Lessons from climbing a mountain

I read a poignant yet at the same time also buoyant book recently, The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. (I liked using two words that ended in "ant.")  Shortly after Will's mother Mary Anne, a true lover of books, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he suggested they read books together and discuss them when he took her to appointments. At times I was sad as I read. At other times I marveled at how cleverly Will related themes from books into what his mom would say or experience.

Will's mother lived a full and, I would add, significant life.  Here is a paragraph from her obituary on the Women's Refugee Commission web site:

Mary Anne was the founding director of what was until this year called the Women's Commission, leading the organization from 1990 to 1994. She was an eloquent, devoted and tireless advocate for women, children and adolescents affected by war and persecution. She had visited refugees in settings around the globe, including in Afghanistan, Liberia, Sudan and Thailand, touching the lives of all she met.

I remember many affecting moments from the book but one in particular.  Will wrote that his mother loved to talk to people. She was one who never met a stranger. She found people's lives so fascinating. She was an extrovert.

As I began a climb with my husband a few weeks ago, I noticed people all around. I guess I have that in common with Mary Anne Schwalbe. I asked a couple where they were from as we started out. However, soon I was no longer talking. If you've hiked up a mountain above 12 500 ft, you will understand.

So although I could not hear about the life of an interesting couple hiking near us, I had the chance to experience the spiritual discipline of silence. Usually this is not one of the disciplines that refreshes my soul, as some spiritual formation gurus say.  Silence can be more like a frustration.

However, need trumps preference in this situation and I needed to breathe.  Put it this way, hiking up the mountain is constant cardio.

Lesson one: There is a time to be silent.  During the silence, listen to the sounds around me. The rushing of the water in the stream, the crunch of my boots on the trail, the ping of stones dislodged along the trail, the chirp of a bird or a pika (small, curious little hamster type animal who lives high on mountains). Appreciate the fact that I have the luxury to hike as well as the health. My lungs and heart are still working well.  Look around at the beauty and remember your Creator. If I'd been chatting with someone, yes, I'd have loved their story and found a lot in common as always happens, but I would have missed out on another aspect of life- silently observing God's world.

Psalm 19:1-6
The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the skies announce what his hands have made.
2 Day after day they tell the story;
    night after night they tell it again.
3 They have no speech or words;
    they have no voice to be heard.
4 But their message goes out through all the world;
    their words go everywhere on earth.
The sky is like a home for the sun.
5 The sun comes out like a bridegroom from his bedroom.
    It rejoices like an athlete eager to run a race.
6 The sun rises at one end of the sky
    and follows its path to the other end.
    Nothing hides from its heat. (NCV)

Lesson two: There is a difference between endurance and perseverance.  I have to persevere at times in life whether I feel physically or emotionally prepared.  Things happen in life.  I have to "suck it up," stop complaining and keep going.  Endurance is similar but I believe I can develop this quality.

According to Dictionary.com, perseverance is defined as continuance till the end. And endurance is defined as using strength to continue despite pain and fatigue. 

Not everyone has the privilege, yes, I'll use that word, to hike up a mountain.  Some people are weak in health; some don't live near a mountain nor have the funds to travel to such a place. No matter how hard they might persevere, they won't make it up the mountain. They might get altitude sickness, have a heart attack or just collapse.

To be able to climb a mountain, one must prepare, build that strength mentioned in the definition.  Building strength or endurance takes discipline and sometimes suffering. A physical work out requires both. If I'd not prepared in some way for the climb, I would have missed out on some very special moments with God on the mountain.

In the Christian journey, we need perseverance, often when we feel least prepared.  We also need to develop endurance so we can appreciate what God has for us. What do I mean by endurance? Taking the time and discipline to become strong spiritually.  That can mean a lot of different ways and means. For me, it means taking time in spiritual disciplines not to earn favor with God but to develop my spiritual "muscles" that I become more aware of Him in this world and my life.

I Thessalonian 1: 2-3
We are always thankful as we pray for you all, for we never forget that your faith has meant solid achievement, your love has meant hard work, and the hope that you have in our Lord Jesus Christ means sheer dogged endurance in the life that you live before God, the Father of us all.

Lesson three: It's better to take the journey with others.  Actually in mountain climbing, it is imperative we  climb in community. It's just safer.  My husband who is an avid mountain climber, also an introvert who likes to be alone, never climbs alone. He has met interesting people, heard amazing stories while climbing with a stranger. (He is more fit than me and often can carry on a conversation going up as well as descending.)

Having a person or group to climb with helps me finish!  Maybe it is a bit of pride but if they are making it, so can I.

Ecclessiates 4: 9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! (ESV)

Lesson four: God will let you know what you need to do when you get there.
Our descent that day did not go as easily as the ascent. The trail up had been easy to follow. The trail down was almost entirely rocks and scree.  I had to keep myself from going into a panic. At one point, I slipped and thankfully the only "injury" was a cut on my hand. We heard some thunder in the distance and raindrops had started to fall.  As I looked ahead, I noticed a few streams we'd need to cross.  I said to my husband, "I don't see how we'll get across."

He replied, "You'll know how to cross when you get there."

How true is that of our journey with God.  This is not a new thought either. John Newton in his biography published in 1764, Out of the Depths, wrote that God so often made his path clear at the last possible moment. Haven't you hear that and experienced that as well?  I tend to be a planner and always look ahead. Planning is good (at least I think so) but sometimes we cannot see what we should do.  In those times, we just have to get to the stream and figure out how to cross.

Proverbs 3: 5,6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not rely on your own insight.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths. (RSV)



Four lessons from a really good day.