Quite regularly on my day off I go for a walk in the Port Hills. The walking tracks I most often use are those close to a bus stop that enable me to get as high as possible quickly. I also like to walk along the tops. Some of these tracks are quite steep in places. With the Port Hills so close to a large city, there are always a few people out and about, but the tracks are not very busy.

To experience some other parts of the Port Hills, I have recently tried out some of the gentler tracks that ascend the Port Hills a lot more gradually, such as the Rapaki Track and the Harry Ell Track. I was amazed at the number of people using these two tracks. Even on a Monday morning there is a constant stream of people. There are joggers, dog walkers (with dogs on the leash), power-walkers, and young and old (but mainly middle-aged) out for a stroll, some in groups, some in pairs, some alone. For a lot of people some movement in the fresh air of the hills is important. But it seems that most want just a small challenge, rather than discovering the wide variety of the Port Hills, which may require some steeper climbs.

I wondered whether sometimes we see something similar in faith as well. There are many people for whom some spiritual aspect in life is important. However, quite a few people leave it at that, content with some occasional spiritual impetus, possibly even making it a routine. But not that many people are possibly motivated to explore the extent of God’s beauty and love, for that would require some effort, even climbing the occasional difficult bits in life. But on this path less travelled there is a lot to discover and a richness of experience that goes beyond what we encounter on the broad paths.