So, I climbed this mountain...

My brother and I climbed a mountain. A big one (at least as far as the U.S. is concerned).  Last year. On my birthday.  It was a pretty big deal to me.  I think it was a big deal to him too.  At least he acted like it was.  Anyhow, it was amazing.

I was really thankful he did this with me.  Not only because there were a few times when I was truly scared out of my mind, but mostly because I love my brother and being with him on a big climb is really the best way to be with him at all. 

Our climb took a long time.  Most of a day.  So, we would hike along at a pretty good clip and talk about everything.  We talked about the beauty of it all.  We talked about our families.  We talked about growing up.  We talked about hurts and joys.  But our talking always came back to Jesus and I loved that.  Sometimes we would be silent and that was pretty awesome too.

It was more challenging than I expected. But, I tend to like a challenge, so I was up for something hard. We climbed to above 14,000 feet elevation to reach the peak of Mt. Holy Cross.  A beauty to behold.

What exhilaration to be at the top of one of Colorado's biggest peaks.  The most difficult part was yet to come though.  After reaching the summit, we stayed there for a short time to soak it in. The hardest part of our journey was just beginning.  We stayed at 13,000 ft. on what is known as the Halo for several hours, traversing over an endless sea of boulders.  It's known as a difficult climb because of the terrain, being at high elevation and being exposed to the elements for such a long time.  In addition, there is no marked route which we found out and this made the journey even harder.  Some boulders were as big as houses, some were the size of a football...many of them would move when you stepped on them.  It was hard.  It was really hard.  My brother was a little ahead of me scouting out the best route.  I kinda felt like Sam and Frodo on Mount Doom after a while.


Now... I am not a fearful person.  But, at this point in time, I began to somewhat panic in my head.  I had gotten myself down side of a peak (not smart) and on some really shaky rocks.  To my left was a drop of about 2,000 feet.  To my right was the peak straight up another 500 ft. or so.  And I was weary.  The altitude had taken it's toll on me and the muscles in my legs were beginning to spasm.  I had begun to really think about the choice I had made to do this.  Of  Brad and the kids.  How I was being selfish and stupid just to experience something new.  Then my brother called my name from nowhere that I could see.  "Sade....up here! You can do it, right up and over."  Never had I felt so much like a little girl again needing the guidance of someone way bigger. I was thankful.  I needed the assurance that things would turn out better than they were in my head. 

Don't we all need that from time to time?  A beacon in the dark?  A call of hope that strength is near and we aren't alone?  I need it often.  And the hope of Jesus being a call in the right direction, or a hand to pull me up over a larger than life boulder or His grace to guide me out of my stupidity.  The hope of Jesus is the assurance that He IS the strength in my soul to live this life day by day with joy in my heart knowing that the steady climb over some really rough stuff in living will bring me closer to the day that it will all come to fruition.  Can't wait!

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1: 11-14.

As we finished the slow trek along the spine of the Halo, we approached the small shelter on the opposite side of Mt. Holy Cross.  This was a site to soak in.  A shelter in the middle of nowhere. Thankful for a home to eat our snickers and drink water.  Thankful for a place to look at and know we had made it.  Thankful for my brother to do this with me.  And most thankful for a true relationship with my God who holds the world in His right hand and holds me by mine.



"For I, The Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the One who helps you."   Isaiah 41:13

So glad I did this.  Hope I don't have to wait too long to do it again.