Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
Earlier on in the year I went hiking after visiting some family. My cousin arranged us to do some hiking in Lake District. Having not checked the details of where we were going, I drove up pretty excited. We reached our destination, I had my camera, my hat, my walking boots, loads of food and I wore jeans. I was ready to go, or so I thought. Our guide bemused asked: ‘have you done hiking before?” to which I responded “No, but I am really looking forward to it” smiling politely. The group of four all looked at me and smiled. “interesting” the guide looked at me slightly concerned “you chose the tallest mountain in England (Scarfell Pike) for your first hiking trip”. I looked at my cousin who was now smiling. What was I letting myself in for I wondered?
We set off. 45 minutes in, we reached the first resting point, I lost the will to continue. Despite wanting to quit and turn around while I still could, I decided to continue. Four and half hours later the last section was the most challenging. This was no longer fun I thought to myself. I just wanted to be at the top and see the view and go home. Following the guides advice to pause every so often, I began to reflect on what it means to persevere and to wait. Muscles on fire with my heart at the top of the mountain, body crying out to stop but desperately wanting to get to the peak. As I took each step thoughts and feelings of frustration, regret and insecurities flooded my head, ‘why did I choose to do this?’. Another step. ‘I won’t make it’. Another step. ‘I want to give up’.
It never occurred to me that while waiting we have to persevere. I often thought of waiting as being stationary and not moving but you can be waiting to get to a destination while moving forward. The current location or circumstance is not where we want to be. Waiting can be painful, frustrating and even tiring. The disciples were told to wait for Jesus multiple times in the gospels. As God’s people we too are encouraged to wait while on our journey of faith. It is not by accident that Paul encourages the Galatians that longsuffering (or patience in some translations) is a fruit of the Spirit. Here lies the secret. It is in the process of waiting that our metal is tested, our core beliefs about ourselves, the world and others come to the surface like gold being refined.
A couple of weeks have passed, Easter Sunday has come and gone. Palm Sunday crosses under letters on our table, Easter egg wrappers in the bin, retailers prepare for the next big commercial holiday. Society has moved on. But we know the death and resurrection of our saviour has ramifications for life forever more. His resurrection empowers us to go into the world to love and serve and His resurrection give us hope that no mountain is too high. Our final destination will be the summit where all things will be made new, death defeated, Justice will be fully realised and there will be peace forever more and that my friend will be glorious.
