Joy in the Journey

I did it! By God's grace, I recently "bagged" (successfully reached the summit of) my third "14er" (one of 54 peaks in the Colorado Rockies that exceed 14,000 feet in elevation).

My destination this time around was Gray's Peak (elev. 14, 270), located about an hour west of Denver on the Continental Divide, just south of Loveland Pass. Along with its next door neighbor, Torrey's Peak, Gray's is one of several Front Range 14ers that rise to greet travelers from the east when they drive towards the Mile High City.

As you can imagine, the view from the top was absolutely spectacular. Pictures can never adequately capture such a breathtaking panorama, of course, but my wife summarized it well when she looked at my photos and exclaimed, "It's like the view you get from an airplane!"

As exhilarating as it was to arrive at my destination, this climb taught me even more about the importance of finding joy on the journey. This was my first attempt to climb solo, so I was missing the companionship and encouragement that I had enjoyed on previous hikes with my kids. And yet, at each step along the trail, it became increasingly clear that I was not alone.

Starting my journey at the Gray's Peak trailhead, I was immediately greeted by a spectacular display of wildflowers - Columbine, Indian Paintbrush, Aspen Daisy, Wild Rose - spreading out across the alpine tundra like a vast, floral quilt. Looking up, my gaze was quickly drawn to the glacier-carved ledges that framed the valley ahead of me, all of them pointing heavenward towards a clear, deep blue sky, providing an alluring backdrop for the towering sentinel that beckoned me onward and upward.

"Thank you, Lord," I whispered, "for the joy of creation."

This initial rush of adrenalin soon wore off, however, as I left the lush, warm valley and began my ascent to the summit along the rugged, rocky switchbacks on Gray's north face. It was getting colder now, lonelier, and increasingly difficult due to the steeper grade and higher altitude. My legs were beginning to feel heavy, my steps were getting shorter, and my breathing was becoming more and more labored. As I slowly plodded along, I was beginning to wonder if I would be able to make it to the top before noon, leaving adequate time to descend to timberline before the onset of a typical afternoon thunderstorm. The window of opportunity was closing down fast, and so was my energy.

That's when the parade started. One by one, they began to make their way down the mountain. These early birds had already reached the summit and had begun their descent. As they passed me on the trail, over and over I would hear words of encouragement: "Beautiful day for a climb ... the view from the top is worth the pain ... you're almost there, keep it up." There is a comraderie on the trail that is hard to explain. I believe it is rooted in a sense of shared suffering, which eventually yields shared exhuberance as well. The key word is "shared." Each contact with my fellow foot soldiers sent a fresh rush of adrenalin into my soul, giving me strength to carry on.

"Thank you, Lord ... for the joy of community."

Finally, as I made it to the crest of the summit, I was welcomed by ... no one. Or so I thought. True, there was no fanfare, no high fives, no "atta boys." In fact, it was a lonely moment. Then I saw my shadow. It had been with me the whole time, of course, but this was the first time I actually noticed it. I know it may sound a little funny, but the Lord used this moment of heightened awareness to remind me, "You're never alone, Dave. Remember my promise? I will never leave you or forsake you. Like your shadow, I will be with you always, wherever you go, to the very end of the age."


"Thank you, Lord ... for the joy of companionship."

Wherever you are today, whatever your immediate destination may be, whatever challenges may lie ahead of you, remember: You are not alone. The Lord is with you.

May you experience joy in your journey with Jesus!

*For more on this topic, see "Joy in the Journey," a message delivered at Barclay College on August 24, 2010, available on the chapel webpage: http://www.barclaycollege.edu/Students/chapel.asp.