had the joy of taking my entire family backpacking for five days through the Sierra Mountains in California.  I have lead groups in this scenic wilderness before but my wife and kids have only seen pictures and I was excited to have them see it first hand.  This country is as hard as it is beautiful and my eleven year old daughter carried her own pack with about 15 pounds of food, water, and equipment.  This hike would challenge Mattie in many ways both phyically and emotionally.  Each morning as we set out, her spirits were high and her pace was strong, but as the trail started to climb and the way became difficult, her pace would slow.  She wanted to keep up with Dad.  I decided to hang back with Mattie and let the others take the lead.

Pace is everything as you traverse the mountains.  It is important.  Knowing your pace allows you to measure the distance traveled.  Your pace dictates where you stop for water and lunch and whether or not you get to camp before the afternoon thunderstorms overtake you.  But it is easy to view your daily mileage as a guage for your acomplishments.  It’s hard to be last in line sometimes.  Everyone wants to be first.  The faster the better – right?

As Mattie and I hit the trail on the third day of our journey, she said she needed some God time today so she was going to walk at ‘Godspeed’.  Something about that statement hit me like an avalanche.  What is God’s pace?  I started to think about what Godspeed might look like in my own life.

Every day of my life is an adventure walk with God.  He leads me into some of the most wonderous places from the gasping-for-air beauty of the natural world around us to the heart gripping beauty of love and grace.  But the places He leads me into are hard to reach – it takes work tremdous effort.  The human heart is a tough landscape full of hills, hazzards, and hurts.  I have seen the beauty of unconditional love and I know it is worth the cost.  I want to follow my Father.  I start with high spirits and a strong pace but I grow weary.  I cannot keep up.  God slows down.  Godspeed waits for you and me.

The apex of our journey into the Sierras was a lake hidden under the snow covered peaks.  Hamilton Lake is ice cold and surrounded on three sides by two-thousand foot cliffs.  The snow fields of last year’s winter still linger and melt into the lake.  It is one of the most breath taking scenes I have ever beheld.  To watch Mattie’s face light up as we topped the rise and the lake came into view was more beautiful still.  After slowing to a crawl for the last thousand foot climb, the lake came into view.  She dropped her pack and ran across the granite to the lake.  There was no hesitation as she threw herself into the water.

Each of us are invited into a daring endeavor, an adventure into a magical relationship with our Lord.  It will not be easy.  There will be a cost.  You cannot make it on your own strength.  It is worth the risk.  Love always is.  Persist, and soon, you will round the corner and see all majesty and beauty.  Then we can throw off all that hinders, run to the throne, and without hesitation fall into His arms.

Farewell and Godspeed.