I want to climb a mountain.
I don’t know where the idea came from, but it’s there. This nudging in a deep recess of my mind that is calling me to climb. This summer I’m planning a trip that involves an opportunity to climb. It’s not Everest or even Mt. Hood, technically it’s not even a mountain more like a glorified hill. But that’s not the point of the climb. I don’t want to be the best or climb the highest, there’s just something in me that wants to put one foot in front of the other for a solid few hours with the reward of a stunning view waiting for me.
I’ve had this dream for a while, but something recently changed in my mountain climbing desire… I started training. Instead of my occasional 1 mile walk around the neighborhood with the dog I’ve been setting out on 4-5 mile treks far from the sidewalks.
Can I tell you a secret? Training to climb a mountain is a lot more work than pinning pictures of stunning vistas on your “Mountains to Conquer” Pinterest board. It involves putting up with sweat, and bug bites, and muddy shoes. It’s rough and hard and amazing.
Why is it so easy for us to understand the concept of action being a necessary step to becoming a mountain climber, or painter, or writer, or tennis player but when it comes to faith we think the necessity of action somehow overshadows the gift of grace?
If my inactivity will never get me to the top of a mountain, then where will inactive faith get me?
“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”
James 2:17
At some point in our lives we have to move from thinking about something to doing something. Faith is active. It’s messy. It’s hard. But it is so, so worth it.
So, let's climb!
~Keri
