​Courageous faith is faith that dares to make the upward climb ~KE

Wednesday Word

As we approached the hill, I looked up and froze in fear thinking: There is no
freaking way we can make it up that hill!

Thanks for joining Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United.
Brian, the driver of the Razor we were in, didn’t seem to be phased. In fact, quite
the opposite proved to be true. He paused only for a few seconds to analyze the
hill and then, before I could scream “PLEASE DON’T,” he pushed the petal to the
metal and off we went. He and the Razor attacked that hill with a gusto that held
absolutely no fear, and the engine boosted with confidence backed by all of
Brian’s past experiences of the hills of Ocotillo Wells.

To say I was white knuckling it is an understatement. I kept my eyes closed as this
amazing hill-climbing, rock-climbing, fearless vehicle, and driver, powered up this
half-mile hill as if it were a spider on a leisurely walk, stretching its legs with the
upmost of pleasure…that is until I felt us coming to the very tip of the hill and I
dared to open them.

What I saw made me gasp in immediate shock, so much so that I had to close
them again…immediately as I could not see, or feel for that matter, any solid
ground once we crested the top of the hill. The only way I can think of describing
it is being in/on a rollercoaster suspended in midair with only gravity holding you.
It was such a frightening and adrenalin rush all at the same time!

All of a sudden, I heard him say, “Oh, shoot,” and I felt the sharp right turn he
made. He pulled to the edge of the hill we had just climbed and stopped. I dared
to open my eyes and looked out in amazement. I followed their lead as they got
out and we walked toward the crest where he had made that sharp turn.
Immediately I realized that had he not made that right, we would have gone off
what turned out to be a cliff, about 40 feet down!

We immediately warned our friends who were beginning to make the climb,
flagging them to make a sharp right turn immediately at the top, which they did
and we all gathered on that hill in victory.

As I reflect back on this most exhilarating and exciting weekend filled with many
more moments like this, I can’t help but equate it to the journey of life: Life is
often an upward climb but how we attack it, stick to the course, and practice our
faith determines our outcome, our victory to prepare us for the next climb.
​
And in those moments of celebration and victory, we rejoice. But when we make
a wrong turn, yes, there’s pain and suffering, but lessons to be learned that will
take us to the next mountain, climbing it with more strength, wisdom, and
confidence in The One who carries us to the top until we reach the last mountain
and land…beautifully and safely in our Father’s arms.

Yes, we can do ALL things, climb all those mountains, through Christ who
strengthens us! Phil 4:13

Thoughtfully,
Kim-Evinda