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This week has been so amazing on so many different levels. I've gotten to walk around without shoes, hang out and meet all sorts of cool people, found out I'm gonna be an RA next year, and I'm driving home tomorrow morning. I'm stoked to go out with my friends and see my friends get married.

On another note. I went on another one of my hikes today. I didn't intend to go for as long as I did, due to my friend not being able to come with me (sad day.) However, it was probably good that I went by myself, because it was really a struggle. Here's the background...

Last night at Core, we talked about spiritual gifts and being able to see demons and spirits. Some of the stories really creeped me out, seeing shadowy figures suddenly appear out of nowhere. The whole point was that with Jesus on our side, we can basically tell these things to piss off, and they have no choice but to do so: they can't stand God's presence.

Satan took advantage of this insecurity of mine today. The result was a spiritual battle while I was hiking this mountain. Through marshes, trees, and winding paths, I felt a weird presence around me. My eyes were doing funny things to me, not being able to focus on things. I had tingles like crazy all over my neck, and I was sweating SO much. I got hungry quicky. I got thirsty like the dickens. I kept looking behind me because I felt like I was being followed. At one point, I thought I saw a random shadow blitz across the trail a little ways in front of me.

Whether or not I was seeing things and my eyes were playing tricks on me, I was creeped out to the max. I prayed like crazy, and while funny feelings left me, I did business with God on some stuff. It was mostly the hike up that I was creeped out. The trip down was better, but still a little freaky because I took a trail that I didn't know. Oops.

I have hiked most of these trails numerous times and NEVER had a battle like I did today. It was pretty intense. It's not something I want to do again, because while I know that God has power over Satan, it's still scary and feels mega-crazy.

It was a cleansing that just happened to take 11 miles to complete, but it was good. One of my friends suggested that it was also related to my fasting from coffee. Hmmmm. I've also been climbing a lot. AndI should be stressing.

SUCH a good week.

Now I have to poop.