Climbing Life's Mountain

Mountain climbing. If you ever have to climb a steep mountain, such as Humility Mountain, you will understand some people's affinity to compare their daily struggles to a climb up a steep hill.

Commencement is simple: a goal is established, spirits are hopeful and ascension begins. The key to a climb lies, always, in its goal. With a goal firm and unwavering the darkest hours and lost trails can ever be overcome. As one steps up initially there is pep, spirit, high expectations that the goal will be achieved, so the pace is quick and strong.

Sometime, not long after starting to climb, the heart pounds too quickly and breath comes with struggles. One didn't count on the inclination's steepness. It couldn't be ascertained from the start. Now, a nudging temptation calls to return since you've only just started. The goal, however, is visible. You have yet to enter the tree line. You stop.

Rest reanimates and focuses the spirit's goal. You continue the climb ignoring the devil. You enter the tree line. How bright and sunny, warm and inviting it felt before you entered this somber world. The goal is no longer visible. A hundred arms stick out of decades-old pine trees, who've lost their needles searching for the sun, point you away from a steady and straight path. Mossy boulders also impede a direct route and to climb you find yourself descending to avoid the stony mammoths.

Now the physical pain meets a deep anxiety you cannot tame. There is no rest. You've lost your sense of direction. Panic sets in. Panic and exhaustion. No forward answers. What's left, but to question how could you've taken this decision to begin with.

You cry alone. Sounds are no longer identifiable so you no longer make sounds you can control. You try to run right, then left. You stumble and all orientation is lost. Still no answer leads you out of darkness. You succumb to your weaknesses. Your pride is dead.

You ask the birds for help. You question the trees and the boulders. No sense from your actions. You finally ask God. Only in your weakness can His glory shine so there is no question in your mind that it was He Who brought you out of darkness into the zenith where you feel the sun in your face once more. And the only equipment you needed to use in your climb was humility.