Listen to God's voice at the foot of the crucifix." ~St. Gaspar del Bufaro~

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Heavenly Ascent

A recent leap of faith brought me to a mountain.  
An opportunity arose to accompany my 2nd son on a Boy Scout hike to Yosemite National Park.  The hike up to Glacier Point is well-known for its direct ascension,via switchbacks, totaling 4.6 miles to the top.  (And another 4.6 miles back down of course).  This is where the leap of faith came in...Could I "make it" up the mountain? 
The challenge beckoned me upwards as the summit promises a glorious view beyond measure, a sweet reward for the challenging trek up, up, up, the mountain...  Not to mention the breath-taking scenery to soak in, all the way up and back down the trail. I leaped at the chance to make this heavenly ascent!
As providence would have it, the hike date landed just prior to Ascension Sunday.  As I set out on my own ascension, I thought about the many parallels between the spiritual life and climbing a mountain.  In our case the climb was literal...but most of the time we ALL partake in a little daily mountain climbing.
As a Catholic Christian, heaven is the goal of our daily climb.
As we set out to hike our own mountains, the work is hard and the burdens are heavy but we keep our compass pointed to heaven for the promise of Eternal glory.  This world is not our home but within it, there are signs of promise and beauty all around us.  It's as if God breathes his grace through the splendor of nature so that we may catch a glimpse of His great reward.
I saw 5 parallels to the spiritual life on this heavenly ascent but there could easily be more!

1.  As I prepared my pack the evening prior to the hike, my husband and son reminded me to bring the '10 essentials.' For Boy Scouts, this includes things like a compass, a map, food & water, First Aid, and appropriate clothing for inclement weather, etc., all designed to equip you for safety, nourishment, and the ability to adapt to unforeseen changes in conditions.
In the spiritual life, we also need certain essentials to survive.  I am constantly reminded that I need certain protections, to include a strong shield from evil.  Christians are taught that prayer stands as the best weapon against the devil.  There are many powerful tools of prayer that we have in our spiritual day packs, including the Bible and the Rosary, to equip us for spiritual safety.  Not to mention Our Blessed Mother, Mary.  She is the perfect compass, Eternally pointing us in the most perfect and direct way to the Son.
The Sacraments provide the perfect nourishment for our faith journey.  Most importantly, the Eucharistic Lord gives us the very body which He gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which He poured out for the forgiveness of sins.  What better nourishment than the body and blood of Christ Jesus to sustain us!
2.  Hesitant to go on the hike at all, I looked to my spouse and friends around me for support.  Unsure of my physical condition and ability to make the climb, I doubted myself. They all encouraged me and validated my aptness to make it just fine.
In the spiritual life, our needs are the same.  Trustworthy companions are essential to our faith journey.  A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter. (Sirach 6:14-16)
3. When we got to the base of the mountain, our trusty Scout guide was well-prepared and led us confidently to the trail head.  He took the lead by example.
In the spiritual life, our priests also lead us, shepherding their flock, often up steep and dusty trails of trial.  We are blessed by their constant personal sacrifice and guidance.
4.  As we headed up the mountain, we encountered many switch-backs.  Just as we gained momentum in our ascent, we encountered another, and yet another. The quick change of direction with the added elevation inevitably causes a moment of slight discouragement when you are constantly climbing.  But we pressed on, with the encouragement of our companions, all with the ultimate goal in mind.
In the spiritual life, we often encounter these same switch-backs in our daily lives.  Just when we are moving a long and things seem to be going well,  a sudden challenge or trial takes the wind out of our sails.  We may be temporarily discouraged and have to pause to catch our breath but we press on, firm in our faith that promises a hope beyond measure.
5.  As we neared the top of the mountain, I was encouraged by our team of Scouts.  We were all tired, hungry, and ready to just get there.  Through it all, everyone rallied around the team and cheered one another on to the summit.  Not only  was it another great reminder that we are not alone on our journey, it was also a chance to help others and serve needs beyond our own.  The opportunity for acts of charity were abundant on the ascent.
In the Spiritual Life we also gain strength from a community of believers as the body of Christ.  Just when we think we will never make it, there is refreshment in one another.  We are called to build one another up in faith, hope, and love.  Because stumbling is inevitable, the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings our souls to right order and back on the path to heaven.  Learning to know, love, and serve God begins with one another on the mountains that we climb each day.
We made it!
Isn't this a most magnificent view?
The view from the top was God's glory at it's finest and a heavenly ascension extraordinaire! Words can only scantily describe the awesome splendor...
Just as the Holy Spirit breathes life into our footsteps of faith, the wind on the mountain filled our spirit.   We basked in the grace that permeated the soul.  
(Just in time for Pentecost, this Sunday:)
Gazing out into the beautiful landscape, I gained strength for the journey home, both earthly and heavenly homes, that is. Climbing a mountain is always do-able, metaphorically speaking, one foot in front of the other.  Despite all odds in our daily lives, there is rest for the weary, hope for the hopeless, and the promise of heaven on the horizon.

We are encouraged to keep climbing our mountains...
Hope to meet you at the top!
"The difference in winning and losing is most often...Not quitting."~Walt Disney~

17 comments:

  1. HI Tiffany!

    I haven't been a loyal visitor/commenter on your lovely blog here like I want and after reading this awesome post, I'm sad to not be able to visit you more regularly. But, I LOVE this beautiful post: the words, the breathtaking pictures, the comparison of your hike to our spiritual lives, just amazing and inspiring! I can't even imagine what these sites look like in real life since the photos themselves are breathtaking. It must be so surreal to be surrounded by such beauty by our Creator!

    Hey, I just thought of something...you should capture this post in a more permanent way and make a small digital scrapbook of your hike with pictures and words. Programs like Picaboo will allow you to make your scrapbook online and then they will mail you a hard copy. It would be a treasure to have this post to look at in book form over and over again and also be a constant reminder of your hike and how life is like climbing a mountain as you so eloquently wrote. I think it would be a special gift for your son too as another creative way that you pass on your faith to your children. Just a thought....OK, I can tell I haven't commented on your blog in awhile since I have so much to say now :) LOL! So glad you enjoyed this special hike with your son! Way to go cool Mama! :)
    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the great idea, Tracy! I'm checking into that for sure:)

      Delete
  2. You are amazing!! Of course I love your reflections. They are absolutely spot on. I am going to have come back and reread them. But look at you climbing that mountain with your boy and smiling on the way!! You have my true admiration. Good for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, dear Laurie! I don't feel very amazing...Just a middle-aged Mom doing her best:) LOL

      Delete
  3. Oh Tiffany! I received so much joy from your pictures and even more so from your reflections. I just love when you blog!!! You give so much inspiration to others :) So proud for you that you made the hike all the way to the top. What a challenge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, my friend! I am humbled by your kind comment...All for God's glory!

      Delete
  4. What a beautiful post, Tiffany! And, I agree, you are an inspiration! ~Annita +JMJ+

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. +Though I don't feel worthy, I thank you for your kind thoughts, Annita:)+

      Delete
  5. hello Friend! another lovely post. yes, I'm sure used to those switch-backs in life, and we keep climbing. Thank you for this inspiring reflective post. I loved your "essentials" for the spiritual life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Gardenia...You are always so encouraging!

      Delete
  6. AMAZING photos! I am in awe at the beauty of God's great creation! What a lovely experience for you. Thanks for sharing it with all of us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Heather! Hope your summer is going well:)

      Delete
  7. Hello sweet friend, I missed you! What an amazing adventure you and your son had. I loved the pictures and your reflections are just as lovely. I am so happy that you made that trip. I know we can sometimes doubt our abilities (physical as well as spiritual) and that little extra push may be just what we need when we least expect it. Loved your essentials for the spiritual life as well. Congratulations on a wonderful journey!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ann-Marie~ You are so right! Thanks for the encouragement, my friend!

      Delete
  8. Hi Tiffany, your reflections and pictures are simply beautiful! Your son will always treasure this hike together with his mom and you've both been blessed for your ascension!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Noreen~Thanks for popping over and dropping a note! It was a blessed ascension indeed:) Hope you are doing well, God Bless!

      Delete
  9. Thank you all for the kind comments! We are gone for family vacation and will be back soon:) Can't wait to get caught up with everyone when we return! Summer blessings to all!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...