Mountain Climbing and Life

It is true our lives experiences often teach valuable lessons.  Mountain climbing has many parallels to our struggle through life and it was on a recent climb that I realized some of those important lessons that can only be learned through pushing yourself further than you would think was possible.

My friend Rebekah invited me to climb South Sister with her and some friends.  I enthusiastically accepted and then began to question judgement.  How often do we do this in life?  Or is it just a certain type of personality that does it?  I am not sure but I often jump into things with full effort only to find myself coming up short.  It may be the dreamer in me that leads me to do such things.

In preparation for our ascent I decided to do some research.  I thought it would be great to know ahead of time what I might encounter.  The first articles I found basically told people not to do and instead take the lake loop trail.  "There is safety in the lake loop trail.  You will still see the mountain but not have to venture up dangerous terrain" was the basic gist of the advice given.  This seems to me like our everyday conversations with our maker, no matter what we believe.  We question which path should we follow.  I feel now that those doubtful words we hear hinder us from accomplishing what we truly want and were meant to do in life. We are all too easily convinced there is safety in the lake loop trail.  We are also convinced that we want that safety.  But look at history.  How much history was made by those who took the lake loop trail?  None that is memorable.  Jesus certainly didn't take the easy way.  He would have taken himself off the cross.  Surely that would have been easier.  Gandhi didn't take the lake loop trail.  If he had India would still be under British control instead of having an independent government that is gradually gaining on the world stage.  Gorbachev didn't take it either.  He knew communism wasn't working and he was prepared to see it dismantled even if it put him out of a job. Our founding fathers, with all of their faults, risked imprisonment just to guarantee basic liberties. What one thing did they all have in common?  They believed the ascent was important.  They believed to climb that mountain was essential to being human.  They were risk takers and bravery was their number one character trait.

I have been working on bravery this year.  I have felt called to be more brave and bold and so I have stepped out and let that inner lake loop voice be quieted.  I have been rewarded with enriching experiences which have changed my life.  My encouragement to all is to do the same.

My climb of South Sister was amazingly rewarding and I will write about it again but the most important thing was to learn the lesson of not listening to that voice that doubts or discourages.  Be encouraged, be bold, step forth and follow your path and see how rewarding it can be.

The Last Breath of Summer

   Its that time again when the chill hits the morning air,
   The sunflower seeds are drying and falling to the ground,
   I gather the last spoils of summer as I make my garden rounds,
   Their is a shorter amount of time to bask in the sunshine,
   And tomatoes sit red and yellow on the vine.

  The last breath of summer means one last time swimming at the lake.  We ventured out, played in the sand and went for a swim.  The water is much cooler than it has been as if preparing for fall.  The level of the lake has fallen dramatically as farmers pump the last bit of water to their crops.  Goodbye to the diving dock, it is no longer deep enough.  The sun is still warm but not as sizzling.  One last backstroke gazing at the cloudy, blue sky.
   Already we are delving into fall activities; soccer, football, hiking and of course school.  But we are holding on tightly to the last breath of summer taking it in on the weekends, breathing it deeply to fill us until it comes around again.
   One last trek in the sand, tubes and towels in hand.  Sandy feet will soon be replaced with sock-clad ones.
   Each meal outside could be the last as the sun sets sooner and the nights grow cooler.  We thankfully sit around the table and breathe in all the fresh air we can get never exhaling too soon, not wanting it to leave our lungs.
   This summer girl loves her seasons but one stands out above the rest.  I was born in summer, born to be in water, born to have that fluidity to life that summer brings.  Inhaling, holding for as long as I can that last breath of summer.