It’s captivating to watch any young person climb his or her mountain in life.  At times, it can remind us of our own journey—which by the way, isn’t finished yet.  Although closer, the top of our mountain still looms in the distance.  We have experienced much along the way, but there is still more to come.  We are a bit more sure-footed now, more confident about facing the next new challenge.  Stronger for sure—and hopefully wiser.

I am nothing short of inspired as I watch my grandson climb his mountain—hand-in-hand with his parents.  The three of them have been on this journey for eleven years now.  I know there have been times when they have felt they were doing nothing more than circling round and round about the base of a very high mountain, lost in the heavy foliage, without a mountain top in view.

I have recently watched as they have caught a glimpse of their mountain top—by faith.  Their elevation has accelerated as they take firm hold of the hand of Jesus—walking out their faith one step at a time. I have watched them keep going, when others have doubted.  In so many words they have been told, “You’re up too high.  Come down.  Get on your old path, you know, the one that research tells you you should be on—the one that makes everyone more comfortable.

But they keep on going, stumbling here and there, but never turning back.  They’ve come too far now to go back down.  Their mountain top is in view and by faith they see themselves standing—on top!

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there, ‘ and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matthew 17:20