A Lesson Learned While Hiking
I took a deep breath and deliberately placed one foot in front of the other. The path was narrow and was surrounded by rocks and bushes. Because the path was windy, I couldn’t see very much of it before or behind me. After a few more deliberate steps, I stopped to take out my water bottle. I was about three quarters up the trail, and I was ready to give up. But since giving up wasn’t an option, I shoved the bottle back into my backpack and continued the upward hike.
“Just a little further,” I told myself. “Keep walking, keep climbing.” Then, for one short moment, my eyes could see the cross at the top of the mountain. I was still a long bit away from reaching it, but at least from where I stood, I could see it. I stopped, to take it in. Then it hit me:
Life Is Like A Hike In Many Ways
In the many, many times I had been hiking, it had never occurred to me. For the next hour or so, I mulled over this thought. Just like all other comparisons, this is an incomplete comparison that we can learn from, but not necessarily live our lives by.
Much like life is hard, so hiking is hard too. Yes, it has its joys and its laughs, but it can be really hard work, and often you have to push yourself to get to where you want to be.
But that moment when you reach the top of the mountain, when you touch the cross standing on the highest point, makes it all worth it.
When You See The Cross You Can Stop Striving
Being able to see the cross from where I was standing, probably an hour away from it, I was reminded that in our faith, we can stop striving the moment we see the cross, the moment we accept the cross as a punishment that we deserved, but a punishment that was paid in full by another.
When I see that cross as mine, I am reminded that I can stop trying. Instead, I can start trusting in Jesus and in what He did. But that’s not where the Christian life ends. In fact, that’s only where it begins.
When You See The Cross You Cannot Stop Striving
But even after you surrender everything to Christ, life is no walk in the park. It remains an upward climb. Therefore, in that sense, you cannot stop striving when you encounter the cross. But it’s a very different kind of striving. It’s a struggle, but it’s on a path that is big enough for two to walk side-by-side. Because no matter what, the moment when you encounter the cross and onward, you know that Jesus will never leave your side.
Just like with those difficult hiking trails, it’s an upward climb. But the whole time, you are securely attached to someone else’ harness. If you fall, He’ll catch you.
And one day, you will reach the top of the mountain. You will step into eternity and know that all pain and suffering will be forever gone. And when you reach that point, let me tell you: You will look back and wholeheartedly be able to say, “The hike, the climb, was worth it. One hundred percent and forever.”
Because when you remember the cross, it’s all worth it.
