By Steve Gahagen

My wife and I had the opportunity to enjoy a couple of days at Cumberland Falls State Park in Kentucky. It's a gorgeous setting with some spectacular hikes that take you along the Cumberland River. Plenty of stone steps and elevation gain. One day, we climbed over 1800 feet, making getting out of bed the next morning a challenge. 

The experience made me wonder who created all the trails in the first place and how they did it. I found this picture in the lodge. These guys from the Civil Conservation Corps made most of what Jane and I enjoyed possible. Through hard and sacrificial work, armed with mostly picks and shovels, they created much of what is enjoyed today in many state and national parks. Many of them came to these camps to support their families in the midst of the Great Depression. Their pay was $30 a month, most of it sent home to take care of their families.

Their work reminded me of this statement: Anything of value requires sacrifice. If you enjoy something of value that you didn't have to sacrifice for, someone else sacrificed on your behalf.

Questions to Consider:

1. What moved the members of the Civil Conservation Corps to sacrifice at such a high level? 

2. What are three things you have received that someone else sacrificed to make possible? Write them a note if they are still alive.

3. How can you leverage your talents to create value for others? What sacrifice might it require?