I’ve always had a fascination and appreciation for mountains…
Friday, I had an opportunity to enjoy and soak up one final climb before launching on the WR.
Mt. Katahdin in Maine has been on my to-do list for the longest time – and while I climbed it three years ago, a person on my team rolled their ankle and we had to turn back before reaching the summit. This time I was determined to finish, determined to reach the top – determined to make it where the Appalachian Trail begins or ends for some. (the trail runs from Georgia—>Maine)
Over the last year of my life God has made some strikingly interesting and blessed, yet unexpected connections for me between Georgia and Maine. Maine is where I’ve spent most of my life growing up – Georgia is where I lived for 6 months while completing a college internship – and discovered the World Race. Georgia is where I returned to train for the WR – and Maine is where I have rested and prepared for the great adventure ahead. I was reminded that “oftentimes what is taking place tangibly in the natural, is mirroring what is taking place in the spiritual”.
So many mountains….so many connections…and endless trail of possibilities….from north to south…east to west…God’s beauty and majesty highlighted and exalted through it all. A journey of obedience, of pursuit and purpose. A beautiful beginning…hard work, but great rewards. My heart belongs to the Kingdom – and I can’t imagine a better and more rewarding/fulfilling journey to be on. To serve the one who made Your heart – and purposed your life…trusting Him each step of the way (even when its tough or doesn’t make immediate sense) – that’s my kind of adventure – and there’s truly nothing greater!
(I even convinced my Mom to come along for the journey – we made it!)
My body ached when I was finished – but my heart was refreshed. Walking over rock after rock during our descent was wearing on my patience a little – and with every scuff, ankle twist, and scratch, I became less thankful for the boulders I had to face ahead of me…but I knew it was necessary to make it to the end of the trail. My knees and ankles absorbed every motion and shock – reminding me that sometimes we journey close to exhaustion, but replenishing is always at the end of the trail. Rather than let my attitude get the best of me – I began to play the “thankful game” – something my squad learned at training camp. The “thankful game” involved listing off everything you are thankful for – great or small – until you run out of things to say. it’s a beautiful game you can play for hours – and in reality, after playing for a few short minutes – you realize you’ve changed the atmosphere around you – your attitude can’t be frustrated or annoyed, bitter or angry – because there’s just too much to be thankful for!
Going up was easy – and climbing down was another story. Through this, I realized our bodies aren’t designed to appreciate an endless road of descending – we were fashioned to naturally seek higher ground. Yes, you may end up a little sore (but such is the result of any hard work). The beauty of going up lies in the fact that your muscles naturally push instead of restraining or retracting themselves. I believe it’s the same when it comes to facing spiritual challenges in our lives – the more intently we walk forward, toward higher ground – the greater our perspective – the more clear-minded we become. Sometimes we choose to descend on a trail that is difficult and takes a while to get through – but the more intentional we are in walking forward…the quicker we reach our destination – God’s grace is sufficient, and in our weakness, His strength is made perfect. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
