This past week we were in Colorado and we climbed two 14,000' peaks. The climb itself was quite hard. It took a lot of energy and the altitude drained oxygen from me. Once we had climbed Gray's Peak we descended the saddle between the mountains and then climbed to the top of Torrey's peak. Once we had taken pictures at the top of Torrey's peak we descended back down the saddle between Grays Peak and Torrey's peak. When we got to the low point of the saddle we had to ascend the trail another 200' or so to get to the trail going down the mountain. As I stood at the lowest point of the saddle ridge I was so exhausted that the 200' of ascending seemed overwhelming. I truly did not know if I could muster the energy to climb those 200' to get to the trail so I could then descend. I knew if I could get to that point the descending would easier. But it was 200' of incline that stood between me and the way down.
As I stood there exhausted next to a carin on the mountain and leaned on my hiking pole, I decided to just take ONE STEP. So I took ONE step. And even though that one step drained my energy, I took the NEXT ONE STEP. And then I decided, NOW take another ONE STEP. And then I made up my mind to take the NEXT ONE STEP and the NEXT ONE STEP and the NEXT ONE STEP! So I broke that 200' of ascent down into ONE STEP at a time! ONE STEP at a time I was able to conquer the obstacle.
I think all too often our life is the same way. We get to the point where we're so exhausted and we've been through so much then we look to the path ahead and the road seems relentlessly uphill and the pressure crushes down on us to where we can barely move. At that moment we have to decide whether we are just going to be stuck and give up. Or we are going to take ONE STEP and then another ONE STEP and we continue taking that ONE STEP until we find the strength and courage to endure. Sometimes the next ONE STEP is easy but sometimes the next ONE STEP takes every ounce of energy that you have. But regardless of the steepness of the path or the pressure crushing down on you... you've got to take the NEXT ONE STEP!!
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. " - Lao Tzu
You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. Psalms 18:36 NIV
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