Hiking around Cedarville draws students closer to God and others

by Megan Deets

“He [God] perfectly formed every part of creation. He pays attention to those little details, and he pays attention to those little details in our lives,” Bailey said. 

Lydia Bailey, a sophomore nursing major, loves hiking because it allows her to see the beauty that God created in nature. 

Bailey has enjoyed hiking with a group from Cedarville University’s King’s Kids organization that serves refugee children in the Dayton area. 

She appreciates a chance to get off campus and spend time more intentionally with her friends. 

“You really get to know people one-on-one,” she said. 

Titus Webster, a freshman mechanical engineering major, also values the community that hiking brings him. 

Webster formed a hiking group near the beginning of the fall semester. The group includes six to 10 people from Webster’s bro-sis. They try to go out to a trail every other weekend. 

“I wanted to be around people who wanted to go outside,” Webster said. “In a spiritual sense, I wanted to be around a group of people who wanted to stop, to slow down.” 

He hopes that the group will lead to an increase in fellowship and a greater focus on the Lord as they hike together.

Webster’s favorite park to hike in the local area is Indian Mound Reserve. 

He appreciates that it’s within walking distance, just a mile away from campus. But even more than its convenient location, Webster enjoys the peaceful setting that Indian Mound provides. 

Because it is a small park, not many people hike there regularly. The lack of busyness creates an atmosphere where it’s easier to focus on nature, rather than on people rushing by. 

“Hiking’s one of the best ways to be alone,” Webster said. “I’ve got all these things going on in my head. It gives me a chance to stop and reset.”

Indian Mound offers him a place where he can do those things alongside his friends.

Bailey enjoys Indian Mound because of the encompassing view from the top of the park’s namesake mound.

One of Bailey’s favorite aspects of nature, which can be clearly seen from the top of Indian Mound, is the sky.

“It reminds me of God’s creation and how small we are in the midst of it,” she said. 

John Bryan State Park in Yellow Springs is another popular hiking spot. Bailey appreciates that there are more trail options there than at Indian Mound. 

Bailey hiked at John Bryan in October last year and admired the colorful autumn leaves, and Bailey and Webster both noted the beautiful rock formations there.

Webster also pointed out the surprising features at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve, five minutes down the road from Cedarville University.

“You go there, and suddenly, there’s this huge gorge!” he said. 

Because of some of these larger landmarks, Clifton Gorge’s trails are more traversed than either Indian Mound’s or John Bryan’s. 

As much as students love hiking for exercise or for the chance to take a break from their everyday lives, it also gives them an opportunity to remind themselves of who God is. 

Bailey often observes the many trees in nature along hiking trails, and these trees remind her of important truths.

“They’re really cool allusions to the Christian walk that are used throughout the Bible, how we need to be rooted in our faith, and God’s the one who helps us grow.”

Megan Deets is a freshman Professional Writing and Information Design student. Some of the things that she loves are new notebooks, fresh fruit and musicals.

Photos from Abby Riley, Megan Deets and Lydia Bailey