Photo by Jenny Venturo
People often say that looking forward to something is almost as exciting as the thing itself. Anticipation, in fact, is usually the driving force behind intense preparation, and it usually makes the event twice as exhilarating. Unfortunately, if things don’t go as planned, it also makes the disappointment all the more acute.
Colorado is a great state for looking forward to things. Last week, we had all been anticipating our upcoming climbs on the Colorado 14ers (a 14er is any mountain that rises above 14,000 feet). In particular, we looked forward anxiously to our climb on Mount Elbert, the tallest mountain in Colorado and the second tallest in the lower 48 states. This anticipation, of course, led to intense preparation. We have been planning for months. We began working our muscles about two months ago, preparing them for the strain they would soon endure. We pored over the contour map over and over again, studying slope angles, avalanche risks, and the safest routes. We stayed up to date on mountain conditions and weather forecasts.
This is how we have prepared for all the mountains we’ve climbed in Colorado. Last year, we attempted two other Colorado fourteeners. A few weeks ago, we attempted another. We did not reach the summit of any of them. The anticipation and preparation which had gone into those first few mountains made the defeat feel even more poignant.
But last week, on Mount Elbert, we accomplished our goal. It felt wonderful to be up so high, surrounded by snowy mountains, jagged peaks, and plunging white basins. Despite all the physical strain it had taken to climb up steep, snowy inclines, we had made it.
Whether we summit the mountain or not, we always push with all our strength for the goal ahead. The only thing that will turn us back is extreme danger—inclement weather, knife-edge ridges, hurricane-force winds, melting snow. Nevertheless, because of the intense planning and preparation—weeks of it before the climb itself—it always crushes our hearts to not reach the summit. These failures are teaching us to be content no matter what the circumstances. But the failures and successes, the anticipation and disappointment, always convict me in another way.
Am I that focused on sharing the Gospel? Do I plan that carefully? Do I strain that vigorously? Do I overcome that many obstacles in order to hand someone a Gospel tract, or talk to somebody about Jesus? And am I as devastated about missing an evangelistic opportunity as I am about missing a summit?
You see, the mountains shall someday be shaken. The earth will someday be destroyed and replaced with an eternal reality. The kingdom of God will then never be shaken (Hebrews 12:26-28). Is my effort pointed in the right direction?
How about yours?
