Go Over, Not Around

A lot of people must like the mountains.  I know this to be true as I found myself sitting in traffic on Interstate 70 in the Rocky mountains.   Behind me were the high, snow-capped peaks.  Ahead of me was Denver.  But all around me were stopped cars, trucks, and campers on their return trip home from vacations in the big mountains of Colorado.

While sitting in traffic is never fun there could be worse places to sit.  Mountains are beautiful.  They are neat to explore and if you make it to the top of one you will probably be rewarded with breath-taking views.

Over the last few weeks or so I’ve had the chance to run and pedal up many mountains, see breath-taking views, and also completely run out of breath trying to make it over them.  I first ran a trail-marathon that included a hike up to a 13,200 foot peak.  The bike race I participated in hit 12,000 feet…twice!  In both cases there were many routes that could have provided a great experience but the course made us go up and over the high peaks. 

As I was getting ready to fly to Denver for the second time in one week I was lamenting being away from home and wrestling with “the why” behind doing all of these events.  I was not going to win.  It was a lot of logistics and uncertainty of how I would pull this off.  There was no financial gain or perceived purpose other than it was a challenge and I felt like I should try it while my heart and legs were still in the game. 

Jan mentioned that it has often been a theme in my life that God takes me over the mountains and not around them.  That’s very fitting for a journey where I will literally be asked to run and pedal over mountain peaks.  I decided that I’d better embrace the journey and pursue the over-the-top mountain experience.  Go up the mountains, Josh.

Now I do realize that not everyone sees a mountain and is inspired to run or ride over it.  But from my little jaunts out to the Rockies I do know that God is calling many to accompany Him in a journey that includes some serious vertical ascension.  They might not realize it but their hearts are being worked, molded, and some good stuff is being drawn out because of this process.  It’s not pleasant…just like running up a 13,000 foot mountain peak!

It would be easy and seemingly manageable to go around the mountains but I don’t think that’s what we are called to do, and people are feeling that too.  You may not see yourself as a high-altitude athlete but chances are that God has you following Him in a journey that is taking you higher rather than around.  Those that avoid the mountains in order to feel a false sense of security are missing out on a bit of misery but also tremendous, tremendous growth.  There’s a reason many races have big mountains because it tests the legs and hearts of competitors.   Mountain-climbing excursions for the soul will strengthen our faith.

While I was in Colorado to participate in these races I entered into quite a few conversations with fellow mountain climbers.  I spent several nights with friends and met their friends and neighbors.  In one conversation the topic of church came up and this family had some wounds from past church experiences.  They poured themselves out only to feel rejected and hurt by a few.   They left the church building, the community they once felt a part of, and ventured down a road that had them seriously doubting everything they once believed.

I sat there as the random guy from Pennsylvania and my heart was saddened.  “Church hurt” is real and I saw a family wrestling and trying to cope with the rejection by people that believe in a loving and caring God.  They were ready to toss everything they once believed to the curb.  They may not have realized it, but they were indeed going up the mountain in this season of their life.

I had a chance to chime in and encourage them to keep their heart open to Jesus but continue to wrestle, wrangle, and work through everything else.  Faith isn’t easy.  People will let you down.  The hurt is real.  But many times faith comes from following God up the mountain.  Anything else is settling and perhaps complacent. 

I didn’t run a marathon that day by avoiding the super steep trail at 13,000 feet.  I had to go up and it was pretty miserable for a time.  Settling and going around that mountain was not part of this race…and that is often the case on the path that God asks us to walk.  Even in the challenge and the thin-air I knew I was on the path to accomplishing something I had never done before.

The next morning I woke up at 1:45am to catch a plane, which meant I had run for more hours than I slept!   This early morning awakening got me to the airport and eventually to my plane, where I was able to snag a seat near the front of the cabin next to a single-mom and her young son.

As the flight took off I entered into conversation with the mom and her son.  We quickly started to chat about video games, which I had really nothing of value to offer.  I didn’t know games, characters, or really anything but I showed interest and that was enough for her young son.  So we kept at it for what seemed like hours.

Along the way his mom lamented life with video games and young kids.  This was a hard path to walk along; it was part of her mountain experience.  Raising a boy on her own and making parental decisions solo is a hard job.

Coincidentally when we landed the little boy’s bladder became full and he was in a full-flight panic to use the bathroom.  We were told to stay seated with seatbelts buckled; but our plane was not moving an inch because we were waiting for a gate to open.  I thought a young boy with an urgent need to use the bathroom might get some sympathy from the flight staff but as I stood up to let him into the aisle I was quickly scolded and told to sit down. 

There were a few tears but that quickly subsided when his mom looked over and gave a giant sigh.  He simply said “I just had to let it go and I feel sooooooo much better!”.    Letting go is apparently part of the mountain-climbing experience and we can be better for it.  I was surprised at how calm the mom was as it was just one more thing to deal with and learn from in her life with a young boy.

Climb that mountain.  Wrestle with the tough stuff.  Contemplate.  Endure.  Keep going but don’t be afraid to let go a bit in the process too.  Living life with God’s leading is gonna involve mountains whether we want it or not!  Don’t be afraid to go over them.