The climb…as I thought of this title I definitely had Miley Cyrus in mind.
Last week my team and I scaled one of Ireland’s highest
peaks, Crough Patrick. Now I am not sure
if it really is one of their highest peaks but it was quite a hike. So here is the story:
We were lead to Crough Patrick by our wonderful contact
Jimmy and Pastor Paul. As were driving
up all I can think is I lived in Colorado I can do this. This will be no problem. The rockies are higher and harder climbs,
surely this will be a breeze. A cool
thing to do in Ireland, climb a mountain no biggie. Before our climb we were blessed with cookies
and treats from Paul, so I at this point I am still thinking of my Colorado
background and how treats are probably a good sign that it won’t be too bad of
a climb. At this point I seemed to have forgotten that I actually do not like
hiking, but more on that later.
The background of Crough Patrick is really interesting and
sad. The mount was notoriously summited
by St. Patrick. I forgot why but he did
and there is a statue of him at the base and a church in his honor at the
top. So ever since he made the climb,
once a year people make a pilgrimage to the mount and climb it in means of a
penance. The hard core people do this
climb barefoot. Our contacts informed us
that on that day there are medics waiting at the bottom ready to bandage those
who climbed barefoot.
So back to our climb.
As soon as we began I realized how dehydrated I was. Not a good way to begin the climb. And then I remembered how I do not like to
hike. And my Colorado roots were being
overtaken by the Texan in me who would rather drive up the mountain and some
who does not like hiking. But being
stubborn and determined I pressed on. I
was blessed by my teammate Alex, who patiently waited with me during breaks and
helped me take the hike bit by bit.
One of my favorite moments of the hike was not reaching the
top, (which I did!) but was when Alex and I took a needed break and enjoyed a
French Fancy. A scrumptious pastry (kind
of like a pettifore) generously provided by Pastor Paul. It was just the boost we needed to keep
going and was also the best tasting sweet ever.
So I did it! I climbed Crough Patrick. Not out of my own strength that was made
clear multiple times during our hike but by God’s. And because of the perseverance He blessed me
with I made it and am better for it. God
used this hike as a teaching moment for me and a reminder of who He is and my
need for Him. He taught me that even
though life is hard and I will go through trials of many kinds to not give
up. To not just turn around and go back
because it would be the easy thing to do, but to keep going. To keep my eyes focused on Him not the trial
I am in but on His goodness and faithfulness.
Because even when I cannot see an end He is there, even when I am
overwhelmed and emotional, He is stable and the rock on which I stand.
So thank you Paul and Jimmy for taking me to Crough
Patrick. For blessing us with treats and
an opportunity to experience more of Ireland and in turn more of God. 
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross,
scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not
grow weary or lose hear.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
