Reaching New Heights

I was recently reminded of an activity that makes me very happy. I would have just tacked it on to the list of an earlier post, but I thought this one could use its own explanation, especially since some think it might need one. Something that makes me happy is summit-ting mountains. I just love it! There is something to be said about reaching as high as you can go and then looking back at the progress you have made. It is a situation in which the effort you put in provides tangible and relatively immediate results. And it doesn't matter how fast you are, or how strong you are or how smart you are, if you put in the effort, you will move forward.

And once you reach that top, man! Not only do you feel the elation and sheer sense of achievement, the view is sooooo incredible! I am able to look down at the world I live in, and see it for what it really is - one piece of the big picture. My life in that little section from home to school, is not all there is. Sometimes we get so caught up in our little worlds, and up on the top of a mountain, you see that there is so much more. I like the dose of perspective that can be administered up on the highest peaks.

We truly are blessed for this world we live in. It is so beautiful, and I consider that a tender mercy from a very loving Heavenly Father. This world didn't have to be that pretty, but he made it that way for us. My run today reminded me that I need to look out more - get out of my usual 5-mile radius. And that I need to climb mountains more! Once this winter ends, I want to climb every mountain I can! The sense of achievement and perspective are so worth the energy and effort!