Good Morning. How Could I Not?

I recently returned from a trip out West to Montana. A friend and I planned this trip months ago, and we finally set out for Glacier National Park, beckoning us both from the Canadian border. We enjoyed an extended weekend of hiking amid some of the most glorious scenery I’ve ever seen, going off the grid in the process.

Oh, Montana. Thank you for giving me inspiration and taking away all my bars for a few days. I needed it. We all do.

Our second day at Glacier, we hiked the famous Highline Trail — 11.8 miles one-way, over and through the bulk of the park, following the road below for much of the way. Just a spectacular (and strenuous) trek. We almost didn’t budget enough time to reach the end of the trail before the last shuttle could return us to the start, but that’s a story for another day.

(Spoiler: we practically ran the last four miles downhill.)

We crossed paths with dozens of hikers throughout the day, and early into our journey we intersected an older man and woman. We gave them the usual head nod with a “good morning,” and the woman’s response was something I didn’t expect.

With a wide grin, she looked back at me and said, “How could we not?!”

I couldn’t stop thinking about her and our 3-second exchange for the next 10 miles:

Good morning!

How could we not?!

What a simple and profound and often difficult outlook for all of life. It speaks to Paul’s insistence for contentment, perhaps my biggest struggle (it’s a top-3 one, that’s for sure). From Philippians 4 (MSG), Paul says:

I’m glad in God, far happier than you would ever guess—happy that you’re again showing such strong concern for me. Not that you ever quit praying and thinking about me. You just had no chance to show it. Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.

Whatever I have.

Wherever I am.

And gosh — I’ve been a lot of wherevers these last several months. Geographically and emotionally. States of the country and states of the soul.

Despite it all, I can make it through anything. In the One who makes me who I am.

These months of wandering have wearied me, especially in recent weeks. But they’ve also reminded me of all I’ve been given. Family and friends who stick by my side. Finances and passions to fuel my days. A purpose and a ministry to get out of myself.

I may not hike somewhere as spectacular as Glacier every single week. I may not hike anywhere every single week. It might get too cold or too hot, or I may just be too lazy some weeks to get out in nature.

I may be too wrapped up with friends or too disconnected from them and all by myself, for days or weeks at a time in either direction.

I may gain finances and followers and I may lose them.

I may face death, or I may face joy.

But through it all. Every single day. I have much to be grateful for. Blessings in abundance despite the clouds and gray, here and still coming.

It’s a good morning.

How could I not?