It’s one of the hardest physical tests I’ve ever taken.  When I was in high school, I played basketball, soccer and track, and those were sometimes very difficult tests of endurance.  But this one, at 70 years old, I think was the pinnacle.  I’ve been calling it the test of all tests. 

Climbing to Grinnell Glacier was very difficult.  Almost eight weeks ago now, my friend Phil Rivera and I spent five days in Glacier National Park, Montana. Photography was the focus.  Hiking was necessary to get to some of the locations we wanted to photograph.  Ten years ago, as one of six students of a professional landscape photographer, I had hiked about two-thirds of the way to Grinnell Glacier for an evening of sunset photography.  But this time, we went all the way to the top. With 30 pounds of gear strapped on my back, we hiked from the Many Glacier Lodge parking lot, to the very top.  From 5,000 feet to over 7,000 feet. Two-thousand feet elevation gain.  About 6 miles up and then back down. It took 11 hours.  My Fitbit tracker showed over 38,000 steps that day.  Plus, it was the only rainy day we had of our five days at Glacier.  It was literally hailing when we got to the top.

Still had to a long way to go to hike to the top of the waterfalls on the upper right.

What is needed most when we encounter difficult tests in life? I could talk or write for a long time about all of the lessons that could be learned from a challenging hiking experience.  But here are the most important three that came to mind.

1 – One Step at a Time. All 38,000 steps were taken, one at a time.  One foot in front of the other.  Over and over again.  If I would have spent my time counting the steps, marking the miles to go yet, thinking only about how difficult it was going to be, I would have never made it.  The same applies to other difficult things I’ve encountered as a leader, a pastor, a parent, a spouse or you name it. All tests must be taken, one question at a time, one problem at a time, one step at a time.

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2 – Keep the Big Picture in Mind. Don’t forget the reason you are doing what you are doing. Purpose is of utmost importance.  Know your why.  We wanted to experience and capture photos of one of the most scenic spots in the Rocky Mountains. If you don’t have an end in mind, you will likely give up the climb. Parts of the hike were grueling. The continuous rain meant crossing waterfalls that had formed along the mountainous rocky path. We frequently paused along the way to enjoy the beauty of where we had come from and to remember what was still at the top. The same must be true of challenges and difficulties of our life journeys. 

3 – Everyone Needs Encouragement. I’m quite certain that if I would have been alone that day, I would not have made it all the way to the top. Phil, my hiking partner, gave me encouragement many times along the path. Others coming back down the trail after being at the top invigorated us when they told us it was worth it. They didn’t sugarcoat it. They told us the last ½ mile was going to be the worst. Yet, they reminded us we would be glad we persevered. While I think I was maybe the oldest one hiking to the top that day, so many younger people gave me hope and reinforcement that I could make it. Difficult times in life have been the same as that day on the trail. Friends and family have fortified my determination to not give up when it was arduous, and my energy was depleted. Don’t hike or do life alone. Everyone needs support and backing, especially when we are tested to the max. 

The far end of the third lake in the distance is where we started the journey. And from this point where the picture was taken, we still have quite a ways to go to get to the top.

Being Tested is Good. When I see my cardiologist tomorrow for my annual check-up, I’m going to let him know what I did and that I did it without any negative cardiac symptoms. I did have lots of “shortness of breath” with the 2,000+ foot elevation gain and the heavy camera pack on my back, but I expected that. When we are tested in life, we know how strong we really are.  When we are tested, we are strengthened for the future. When we are tested, we have a better idea of what we are capable of. Jesus’ brother James wrote, “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4 NIV). Just remember, when testing comes, you only need to take one step at a time, keep the big picture in mind and have others alongside of you to take the journey with. Happy hiking!

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