In my prayer time this morning, I had an image of a Base Camp. Here we are gathered at the Base Camp. We are packing our bags, buzzing around in anticipation of the journey we are about to embark on. Some people are double-checking equipment, looking over the map, questioning if they have the stamina, the endurance, the time, or the ability that the journey requires. Some people are standing together, and others are off on their own…waiting and wondering if they have what it takes.
Here we are – all ages, men, women, those who have taken a similar journey and those that haven’t…everyone waiting at the base camp. It is a place of hope, fear, anticipation, and preparation. THE JOURNEY IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. It’s time to move. It’s time to embark. It’s time to take a step. The climb will be easy, and the climb will be hard. Like climbing Everest, we may find ourselves in the valley of Silence and experience discomfort and pressure at times; WE WON’T TURN BACK. Like climbing Everest, we may hit a rocky patch where the terrain is unsteady, and the clouds roll in; WE WON’T TURN BACK. Like climbing Everest, we may feel like we have hit the Deathzone where the fear is so great; feelings that we can never make it, that we will never overcome the strongholds, the pain, the fear, our own limitations; but WE WON’T TURN BACK. For too long, we have watched the Summit from a distance, and now it seems so close; WE WON’T TURN BACK.
We can never forget why we are ascending this mountain so that we never become content with how far we have come. We move toward the Summit, we encourage others who come behind us, and we follow the leading of those ahead. NO, WE WON’T TURN BACK.
“Come let us go to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob, that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” Isaiah 2:2-3
