I Climbed a Mountain

I climbed a mountain.  I’m not being deep or spiritual.  I mean that I literally climbed a mountain.  To fully appreciate the fact that I made it to the top, you need some background.  I’m not into exercise.  When people are in exercise class grunting and feeling the burn, you can catch me going along until it’s over.  Listen, I know I need exercise but I’m generally not going at it full steam ahead.  The instructor would not be calling me to the front to lead the class while they get a little break.  So now that we’re on the same page, I can continue my story.

Tomica and I were visiting my bestie.  They got it into their heads that we were going to climb Stone Mountain.  I’m a laid back, go with the flow kind of gal.  Especially on vacation. I’m not a party pooper so I didn’t object.  They have always had an exercise connection.  I admire that about them.  Tomica was at the height of her healthy lifestyle change, and I fully supported that.  I wanted her to win.  So off to Stone Mountain we went.

The best part of this story is that I had no intention of climbing this mountain.  Yup, you read that right….NO INTENTION OF CLIMBING THE MOUNTAIN.  My master plan was that they would get so caught up in their exercise that they would forget about me.  I was going to wave them on ahead and tell them that I’d catch up with them later.  And then I’d be able to people watch which IS one of my favorite activities.

God and the bestie had other plans.  I waved them on ahead and thought “Success!”  I sat on a rock, caught my breath, and watched people.  And then in the distance, I saw bestie coming back.  I cursed in my head but smiled at her.  And then the epic battle began.  We went back and forth, but she would not take “no” for an answer.  “Didn’t you say you want to be healthy?”  “I’m not pushing you around in a wheelchair if they have to cut off your toes!”

This went on all the way up the mountain.  I would stop to catch my breath, and she would wait patiently until I felt ready to continue.  I was so out of shape and just felt not cut out for this task.  I know I looked horrible because many people coming back down would ask if I was ok, and she would say “She’s fine.”  I didn’t even have enough energy to whisper “help me” to the strangers…LOL.  And then we made it to the top. 

Was it worth it?  Yes.  Because I did what I had no intention of doing when we all set out on the journey.  I can apply this to my spiritual life as well and so can you.  I’m sure you have friends that you go to church with every Sunday who are just going along to get along.  They don’t really believe that God can do what He says He’s going to do.  But they’re not going to hinder your praise or your belief in Him.

Be the bestie that pushes somebody to do more than they thought they ever could.  Be Tomica and go for what you know is yours.  Because she went on ahead, she was able to record my journey up the mountain.  She was able to memorialize a really precious moment in my friendship with my bestie and my walk with Christ.  Please know that it took time for me to get to the point that I recognized it as a precious moment.  I was angry and too tired to fight at the same time.

Surround yourself with people who pray with you and push you.  Surround yourself with people who are at the top of mountains that you don’t think you can climb.  Whatever mountain is in your life, know that you can climb it.  Whether it’s a literal mountain or a spiritual one.  #wepreach