The Top of the Mountain

I don’t know anyone who can honestly say they’ve sailed through life without obstacles crossing their path.

Some obstacles are small and we handle them with little difficulty – others are major - causing us to pause, wonder why, and be tested beyond what we thought we could ever handle.

What does being at the Top of the Mountain mean?  I thought reaching “the top” meant I have accomplished what it was I was striving for.  Until a conversation I listened to recently.

My sister Marie was in a horrific car accident on June 16.  She was unconscious for nearly three weeks, on a ventilator for nearly five weeks, still receives oxygen through a tracheotomy, and is still battling the injuries that were inflicted on her body 47 days ago.

Every day she fights to become stronger – waits for her body to heal a bit more – and experiences long, long days as she wonders if she will ever be herself again.

Many days she is discouraged – so discouraged that she doesn’t believe she can do the exercises given to her, doesn’t believe she will ever be home again, doesn’t even care.  Other times I see her strength to push forward and I am amazed at what a strong woman she really is.

Our family continually encourages her, tells her how far she has come; especially since she is unaware of the first 3 weeks of her journey.  We’ve been having more and more conversations letting her know details of her injuries, but also the miracles that have been showered on her, getting her to where she is today.  Friends send messages of love, continue to pray, encourage her with how much they can’t wait until they can be with her again.  And yet, pain, difficulty breathing, weakness, and fear creep into her body, causing her to doubt.

I want to remove the fear from her eyes and help her believe her life has been spared for an amazing purpose.  As I sit and hold her hand, I share my love and at the same time encourage her to keep fighting.  She has made unbelievable strides – she has come so far – but she looks ahead and wonders whether she can make it to the end of this race – and be home once more.

A few nights ago, while I was visiting her, her nurse practitioner came by to check on her.  Besides being extremely qualified in her field, this particular woman has the gift of encouragement and has a way of speaking with Marie; sharing medical details, letting her know there is a long journey ahead, but giving her such hope to hold onto, that I wanted to jump for joy when she finished speaking.

Her conversation to Marie was that Marie has reached the “top of the mountain.”  My first thought was, “ummm, not really.”  Then she elaborated.

She told Marie her entire journey was as if climbing a massive mountain.  Each step of her healing, each accomplishment, took her further and further up that mountain.  She said she felt Marie was now at the top; the worst was behind – meaning the critical moments, the major medical concerns, were behind her.  She was now at the top, ready for the next phase of her journey – getting closer to her goal - home.

“Marie, you’re not going to soar down the other side on a skateboard,” she said, “but rather as a beginner skier, moving down slowly, moving side to side, slowly making it down the other side – finally bringing you to the bottom.”  She has tons of work ahead of her; physical therapy will be a major challenge.  But she is at the top of that mountain, ready to start her way down, working with her body toward complete healing – until she is at the bottom and skiing to the finish line – into the door of her home.

How do we see mountains before us as we move along our journey?  Are we looking at the mountain as an immoveable obstacle?  Are we looking at it as a challenge to give all we can, pull to the top, and then that’s it?  Or do we see it as a journey that we are climbing until we reach the top, using faith, strength, trust, & hope - where we then get a glimpse of the other side - our true goal?

I’ve held onto my faith during this entire time.  Faith in my God who hears prayers, faith in the same God who has been holding up Marie every step of her journey, faith in the God who gives me words of encouragement, hope and love to share with my sister every day of her life.  One of my sincere prayers is that Marie will see how far he has carried her, trust he will continue to do so - not only through this journey - but throughout her life if she would allow him into her heart as well.  

I’ve realized that making it to the top of the mountain may just be the first part of an amazing challenge in our lives.  It might just be the beginning of moving in the right direction to where we are meant to be.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - 

he who watches over you will not slumber;

the Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

- Psalm 121:1-5