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TO THE TOP By Lorrie Orr I leaned the full weight of my body on a huge rock. My heart pounded furiously. I needed a few minutes to catch my breath before continuing on toward my goal, the peak of Guagua Pichincha, 15,729 feet above sea level in Ecuador, South America. As I rested, I looked around me. To my left, the steep walls of a volcanic crater fell below me. There, swirling mists hid bubbling springs of hot water and a volcano seething underground. The rotten egg smell of sulphur wafted up from that pit. I thought of my life in Christ as I stood on the path. It would have been much easier to walk down into the crater than to continue upwards. There was a well-marked route, as many people venture down to see the fumaroles. But the return climb is a killer. That direction, which I thought of as representing obvious evil, has never appealed to me, thanks to God’s grace. I shuddered as I turned away. To my right was an awesome sight - green pastures, a peaceful village, more mountains, the enormous city of Quito, more fields and towns. This view was much more tempting. Down in those villages, people lived in beautiful houses with fragrant gardens. Life was easier down there. What was I doing gasping for breath in the thin air? Evil pleasures might not appeal to me, but worldly comfort and beauty certainly do. These are good things, created by God for our pleasure, but God wants us to value Himself more than His gifts to us, and sometimes we have to give up the good things in life to accomplish the best - what He wants for us. I began climbing once again. Before reaching the peak, there were rocks to climb. Yet, that narrow path was the only way to get to the top. If I had deviated down into the crater on the left or down into the green fields and gardens on the right, I wouldn’t have made it. I needed to keep focused. I also needed something other than my own determination; I needed a guide. My son Travis had been that way before, he knew the path and he went ahead to show me the best route. I also needed encouragement. My husband Tim was climbing this mountain for the first time, as I was. He came behind, encouraging me along the way and helping me to place my hands and feet in the best position. So it is in life. My guide is Jesus; He's been this way before, and He knows the way to the top. And with me are many others; we encourage each other, helping each other place our footsteps carefully, cheering each other on. Finally we stood at the top, exhilarated, enjoying the sun and the spectacular view. Was the experience worth the effort? Yes, without any doubt! Home Articles Speaking Blog About Me Links Contact Copyright 2006 Lorrie Orr |