Two Introverts Go on Vacation: Hiking in Arizona and a Prayer for Healing

I’ve been a little MIA this past week.

One of my college friends and I jumped on airplanes and headed south for sunshine and some Arizona hiking. It turned into five hot, fun days—with a few ups and downs, because that’s life.

Also…when two introverts go on vacation together, we obviously take different flights. How do you spot an introvert in the airport? They’re sitting by themselves, away from the people.

I arrived first and scrambled through the logistics—grab the rental car, stop for groceries, check in, and then drive back to the airport to pick her up. By the end of the day I thought, phew…that was chaotic. Then vacation mode kicked in.

We planned some challenging hikes, which turned out to be really fun. I wasn’t even sure I’d be able to hike. I’ve been dealing with an ongoing foot injury for months and didn’t know how it would hold up on desert trails.

But the morning before I left, I woke up with stories of Jesus healing people running through my mind.

The woman who reached out in faith:

“She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’ Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.”—Matthew 9:21–22

The blind man Jesus healed in an unusual way:

“He spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him. ‘Do you see anything?’ he asked.”—Mark 8:23

And the paralyzed man:

“Then he said to the man, ‘Get up, pick up your mat and go home.’ And the man got up and went home.”—Matthew 9:6–7

So I did what I know how to do.

I reached out to Jesus.

The first morning of hiking I looked at my three shoe options—yes, I overpacked shoes. I walked around a bit, testing things out, and finally settled on one pair.

Off we went. And my foot held up. The next day it felt even stronger. And the weather…wow. I’ve been to Arizona many times, but I’ve never had sunshine quite like this. Hiking in the mornings and poolside in the afternoons.

My gratitude list kept growing. Last year I reached 1,000 gifts in my journal after reading One Thousand Gifts. But the list didn’t stop there. I just kept writing them down.

And this week there were plenty to add.

• A foot strong enough for desert trails.

• Sunshine in March.

• A quiet friendship that doesn’t need constant conversation.

And I’m grateful.

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I’d love to hear from you

Where have you noticed small gifts lately?

Want the full story?

For a few extra details from the trip, you can also listen to this week’s podcast episode.

About Make Monday Matter

Make Monday Matter is my weekly devotional where I share reflections on faith, running, and the small ways God shows up in everyday life.