The bridge, the sunrise, the streets of Sausalito, they distracted me and at first the burden of my mental struggles wasn’t so bad. Once we got through Sausalito, though, the weariness set in, I started to get blisters on my feet and we started up the rec trail to Mill Valley. The trail ran parallel to the highway, had absolutely no shade whatsoever and was not very scenic at all. The mental struggle deepened. I willed myself to the next pit stop. I really had no choice. Between us and the highway was a wide swatch of grass and a fence. There was no sweep access on this part. The only way to get to the next pit stop was on my own power. So I summoned up a fair amount of inner strength, and an even larger portion of pure stubbornness, and I walked on.
When I reached the pit stop, my first stop was the port-a-potty area. I got into line to wait. I got to the front of the line and when the next door opened, I stepped inside. I slid the pack from my back, covered the seat and sat down. On the inside of the door I found this message: “If you pick ‘em up, O Lord, I’ll put ‘em down”.
For many people, it would have been words easily dismissed. But I was raised Catholic, I had attended church services in several different denominations over the years and while I no longer belong to any organized religion, I do have a strong spiritual basis to my personal philosophies, lifestyle and choices. For me, it clicked.
This is what got me to lunch.
If you pick ‘em up, O Lord, I’ll put ‘em down became my mantra for the day.
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