Mountaineering

            This past week I enjoyed a short “retreat” to the Colorado Rockies. A buddy and I flew out on Wednesday morning with two simple goals—1) to find joy and refreshment in beauty, and 2) to do as much climbing as possible in three days.

            Arriving in Denver early Wednesday, we quickly made our way to Boulder, dropped our gear at the hotel, and proceeded to climb Bear Peak, the tallest and hardest climb in the flatirons outside of the city. The trip up to 8,600 feet tested our lungs but afforded spectacular views of the plains to the east and the Continental Divide to the west. We got rained on, it was cold, and the high altitude did strange things to our bodies, but we made the summit.

            We awoke Thursday morning to 8 inches of snow on the ground in Boulder. It was really cold. We made our way up to Nederland—and old hippie town in the shadow of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area—and eventually Ward. We were looking for the trailhead for Lake Isabelle, a beautiful area we used to climb as kids. Because of the snow and season, the road was blocked off, so we resorted to hoofing it, taking in the mountains, the snow, the sunlight, and the quickly approaching storm clouds. By the time we reached the Isabelle trailhead at 11,500 feet, it was snowing hard. We were tired. We retreated to the Jeep, drove to Idaho Springs, and ate pizza (Beaujo’s) instead of pounding through the snow.

            On Friday, we made our way to Georgetown. Our goal—Grays and Torreys Peaks in the Arapahoe National Forest—two 14,000 foot peaks. It had snowed hard in the preceding days, and by the time we hit the trailhead it was only 15 degrees. Believing the old adage that “there is no bad weather, only bad gear” we prepped and hiked. By 12,000 ft. we were trudging through a foot of snow. By 12,500 ft. we were knee deep in drifts as we tried to stay on the trail, not get blown off the mountain, and ascended at a ridiculous rate. It was slow going. At 13,500 the snow, wind, and exertion took its toll. Short of the summits we climbed down.

            My purpose in writing all of this is not to share “What I Did on My Fall Vacation,” but to suggest to you that this experience was a lot like our Christian walk.

“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?” (Psalm 24:3)—Our life in Christ and journey through life is not static. We are sojourners…constantly moving as we follow the Spirit and walk the path of Jesus Christ. And we must walk the hills, because there is life there (Ps. 121:1-2).

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matt. 7:14)—The paths we followed through the hills were hard. Some were almost impassable. Any experience at all will assure you that the life of a disciple is hard. Our most natural tendency is to take the easy way. This is the way of destruction; the way of “the old” self. As a new creation in Christ we are being transformed into His likeness. This way doesn’t conform to the world, but to Christ. What isn’t natural is hard. But there is no better and more beautiful way.

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Rom. 13:14)—Had we attempted Grays and Torreys in shorts and flip-flops, we wouldn’t have lasted 10 minutes. We geared up with Gore-Tex, sturdy books, crampons, hats and mittens, walking poles, food, water, and emergency provisions. To approach our walk in faith willy-nilly and without proper provisioning would be irresponsible at best, and deadly at worst. What is the “gear” of the Christ-follower? Read Ephesians 6:10-18.

            This is our journey, brothers and sisters. In it we will find joy, beauty, and refreshment for our souls (Psalm 23).