Since we arrived here in SC 3 years and 9 months ago, it has been my intention to hike Table Rock. Yesterday it was accomplished. Here are some lessons that I learned.

As I said, it has been my goal to hike that mountain that dominates the landscape of where we live. It is so therapeutic to live in the surroundings of Table Rock Wesleyan Camp and I have enjoyed the hikes that have not been so strenuous. But hiking the mountain was always in the back of my mind. You do only what you have a vision to do.

My friend, Don Milstead, and I have taken some hikes together when he lived in Brevard. Before and after he moved to SC, we started talking about hiking the mountain. In fact, yesterday’s hike began as our plan to go before it got too hot and while the trees were still bare. (You will understand if you have ever lived in a mountainous area.) As we continued to talk about it, it was suggested that it be opened up to others. We will usually do extraordinary things only if others are engaged with us.

Our discussion and the subsequent decision to invite a larger group into our plan created the necessary accountability. I can tell you that if a hike to the top of Table Rock had been on my calendar only and I had told no one, it would not have happened. A decision made yesterday morning would have been, “No.” There was too much to do and I knew that I was not adequately prepared. It is much more likely that a goal will be reached when we let others know about it. This creates accountability.

About two months ago, I started walking more regularly, including some hiking. I did much better the first month than the last. While I was grateful for what I had done, I was still incredibly unprepared for what I put my body through yesterday. A task outside of your present realm of living requires preparation.

A life journey challenge needs the encouragement of others. Yesterday’s trek was made possible because of the encouragement (“putting courage into . . .”) by others both before and during. A journey shared is a lot more enjoyable.

I was relieved to see the halfway shelter. It represented a measurement along the  way and an additional opportunity to rest. The view was wonderful. I could clearly see the sights that have become such a familiar part of my surroundings . . . the camp, the lakes, the park. I took some pictures. Honestly, it was tempting to just stop and stay there, especially when I felt my pulse and looked up at how much of the journey still remained. But the goal was not to hike half of the way. (That probably would have been a good idea for the first time!) I knew that there were others ahead. Along the way, I had to recommit to the vision of getting to the top of the mountain.

The reason that I had to recommit is that the journey was harder than I thought it was going to be. That is usually true of anything that we attempt that is beyond our normal sphere of activity. We are usually surprised by the “push back.” We shouldn’t be. It comes with claiming new territory.

At our last pastorate, twin mountains (Crowder’s Mountain and Kings Mountain) dominated the landscape. I hiked each of those. I had forgotten this fact: I never looked at those mountains the same after I had climbed to the top. And I will never look at Table Rock Mountain the same again. It looks different from the top than it does from the bottom. It is almost as if in the climbing of it you are embracing it. There are serendipity experiences that come with venturing outside of the comfort zones of life.

It became apparent very quickly that I was ill-prepared for what I was getting ready to put my body through. What little bit of hiking I had done was very elementary in comparison with the challenge of an advanced hiking trail. Muscle aches turned into cramps as I was trying to put one foot in front of another. My hips throbbed as they moved legs that felt like noodles. To make matters worse, I continued to have the muscle spasms after the hike was over, and today I have some very sore legs. However, it was worth the pain, but the severity of the pain could have been avoided with adequate preparation.

Too bad that it has taken me almost four years to do what I have wanted to do all the time I have lived here. “I had stuff to do,” I told myself, as I planned my days, weeks, and months. As I look at the mountain writing this, I realize today what I have missed. The time that could have been spent enjoying the presence of the Creator in His creation and giving adequate attention to the needed physical activity to maintain health and stamina, was sacrificed to get something else done. The “urgent” things that arrest our attention for the moment are often not the most important things when we take the long view.

Thanks to my colleagues and friends–Arnold Beard,  Larry Burke, Dale Link, (BR), Bob Broome, and Jon Brady –for helping me create a memory and for your encouragement (and even checking on me this morning).

My friend Don had to go to NC due to his mother being hospitalized Wednesday evening. Looks like another hike is in our future.

 

Pictures:
1. Camp from the “Half Way” Shelter.  (Worship Center is visible in the right side of the picture.)

2. Dale Link at the summit.

3. View of camp from the summit.  (Worship center is framed by the trees.)

4. Hiking Group (Listed above)