Do you like hiking?
If you’re like me, then your answer is always an emphatic YES! In fact, I even go as far to say that I LOVE hiking! Upon reading that answer you might be tempted to believe that I am this extreme, athletic specimen who wakes up at 5 am, downs some raw eggs, laces his shoes to the Rocky theme, and bursts through the front door ready for his morning hike… but that is absolutely untrue. You see, there’s one problem, I hardly ever go hiking.
What? How can you say you love hiking if you hardly ever hike? The injustice! The deception! The fraudulent hypocrisy!
Ok, ok, I understand where your frustration is coming from. I shouldn’t pose as a hiking fanatic when in reality I’m lucky if I hit the trails more than once a year, but let me explain…
I’m obsessed with views. There’s nothing quite like summiting a mountain and taking in the gorgeous view from the top. That moment where my eyes drink in the beautiful panoramic scene and my heart seems ready to burst with an appreciation for God’s majestic creation is the reason I tell people I love hiking. What I should say, however, is that I love mountaintop views because the truth is, I absolutely hate the actual trek to the top.
In a way, I think that’s something we can all relate to. We’ve morphed into a culture that craves the end product but despises the necessary work to achieve it. We want the ripped bod but don’t want to have to count calories or commit to a rigorous workout routine. We want the view from the top without the two hours of grueling uphill climb. Or, in the case of the World Race, I want the 18,200 dollar result without putting in the necessary efforts to fundraise.
This past week I looked at some of my teammates who have already raised thousands of dollars and I found myself getting jealous of their success, forgetting the crazy amount of work they had to put in to get to where they are. It was in that moment that God seemed to ask me a question,
“Connor, why do you despise the climb?”
Honestly, I don’t know. I suppose it’s because I like comfort. I prefer the easy route. Simply put, I don’t like pain. Now, I know as well as you do that in order to achieve the goals God has called us to achieve it isn’t going to be easy. It isn’t going to be pain-free. God loves pushing us outside of our comfort zone and He clearly tells us that life includes pain. But that pain, that discomfort, that uphill journey is absolutely vital to our transformation as a Christian. Struggle is what our Father uses to teach us and purify us so that when we finally reach the top, we are a different person than when we first began. Deep down, I know this fundraising journey, though difficult, is good for me. I know God is shaping my life in such a way that when I reach the top, I will be so, so thankful for the climb. When I think back to the few hikes I have completed in my life, I certainly remember the ecstatic feeling of reaching the top, but I also remember the lessons I learned through the challenge. I remember the people I met, and conversations I had along the way. As crazy as it sounds, I remember being thankful for the aching in my muscles knowing that they are getting stronger in spite of the pain. Most of all, however, I remember appreciating the top so much more because of the work I put in to get there.
Perhaps you’re staring up at the top of a mountain in your life thinking that you’ll never reach the top because it’s too hard, it’s not worth it, or simply, it’s just easier to walk away. If that’s the case, then I want to encourage you with these words… don’t despise the climb. Rather, embrace it because the view from the top is always worth the climb.
Embrace the climb.
