Trail Markers and Grace Notes: Lessons from a Misty Morning Hike

My ever persistent "To Do List"

I wasn’t supposed to hike that morning. My planner said “laundry” and “return emails,” and my to-do list was long enough to wrap twice around a pine tree. But something tugged at me—a nudge I’ve come to recognize as the Holy Spirit’s whisper: Come away with Me.

So I threw on my boots, grabbed my favorite travel mug (filled with coffee strong enough to wake the sleepy trees), and headed for a trail tucked away in the Georgia hills.

The morning fog clung low and thick, softening the outlines of everything. I couldn’t see more than twenty feet ahead. At first, it unnerved me. But then, like manna, came the reminder: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Not a floodlight. Not a drone’s-eye view. Just enough light for the next step.

I walked slowly, letting the hush settle my heart. The forest was holding its breath. No birdsong. No rustling. Just the sound of my boots and the occasional drop of dew falling from a limb overhead. That’s when I saw it—an old wooden trail marker, half-hidden behind some kudzu, pointing me left.

And I thought: How often does God give us these markers?

Not always big, blazing signs—more often it’s the quiet knowing, the peace that settles after prayer, the wise word from a trusted friend, the stillness that confirms the yes or no we’ve been wrestling with.

I turned left, and not 100 yards down the trail, the trees opened to a view I hadn’t expected: mist curling up from a stream, sunlight cracking through in golden shafts, and a fallen log that looked suspiciously like the perfect seat for a mid-hike moment with God. So I sat.

I sipped coffee, journaled a line or two, and let grace wash over me like the morning light.

We don’t always need a grand plan. Sometimes, we just need to show up, lace our boots, and walk with Jesus into the fog.

That trail reminded me that God isn’t always in the spectacular. Sometimes He’s in the still. Sometimes He’s in the mist. And always—always—He’s faithful to meet us right where we are.

So if your week’s been loud, your schedule packed, or your soul a little weary—this is your nudge: Step outside. Take the long way home. Look for the trail markers. Listen for grace notes. And don’t forget your coffee.

You might not get everything done today. But you just might find Him in the trees.