In July I climbed to the summit of Mount Shasta at 14,179 feet. I came down with altitude sickness that made the climb grueling. Fighting nausea and fatigue, and on the verge of passing out on many occasions, the climb was made so much harder by the lack of snow which made bare the volcanic skree on which we slid and slipped our way to the summit. I must admit that I was very close to quitting, as nothing I could do from recalling scripture to determined brute anger could carry me past the physical limitations of altitude sickness.
Yet as hard as the climb was, it was an amazing experience that reflects life. The higher I got, the more I found that I could not rely on my own self or my own strength. The further I climbed, I realized I had to rely less on myself, and more on God. I also saw that while my body ached and life seemed unbearable that God was always around me. His beauty, His glory, His presence was around me in the sheer awesomeness and beauty of the mountain. I also saw that God’s love for me was present through the encouragement and support of the friends he had placed in my life on that climb. Sometimes when you want or hope for a great miracle, all you really need to do is open your eyes to see God’s glory and majesty that is already around you in love and support of friends that he has placed in your life to take the climb with you.