Climb Every Mountain


"Mountains" in life can represent challenges or opportunities.

If they are challenges, then the verse I go to most often is Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen and help you; I will up hold you with my righteous right hand."

But the mountains I want to talk about this morning are the ones of opportunity.

Today, my husband Jim is in Nicaragua where he is beginning a mission trip.  This morning his group will board a bus and travel about an hour an a half until they reach the base of Cerro Negro - an active black volcano which the group will climb as sort of a "team building" event.

I am happy for him - and a little envious.

You see when I was in Nicaragua this summer I climbed that volcano every time I could... not so much because I liked it, more so because I could.

I remember a time when Mom and Dad were planning a trip to Italy.  They were taking Italian lessons, reading guide books, buying the clothes they wanted to wear - and preparing for their trip.  But then, and I'm not entirely sure why, life got in the way, and when they finally got through what had been stopping them, a trip to Italy would have been "too much".  

So sadly, my mom never got to see the Duomo.  My Dad never saw David.  The two of them never ate dinner at one of the quaint Italian restaurants, and they never strolled down one of the narrow cobblestone streets.

It is a sad lesson to learn...our time on Earth is not infinite and we should do the things we dream about doing while we still can.

Auntie Mame - the movie character played by Rosalind Russell said it best - "live, live, live."

When Adam and Eve betrayed God, they added an "end date" to our lives here on Earth.  God told them, "for dust you are, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:19).  

You do not have infinite time to love, to serve, to do the things you are putting off "until..." So, when you get the chance - make sure you climb every "mountain" you can.


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