National Day

Trail Mix for a long time was referred to as GORP. Do you know what GORP stands for? (What do you think Facebook Friends?) Trail Mix’s history is as varied as its ingredients. It is speculated that Native American Indians used to carry around a mix of dried fruit, dried meat, and nuts. The more recent and well-known possible creators include Horace Kephart, where in his 1910 camping guide “introduced” an energizing snack mix that included the usual ingredients. Then in a 1958 novel by Jack Kerouac, “trail mix” was mentioned. In 1968 a couple of California surfers came up with a simple trail mix concoction. Common sense tells us that this type of mixture has been around as long as humankind, com’on who doesn’t like a snack every so often. And a light, easy to travel snack mix would be the next obvious evolution.

The standard/traditional mix is made up of Granola, Oats, Rasins, and Peanuts = GORP. And yet others say GORP stands for “Good Old Rasins and Peanuts”. (What do you think Facebook Friends?) Trail mix is a more accurate moniker due to the many different types of ingredients available today. You can buy all blends of trail mix, or better yet make your own. Ingredients can be as follows: cereal, candy, dried fruits, nuts, legumes, seeds, salty snacks, crystallized ginger, Japanese rice crackers, granola, jerky bits, sesame sticks, wasabi peas or other dried vegetables. To top it off you can add seasoning, like cayenne pepper, garlic powder, curry powder, chili powder, onion powder, and/or cinnamon. Heck if it is dry food (preferably with some protein) and portable and you like it, it can be in your trail mix. Yet the adventurous way to get your trial mix is to throw a BYOTMI (Bring Your Own Trail Mix Ingredient) party before a long hike. Everyone invited brings their own ingredient(s), you mix it and put it in plastic bag or small baggies and power on. August 31st seems quite the perfect day for this celebration with cooler weather and (in some places) the turning of leaves, it is a perfect time for a long, or slow, walk through nature.

Not sure why this is a national holiday, I think it might be best to do it every day or as often as possible, especially in these times. That being said, I feel the best way to emulate an angel is to do the kindness in secret. Pray for an enemy, a bully, a terrible boss, etc. Leave a note of thanks or compliment or inspiration where they will find it. Remember Angels are God’s messengers, they do as God wills; so, prayers are more potent, more likely to get a positive and/or quick response when prayed in a way that benefits the person and glorifies/pleases God… not accomplish something that will make your life easier/better. Albeit God can make both happen simultaneously, but we are talking about our heart and intentions as you pray. I pray your understanding, your connection, your joy in God grows today! And dont forget to look for angel manifestations all around you.