View From the Hill
Yesterday was unseasonably warm so I trekked down to the lakefront for a sunrise walk - one of my favorite things to do.
I usually take the concrete path for my walk, which affords ease and comfort as I take in the sights and sounds of the lapping waves as the sun rises and reflects off the water.
Yesterday, however, I felt adventurous with all the warmish air in my lungs and wanted to see where the other bumpy inclined path I often see people walking on might lead.
Mind you, this was no mountain trek, but hey, an incline is an incline.
Anyhoo, I took a picture as I approached my trail so you could see the "dangerous" journey I was about to embark on.
As my steps brought me closer to my ascension, I was surprised to hear all the negative and ridiculous voices start their chirping.
"It might be icy; you probably shouldn't do it."
"What if you fell and hurt yourself? You're the only one out here; it could be days until someone found you."
"You don't even know where you're going. What if you get lost?"
"You don't have the right shoes on; you should just do it another day."
"You aren't athletic, don't be silly."
Oh, how those voices like to keep us safe and small with their fearful taunts.
If you think this is ridiculous when looking at a tiny hill, imagine how they sound when I try to do something way out of my comfort zone.
I hushed them up and reminded them of all the adventures we've survived together and made my way up, one heroic step at a time.
Just as I was gaining traction, the voices started chirping again.
"You should slow down. You're going too fast; you might slip."
"This is too hard. You should stop and take a break. You don't want to overdo it."
"You should go back. It's too high, and we're getting scared."
I noticed how my pace slowed when I listened to their rambling.
"Oh, shut up," I uttered out loud.
Fortunately, not many people brave the elements this early in the morning, so no one was around to hear me.
With the welcomed silence, I could focus on my steps and build momentum.
When I reached the top of the hill, which was indeed a drastically higher altitude (I mean, technically, I'm not wrong), I noticed a few things:
Here’s me atop the gigantic, cloud touching hill. I shall call this “Unfiltered Fierceness.”
The more you focus on your steps forward and keep the pace going, the easier it is to build momentum and get to the top.
Focusing on the negative blathering in your head is a waste of energy.
Don't look back; you aren't going that way, and it just slows you down.
As we close out the month of January and reflect on our movement to follow where God is leading us, I think these three lessons can also apply to our life journey.
Keep your eyes up and forward. Don't worry about how well you do it or how others might compare. Just keep going and take a darn step. Then another. Then another.
Don't let the negative voices hold you back. They may have good intentions, but they aren't helping. Hush them up and focus on the actions that will get you moving.
You can't go back. I know the voices tell you it would be easier, but it won't. Turning back would only halt your progress and keep you stuck at the bottom of the hill, where we'd have to start all over again.
Been there, done that, remember?
The view from up here is magnificent. Look how far we've come!
We did it!
My only regret as I look back at this monumental mountain ascension is that I didn't bring a flag. I'll bring one next time.
Wait, no, that wouldn't be earth-friendly.
Then maybe I'll paint a rock that says, "Erica was here."
Yeah, I'll do that.
Come to think of it, let's paint a bunch of rocks and dream of places where we can leave them.
Imagine the pride and joy as we place them and shout, "We were here!" "We did it!"
Oh, imagine all the beautiful places we can go as we follow God forward!
Psalm 121: 1-3
I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber.
Habakkuk 3:19
The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army];
He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds' feet and makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility].
Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by a way they do not know; I will guide them in paths that they do not know. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These things I will do [for them], and I will not leave them abandoned or undone.