I have a lovely photograph of two dear friends standing in front of an expansive mountain scene. My smiling friends are the subjects of the picture, but I can’t help focusing on the gorgeous, snow covered mountain and all the scenery leading up to it. The ground my friends are standing on is green with some rocks here and there adding interest. As my eyes follow the path to the mountain, the ground becomes rockier as the green begins to be replaced. Eventually, the ground gives way to this immense mountain that is an unforgiving and dangerous climb almost straight up until the snow covered, sunny peak glows in the glorious reflection of the sun.
The rocks and mountain are almost indescribable in their unique creation and beauty, but what really catches my attention are the shadows. The small rocks cast little to no shadows at all. Those smaller rocks may be a bit difficult to walk on, but if you’re careful and keep watch, they’re no problem. However, the closer to the mountain that I look, the shadows of the larger rocks increase in size, covering more ground, until the land closest to the mountain is completely covered by its shadow.
As we all start the trek on our path of life, all the rocks we see along the way are pretty much just decoration. They’re not in the way, our path is clear, and we can expect a pretty smooth road. As we get older and find our individual and various ways, we encounter bigger rocks – now we have to be watchful and careful. It becomes somewhat difficult navigating the bigger rocks. The shadows they cast are a bit daunting, but we learn how to push our way over them, and our climbing skills are being strengthened.
Eventually, we find ourselves in the land of the giants. The shadows of those huge mountains are darker, and they cover so much more territory. Now we have a decision to make. Many people will turn back in favor of the easier, greener, and safer land. Some of us prefer to stay where we are. We’ve made it this far, it was a good try, and “I really didn’t want to go there anyway.”
But, some of us do want to go there. I still want to. But that mountain is way too high, there’s absolutely nowhere to get a foothold, and that SHADOW! Well, that’s enough. I can’t do it, and I seem to have found myself alone anyway. Obviously, my desire was just a dream, and after I catch my breath, I’ll start heading back.
Interestingly, as I sit a while in the shadow at the base of the mountain, my eyes get accustomed to the dark, and I believe I see a tiny, tiny foothold at the base of the mountain. With some stretching, I think I might be able to reach it. So, I begin. As I put my foot on that first little ledge, I see a little more clearly, just in time to see another place to step. Now, instead of avoiding the smaller rocks as I did before, I can use them to get higher! I’m actually glad I’m alone; there’s no one I have to see ahead of me, which would make me feel inadequate in my efforts. There’s no one behind me to convince me to hang back and let my dream slip away into safe predictability and false security. It’s just me and God, climbing together and chatting as we go. With no one ahead of me, my view is clear and I can see the top. With no one blocking the view behind me, I can see proof of how far I’ve come. It’s a shame we often have to go through trauma before we discover where and on Whom we truly stand. This mountain isn’t going anywhere, and I am going to go up and out of the shadow and into the sun.
I have never heard of anyone who has reached the top of a mountain and thought, “Darn! I wish I hadn’t done that!” Nope, never. As a matter of fact, they have all been giddy with the adrenaline rush of achievement and the beauty of what they saw– not just the view, but what they saw in themselves. And they have developed the strength to climb another mountain.
Shadows are now nothing. Rocks are nothing. And being alone is nothing. But reaching the top, despite rocks and shadows, is everything.
Let’s dance on.
Grace Notes 