The View From the Top

     Today I want to encourage you to look back.  Where has God brought you from?  Let's think about the adventure for a little bit....


     When you embark on the adventure to climb a mountain, your goal may simply be to get to the top.  Along the way you enjoy the beauty of nature, the birds, the bunnies, maybe even a bear!  You breathe deeply of the clean air and see sky so clear it is a new shade of blue.  You also find there are hills, valleys, boulders, rivers, cliffs, streams, bridges...so many paths and twists and turns you now clearly understand the importance of knowing the direction you are headed and which path to take so you don't end up lost in the woods for days.  Some of the paths are more difficult than others.  You might slip on a lose stone and slip and fall.  A stick between your feet may trip you or a branch may swing back and slap you in the face.  Shoes, wet from falling into the water, wear blisters on your toes and heels.  Bridges, old and rickety from many years of weather, creak and groan as you ever so cautiously inch your way across to the other side.  Fingers, raw from clawing your way across the boulder that would block your path, bleed and sting.
     Descending into the valley and its shadows, you are refreshed by the coolness found under the canopy and enjoy the beautiful foliage hiding from the burning sun.  Once again, though, you begin to climb up, up, up the steep, sometimes vertical, face of the mountain.  Pressing on, you are almost there.  Wondering if you can take another step it becomes necessary to take a break and catch your breath.  It is then that you realize you are almost there.  It's not much farther now.  Sitting there, looking up, you see the goal.  The prize.  The top of this mountain you have been pursuing for hours. 
     Inspired, you set out again, taking those last few steps and you are there, legs and lungs burning.  The joy and elation of having made it erupts into celebration.  Then you stop to look around.  The view demands pure and complete silence.  Before you is a scene beyond words.  From this vantage point, as you listen to the waterfall cascading into the rivers and streams below, the tops of the trees hide the difficulties and roadblocks that slowed you down.  You, however, remember very well from whence you came.  It wasn't easy.  And that brings tears, unexplainable tears.  Suddenly the blisters, scrapes, aches, and pains are no longer your focus.  You see the beauty and grandeur of this place and know you have accomplished something special and wonderful.
     I wonder what your mountain may be?  It's been a long time since I have written, and I have a ton of excuses.  The truth is, I just haven't done it.  I have believed the lie that I didn't have anything to say.  Today I picked up my pen and wrote this post.  I'm not a mountain climber, but I have been on several beautiful hikes in my life.  Some were miserable, some exciting.  Some on days that were too hot for such adventures, some on cool days or in the rain.  All are good memories. 
     I don't know who said this, but it is a beautiful quote:  "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."  Climb that mountain, friend.  Press on when you think you can go no further.  Don't believe the lies and convince yourself you have nothing to say or nothing to give.  Get out and enjoy the adventure that God has given you...and the view from the top!