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Climb every mountain

By Lynne Corfield

Published: June 2007

Related Topics: Outreach, People, Social Justice

I have been pretty blessed since birth with a strong mind and good instincts, which means that when an idea crosses my mind, I actually think that it is doable. For as long as I can remember I have had more ideas in a day, than could be carried out in a lifetime. So when I got the idea that I would like to climb Kilimanjaro, I also knew there was a way for me to accomplish this goal. I got the idea from watching a documentary one evening, and at that point I had not realized that there was a mountain that could be hiked, as opposed to climbed with ropes and axes! I thought, I am going to do that one day. I did not know how or when at that time, but I had a seed planted in my mind and there it would be cultivated. Over the next few years I saw the same documentary, and another one, and each time I thought--one of these days...

There is much in the news these days about 'The Secret' which is no big secret as this is the law of attraction. So within a five year period I met up with an old friend who was getting married and contacted me regarding the wedding... and she was about to lead a group of people up Mt. Kilimanjaro. That was it, I was 'in'. And in 2003, along with a group of 14 other people I managed to climb all 19, 350' of that mountain.

Beginning the journey

No sooner had we gotten back when we (my trainer and friend) had decided that the next trip would be to Base Camp Everest. This goal would have to wait though as I had already made plans to walk the El Camino in Spain in 2004 and she had plans to do the TransRockies mountain bike race in B.C. in 2005 and then the TransAlps in 2006. Everest would have to wait. That is O.K. because the seed was planted and the time would come. In early 2006 when seats had to be reserved and deposits paid there was political unrest in Nepal, and students were rioting in the streets of Kathmandu. The trip was in jeopardy again. We held our breath as we watched and waited, and then the time came to make a decision, the trip was on, the time had finally come. That time is now, May 2007! As I sit to write this article it is no wonder that my mind goes to this topic when my bedroom is covered with equipment and clothing that will soon be in my suitcase, and by this time tomorrow I will be on the plane on the first leg of this journey that will bring our group to Kathmandu and the beginning of a 12 day trek to Base Camp.

Of course things like this don't just happen. It takes a lot of planning, training, saving, determination, sacrificing and sometimes patience to make a goal like this a reality...but most of all it begins with an idea. The whole time that Jesus was with the disciples he was planting seeds that would much later be cultivated and bear fruit. During the season of Easter we are hearing the stories of the early church and times when the disciples finally came into their own and got busy spreading the good news. It did not happen overnight though, did it? In the first account that we hear that the disciples are hiding behind locked doors, fearing for their lives, when Jesus comes amongst them and gives them the opportunity to see for themselves that he is risen and they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit so that they can begin their work. Thomas of course, is missing and so he does not believe--not until he can see for himself, and so we get the story of 'doubting Thomas.'

This is the story of 'us'whenever we doubt ourselves. To my mind it seems that if you have the idea, then you have the choice to make it happen or to second guess your instincts and gifts, and say no, I can't. Even after three years of intense training and first hand witnessing of miracle after miracle, the disciples had doubts. They were full of fear and became immobile. Doubt and fear and inaction all seem to go hand in hand. It took a visit from the Risen Lord to put some courage back into the disciples and get them moving again, so what will it take to get us moving? Doubts are normal and happen to the best of us...it is how we move through our doubts that is important. Events of late have shown me and reinforce that we are who we are under adversity. We all have a mountain to climb, or an El Camino to walk in life.

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