Life is full of challenges but sometimes we face a climb so steep, we are convinced we will never be able to make it.
Are you facing a tough climb in your personal life?
It turns out that there is a lot to be learned from climbing a steep mountain.
This past weekend, Brian and I were fortunate enough visit Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN. The first thing on our to-do list was to visit Great Smoky Mountain National Forest.
Clingman’s Dome was our must-see experience.
The elevation of Clingman’s Dome is 6,643 feet. It is the highest point in The Great Smoky Mountain National Forest, the highest point in Tennessee, and the third highest mountain east of the Mississippi.
It is a steep half mile climb to the top.
A half mile, paved, walk. Piece of cake. It didn’t once enter my mind that it might not be quite that easy.
At the beginning of the trail, before I actually put one foot on the path to the top, I stumbled and proceeded to fall. A flat out, belly flop, shoes fly off, roll in the dirt kind of fall. In front of God and thousands of tourists.
My pride was hurt more than my body, so, even with a skeptical spouse, we forged ahead.
It didn’t take long to become winded. If you ever visit Clingman’s Dome, you will notice large rocks and benches strategically placed every few feet. The reason for the rocks and benches quickly became apparent and I took full advantage of almost every resting place.
The farther we climbed, the more difficult it became. Another walker kindly explained that the elevation made it more complicated to breathe.
When I felt unsteady, I found that it helped to steady myself by holding on to either Brian or the railing.
Turning around was an option but my pride wouldn’t allow it.
Literally, hundreds of people were making the climb at the same time as we were.
Some walkers were ahead of us, some were behind and more than a few were having second thoughts about proceeding.
One person coming down took the time to encourage us and tell us how close we were to the top.
No matter where we were on the path, we all shared the same goal of surviving the climb and witnessing the incredible view.
Finally, after the longest half mile walk of my life, we made it to the top. The breathtaking scenery experienced from the top of the dome made the difficult climb worth the effort.
On the much easier walk down, it occurred to me that there’s a lot to learn from making a difficult climb.
If you are facing a personal mountain, here’s a few things to consider.
You might stumble, you might even fall
You will be embarrassed but you won’t be the first or the last. Stumbling or falling is not what’s important. It’s what you do afterwards that counts. Brush off your butt and your pride and continue the journey.
Take advantage of the opportunities to rest
If taking a break and catching your wind is what is needed to complete the climb, then, most certainly, take time to rest.
Read a book, take a bath, enjoy a weekend a way. Find ways that allow you a minute to catch your breath so you can continue the climb.
Find something or someone on whom you can lean when the climb gets especially tough
Learn to lean on the strength of others when times are especially tough. Friends and family will be a lifeline during difficult seasons of life.
Don’t be a hero. Lean on someone who cares.
Give and take encouragement
There will be times you need encouragement from someone who has made the climb. Listen to their story. Learn from their experience.
If you have made the climb and lived to tell the story, take the time to share your experience with someone who may benefit.
Just knowing that someone else has made the climb and enjoyed the view can be enough encouragement to continue the journey.
The climb might be longer and more difficult than expected
Don’t give up. Simply make the decision to keep going and eventually, no matter how slow, you will make it to the top.
You aren’t alone
You may not realize it, but many others are on the exact same path. They may be ahead or behind; they may be brutally struggling. Surviving the situation is the common goal.
Enjoy the incredible view
Climbing to the top of Clingman’s Dome and witnessing the view made the difficult walk worth the effort.
Climbing a personal mountain and witnessing the view from the other side of the difficulty is breathtaking.
Experiencing success in either a physical and mental challenge makes you stronger and better equipped to take on the next challenge.
So, when you’re facing a mountain, make the decision to put one foot in front of the other until you reach the summit. And know that sooner or later, you will reach the top and the view will be worth every minute of agony that is now behind you.
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Great thoughts! While climbing a beast of a mountain in Montana I made a similar connection to mountains and adversity. The main thought that I formulated while tackling that never-ending climb was that until we work to climb out of the valley, we won’t appreciate the summit. Climbing to the top takes work and determination. We will value the mountain top more when we’ve been in the valley. And when we are again in a valley of life, we know that eventually, with work and determination, we will again climb to a beautiful summit.
Such a perfect analogy!