Climbing

"Some times it takes a mountain, sometimes a troubled sea".  Many of you recognize the words that that song. The picture of the mountain can bring several thoughts to mind.  The view from the mountain top is gorgeous, the air is clear and you can see for miles.  But getting to that mountain top, now that requires work!


The climb is hard, at times the terrain is rough and it is hard to get your footing.  There may be weeds, bushes overgrown in the pathway.  The rocks may be loose, making the climb treacherous.  The height of the climb may make you dizzy as you change altitude.  Sometimes there are 'critters' that scurry by causing fear.  Yet that is sometimes where God takes us.


The mountain top may not even be visible from were we are standing.  We may question the sanity of the climb.  But when it takes a mountain, know that the mountain top is in your future.  It's not a maybe, it is there and you just have to keep moving.


The troubled sea, brings some other visuals to mind.  I've been on several cruises.  Most of them have been smooth sailing but there were 2 where the seas were rough.  Walking required we hold on to something.  Standing was difficult, our appetites were gone because our stomach's were taking every dive with the ship.  We saw the tall waves breaking against the boat.  At that time, we may have wondered why did we even get on this boat?  Many of us tried to keep our spirits up and 'put on a happy face' but deep down we just wanted to be in our beds with the covers over our head. 


But the next day when we were anchor in sight of a beautiful beach, those thoughts were forgotten as we made our way to swim, play, spend time in the sun.  The night before this was how we hoped to spend our day but that day it was reality.  Our inconveniences from the night before, now are forgotten or at least laughed about.  That's how our journey through life is.  There are times we can't stand, our fears are surrounding us, we just want to curl into a ball and bury our heads. 


But one day we will stand on that shore in that heavenly city.  All the fears and troubles we faced will seem so small.  Right now, you may be climbing a mountain or drifting in a troubled sea.  I know I am.  But there is coming a day that this will seem so minor, it will be a faint memory, if it is a memory at all.  That is the truth  I must hold on to.  That is what makes me pick back up when my hands have lost the grip and I feel I'm going down.  We'll be fine because we are His and He is ours.