Log in

A trip to Everest

Posted

Inspiration

By Charles Towne

What is your Mt. Everest?

Yes, you are climbing Mt. Everest! You are living your dream! Imagine that you have spent years dreaming and planning for this moment and now it is happening. This challenge, this incredible experience, this dream fulfilled; this privilege is yours.

You have spent well over one hundred thousand dollars in preparation, equipment and travel permits. Yes, one hundred thousand dollars to climb the mountain.

There are no guarantees that you will stand on the summit. No guarantees that you won’t die by falling into a bottomless crevasse, or being blown off the mountain by gale force winds to never be seen again. Or you could die by being buried in an avalanche. You might lose fingers or toes from frostbite. Pulmonary edema or mountain sickness might kill you. A broken arm or leg on the mountain could be a death sentence.

Imagine that you have almost reached the summit. Every step is almost beyond your endurance. Each breath an effort. You look up. You can see the summit just there. It is only another six hundred feet of snow and rock, but It might as well be six thousand miles.

You turn your back on your objective and began retracing your steps. Life is precious. You have had enough. You can’t go on. You quit. Why? Over 60% of the climbers turn back before they reach twenty thousand feet. Why? One man quit because there was no more lemonade. Another quit because he didn’t like another climber. The fact that the other climber was his wife did not bode well for their future together.

People quit for any number of reasons.

Some suffer from fatigue or illness. Pneumonia can be a death sentence on the mountain. There are a lot of bodies still up there, and there they will remain. Some climbers become intimidated by the enormity of the task ahead, or they lose their will, they decide it is just not worth all of the effort.

Now imagine that you are faced by another type of challenge. Maybe it involves a relationship that has turned sour, or perhaps you are faced with a habit that you know is killing you, or your boss is a jerk, or there is no more lemonade! Each of us is faced by our very own Mt. Everest. Mine is being my dear wife’s caregiver for over fifteen years, what is yours?

Remember, Papa God calls us to success, not failure. Imagine that you can see the summit of your mountain just ahead of you. You can do it! Keep your focus on the small individual steps and you will reach your goal.

Live wholly,

Love fully,

Love God, and make a difference, today

 

Charles Towne is first and foremost a Christian. An octogenarian, author, journalist, wildlife photographer, naturalist, caregiver, and survivor, his life has been and continues to be, a never-ending adventure filled with possibilities never imagined. He has adapted the philosophy that to Live fully, laugh uproariously, love passionately, and learn like there is no tomorrow, is a formula for a long and joy filled life.

Inspiration

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here