Faith Like Fourteeners

If you're from Colorado, "14er" is a familiar term. A 14er is a mountain whose peak stands at 14,000 feet or more, and Colorado has 53 of them. Hiking these beasts is a farely popular activity...and sometimes I'm not sure why. Imagine being on the stair step machine for 3 hours, but then remove all the oxygen in the room. That'll give you a good idea of what climbing a 14er is like.

But that doesn't mean you say no to climbing a 14er. You lace up your boots, pack a pb&j, and give a big, resounding, "Yeah, sure, why not?"

And then every step of the way you severly question your decision. Why did I think this would be fun? This is not fun. My legs feel like spaghetti. I am pretty sure I am sunburnt. Definitely dehydrated. Also I'm cold and also sweaty and also WHERE IS ALL THE AIR??

I'm kind of kidding. All those things really aren't that bad...they're part of the adventure. What's hard is dealing with all those things and not being able to see any progress in your hike. How can I be THIS tired and still this far from the top? Maybe the NEXT switchback...

So you try not to think about that, and instead concentrate on taking this next step, which itself requires some effort. And the next step. And the next. You're on the path to the peak, and you just have to trust that you'll make it eventually as long as you keep your eyes on the prize and don't give up.

Which is precisely the moment in my hike when I realize - this is discernment. No, really. For anyone who's ever sought God's will for a big decision in his or her life and been asked to wait weeks, months, or even years for a definitive answer, the "one foot in front of the other" mentality will sound familiar. You can't see where you're going...but you trust. You're so tired...but you don't give up. This path seems a little too rocky and narrow and steep...but you follow it anyway.

I once listened to a priest give a talk about discernment of God's will to a crowd of college students. He said there are threes questions you need to ask yourself if you want to align yourself to God's will:

1. Am I in a state of grace?

2. Am I fulfilling all my obligations and doing the things I need to do? (i.e., if your calendar for the day says, Go to Class, did I go to class? If I told my friend I would walk her dog, did I walk her dog?)

3. Did I pray today?

If the answers to those questions are YES, then there's no way for you to miss God's plan for your life. If they're not, it's pretty darn easy to make them yes (1. go to confession; 2. do those things; 3. pray).

The daily faith grind can be rough. Where am I going? Why is this so hard AND I don't get to see the plan? I want ANSWERS! But if you're practicing following the Lord's will in the simple, mundane things of your daily life, one day you'll suddenly look back and see how beautifully and perfectly the He did His work in you.

One day at a time. One blistered foot in front of the other. Eventually you make it to the top.

But don't get too comfortable...there's still 52 more 14ers. And every one of them worth it.