Lost and a lesson

So we so nearly almost got lost in Mt Kinabalu Park. I wont try to explain exactly what happened (heck, we don't even really know exactly what happened) but I know that we were, ok, pretty much lost. It would have been ok if it weren't already evening.

The light was fading fast, and we wouldnt have made it out if we hadnt had cellphone reception. If we hadnt taken Peng's bag when we split up, and if Peng hadnt packed a torch. If we didnt turn back when we did after following futile pipes for quite some time. If Eugene hadnt made a stand and stopped us following red trees ('they're boundary markers!!'). If Jono hadnt checked out the right fork while Fi was on the phone before we headed up the left fork ('hey, a bridge!' he said). If Peng and Buz hadnt stayed put. If the thunder didnt just threaten rain. If we hadnt checked out what we thought was a dead end gate....

You get to a point where you have to stop asking 'what if ____ hadn't....?' and face the facts: it did. And surely somebody made it happen. Somebody who knows the forest tracks (and the lack of them), and the time of sunset. Someone who knows our intentions, limited abilities, and cares enough to lead us out.

It makes me wonder, you know: we can't even trek 5k without Him - why do we think we can go through life all by ourselves? There are too many unseens out there, too many close calls, too many people (and signposts) that let you down, too many miscommunications and misinterpretations. And though there are many who seemingly manage to navigate their way through life without Him, I wouldnt want to be in their shoes.