Spence Smith

Yes...That is a really yellow jacket.

Recently I was in Colorado with Ken Davis getting ready for his conference called DCW. We were at a place called the Glen Erie. The property sits in a box canyon and has a trail you can hike that takes you back to these incredible waterfalls.

As we hiked back through this trail I was taken back to hiking up canyons as a kid at summer camp in New Mexico. (I have a deep love for the mountains and New Mexico because of my camp experience.) As we hiked, Ken and I talked the whole way up.

Finally we came to a waterfall. It was beautiful and the setting around it was amazing. It’s hard to believe that we were standing 15 minutes from the nearest Starbucks. After we took it all in from, Ken lead me to the top of the waterfall by going up a very steep, rocky slope with a lot of loose gravel. Going up is pretty easy with the gravel and all.

Going down hill is another story.

We hung out up top for a bit then decided to come back down. As we started down I couldn’t help but think about a couple of things.

1.We generally think walking or running down hill is easier to do because gravity is on your side in a big way. But going down hill is where many runners and walkers can get hurt. The pressure on your knees and the impact is sometimes greater therefore making your knees potentially more unstable.

2.Because going down hill “seems” to be easier, we are less likely to pay attention to what is ahead of us. Sometimes the unexpected can happen when things seem easy and if we aren’t careful-we will slip up. In the case of running or walking, it could mean slipping literally and falling.

As Ken and I made our way back down, I noticed how much loose gravel there was and how very little places there were for sure footing. Every step had to be well placed and thought out. One bad step and the gravel could send us tumbling down about 100 feet which would be a very bad thing.

I guess, this made me think about how many times we find ourselves in what seems to be an easy place only to get caught of guard by something we would normally see coming.

I’m not one who is waiting for the other shoe to drop when times are easy and nice, but I am reminded that it pays to be on my game a bit more and take notice of where I’m headed and what I’m doing.

So as the down-hill-easy-times come, think about where you are, what you are doing, and where you are headed. Make each step count and enjoy the journey along the way.