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I left Dothan, Alabama in the early afternoon of Friday, April 20, 2004 and drove 4 hours north to Cheaha State Park in the Talladega National Wilderness Area. I planned to hike the Pinhoti trail for 3 days. After having a very difficult trip, I arrived at the trailhead just before dark and decided to hike until I found a flat place to set up camp for the night. I came to such a spot and with the sun going down I hurried to set up my tent and arrange everything for the evening. As the sun disappeared behind the mountains I crawled into my tent and started to zip myself in, but the zipper caught in the fabric and got stuck. I yanked hard to get it free and ripped it beyond repair. In frustration I cried out, "what else can go wrong?!" After wallowing in self-pity for a while I decided to read from my bible, write in my journal and pray before going to sleep. After I finished, I laid down, but there were rocks under my head. I turned around, which put my head right at the opening of the tent. Since I couldn't zip up the opening I was now laying with my head exposed to the cool air and staring up at the night sky, which was brilliant with stars. While looking at the stars I praised God for His wonder and majesty, then I fell asleep. The next morning I prayed, recounting for God my trip of the day before. As I listed each struggle, God confirmed that the enemy was working against me to keep me from making the trip. However, when I got to the part of the broken zipper and the rocks under my head, God spoke to my heart and said, "David, I was the broken zipper." Then He added, "I did this so you would see the wonder and majesty of your God in the stars!" My heart leapt within me as I realized the implications of His words; this was without a doubt going to be a trip to remember. About an hour later I was packed and hiking along the trail. As I hiked, I enjoyed sweet communion with my God as we talked together. I thanked Him for bringing me here to recover my heart and for what He had already done in this place. While I prayed I sensed His presence as He spoke into my heart again and said, "David, today you will find a heart shaped rock." This got me very excited. Since the trail was very rocky, I began searching for a heart shaped rock. I even imagined what it would look like as I scanned the ground for it. However, He spoke again and this time said, "Do not look for it or you will miss the reason I brought you here!" I stopped looking then and there. I hiked for the next three hours enjoying the beautiful weather, scenic views and spring flowers. After stopping for a snack and climbing on some rocks for about half an hour, I started on the trail again. By this time I had forgotten about the promise of the heart shaped rock. As I hiked, I came to a place where the trail turned sharply to the left and went around a tree. I stopped to negotiate the turn, and looked down; laying in the dirt before me was the heart shaped rock that you see on this site. I bent down and picked it up. When I did, God's promise from the morning came back, "today you will find a heart shaped rock." I began to weep. I knew then without a doubt that my heart was and is important to God and that He cares for and loves me unconditionally. Throughout that weekend God spoke to me and told me what I was to do with this rock and how it is a "Stone of remembrance" not for me only, but also for all of His children who are hurting and have had their hearts locked away by the enemy. I am to take this message of hope and be one who is battling for the hearts of men and women so they can find the freedom Christ promised. If you look at the picture of this heart shaped rock, you will see rough spots produced by the pressures exerted upon it during formation, leaving scars on it's surface. In the same way our hearts are wounded during our lives and this leaves scars. These are the rough places in our hearts that cause us pain. After finding the rock I continued hiking for about two hours. As I hiked, I held it in my hand and rubbed my thumb over these "scars". When I stopped for lunch, God spoke to me again and said, "David, the scars on this rock are like the scars on your heart caused by the wounds you have received throughout your life. Over time you will rub the surface of this rock and they will be worn down. In the same way I am working on your heart to smooth out the rough places and heal your wounds. Take this message to my people, this rock will become a reminder to you and them of my faithfulness and love. Share this story for this rock is to be a stone of remembrance."
This is how Rescued Heart Ministries was formed. We are a new ministry and have yet to really get started on the journey that God began on the Pinhoti trail of Cheaha state park that day in 2004. We look forward to growing and spending our days fulfilling the great commission and fulfilling the ministry to Gods church by providing opportunities for God's people to recover their hearts and find the abundant life Jesus offers.
David Shields, March 2006
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