Something You Can Hang Your Hat On-The Rocks Of Life
I came across the picture above yesterday while scrolling through my Facebook feed. It was posted by a fraternity brother of mine named Mark. My first reaction? “WTH is this?! Dude…you just posted pics of rocks on a shelf. Are you okay?” So I stopped to check out the entire post and I’m so glad I did. Although Mark and I were in the frat together, I’d be lying if I said we were/are “close friends.” Don’t get me wrong, there’s no animosity, I’m a year or two older and we just ran in different circles. That being said, he was a solid guy then and has grown to be a tremendous family man of faith and a father who I’ve grown to admire quite a bit from really, just following his life and example on social media. Anyway, apparently he’s a climbing enthusiast. And by enthusiast, I mean he’s REALLY Discovery-Channel-like serious about it based on what I’m sharing with you today. What follows is his post-verbatim. It’s about much more than just rock climbing and I hope you get as much from it as I did-as it now is not just saved on my computer, but destined for framing for both me, and my college student son.
I keep these rocks in view in my (home) office. They are all from the summit of a mountain I’ve climbed. I’ve climbed 14 peaks with an elevation of14,000 feet in my life, and quite a few 13,000 foot peaks. Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa the highest peak (19,341), Rainer (14,410) the hairiest, and Avalanche Peak (10,700) the closest to death I’ve come. Jenn and the girls and I went to Breckenridge, CO last week. Living at sea-level now, the elevation gain was more noticeable than I’ve ever experienced (plus my age). But we went on a great hike, and I was reminded why I love hiking and climbing so much and the parallels to life I’ve learned in all my climbs.
1.) Overcoming Fears Helps You Reach New Heights — Mountaineering is not a safe hobby. The steep cliffs, forbidding peaks, and deadly cold are just a few dangers mountaineers have to face. However, once I overcame these obstacles, the rewards were immense and satisfying. Standing at the peak of a mountain is like standing on top of the world. There are few things that can match the exhilaration of that moment. One would do well to remember this lesson in our everyday lives. There may be difficult coworkers, customers, spouses, children, even financial difficulties; however, once you persevere and overcome these hurdles, the sense of accomplishment is extremely satisfying. Life is a climb — expect it, gear up, and persevere.
2.) Preparation Is Key For Success — When climbing a mountain, your preparation could be the difference between life and death. You need to have water and food supplies, rain jackets, proper clothing, and the requisite knowledge. If one of these things is missing, your mountaineering adventure could very well end in tragedy. I have practiced tying knots in a link of rope in a cold shower to get used to fumbling with ropes with numb fingers. You have to learn to self-arrest with an ice axe in snow / ice. You have to prepare. It’s the same in our everyday life. So many people just ‘wing it’ in life — in every aspect of their life including their jobs, relationships and their faith in God. Stop, think, prepare, plan, and execute. Don’t be one of those people that show up to take an exam without so much as a pencil.
3.) Learn to Pace Yourself — Any expert mountaineer would tell you that slow and steady wins the race – just like in real life. When you’re faced with a huge, seemingly impossible task like climbing a mountain, keep your head down and soldier on. Giving up could be fatal both for mountaineers and for other people as well. Hence, rushing ahead and trying to be the best at everything isn’t the answer. If you ever hear a group of climbers, roped-up together, slogging up a mountain, it sounds like an old steam locomotive — step, step, WHOOSH (exhaling with force) — step, step, WHOOSH! It’s pacing, breathing, and using your energy wisely. A successful person knows when to rest, how to breathe, and how to continue at a comfortable pace. If one can apply the same rule in their daily life, they could be much happier and thrive better than before. The Bible talks of running the race with perseverance — and references a marathon — not a sprint.
4.) Solo Climbing is Boring and can Lead to Death — climbing is full of pitfalls, potential risks, and even confusion. When climbing in snow / ice, we are called upon to catch each other when there’s fall, pull each other when it’s steep, and encourage each other when it’s long and hard. I’ve had some of my best times with friends on long treks — surrounded by God’s beauty in nature — pushing towards a common goal. I’ve also had people save me from certain death (Avalanche Peak) as I didn’t see / know / recognize the pitfall before me. The similarities between this and life are abundant. We are meant for relationship — to push each other, to catch each other, to experience together, to point out pitfalls in our way, and to encourage each other. God made us this way for a reason. He knew we needed help on our climb.
I keep these rocks as a reminder. A reminder of the accomplishment, a reminder of the journey, a reminder of friendships and relationships, and a reminder to keep going and not give up. Our porters and guides in Tanzania would constantly whisper “Pole Pole” in Swahili as we climbed Mt Kilimanjaro — it means, “slow, steady, gradually.” I hope you can summit your mountain today, and that you won’t give up. Pole Pole!! Keep going — the summit is worth it!
And that’s something you can hang your hat on.
Charlie Nance is the Afternoon Drive co-host (along with his wife) of "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple have been with the radio station since 2006. Charlie has won the prestigious CMA (Country Music Association) Award for Radio Personality of the Year and has been a finalist for the Country Radio Hall of Fame four times. Prior to his time in Charlotte, Charlie (along with Debbie) spent more than a decade hosting successful morning radio shows in Greenville, SC; Augusta, Ga; and Birmingham, Al. As a content creator for Country 1037, Charlie writes about dream lottery windfalls, sports, restaurants and bars, and travel experiences in North and South Carolina.
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