The Gear That Matters Most: Lessons from the 10 Essentials

Overpacked and Underprepared

I still remember my first serious hike in the Golden Gate. I overpacked everything—three extra shirts, two flashlights, enough snacks to feed a small group, and a first aid kit that could handle a minor disaster. My pack weighed a ton, and by kilometer three, I was exhausted.

Meanwhile, the experienced hiker I was with had a daypack half the size of mine and moved like he was barely carrying anything. When I asked him how he did it, he smiled and said, "You learn what actually matters."

That conversation changed how I hike—and honestly, how I live.

In hiking, we talk about the "10 Essentials"—the gear every hiker should carry: navigation tools, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire, repair kit, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter. These aren't suggestions; they're necessities. You don't need three of everything, but you absolutely need the right things.

I've been thinking about what the spiritual "10 Essentials" might be. What are the non-negotiables we should carry as we navigate life's trails? Here's my rough list:

1. Prayer (your navigation)

2. Scripture (your light)

3. Community (your safety net)

4. Humility (knowing you don't have all the answers)

5. Gratitude (fuel for the soul)

6. Rest (because even God rested)

7. Forgiveness (for others and yourself)

8. Purpose (knowing why you're on this path)

9. Hope (the emergency shelter when storms hit)

10. Love (the essential that makes everything else worthwhile)

Just like on the trail, you can't carry everything. But you need to carry the right things. And more important than having the perfect gear is having a heart that's prepared—willing to learn, open to correction, ready to adapt when the path gets steep.

So here's my question for you: What's in your pack? Are you overpacked with things that weigh you down? Or are you carrying the essentials that actually matter?

Until next time,
Neil