Stay on the Trail

Dear friend,

Oh man. Despite a few momentary challenges, I am so stinking fortunate to get to live this life I've been entrusted with. I'm currently sitting in Orlando, where I've been able to spend a few days with my mom. She has crushed me in Skip-Bo, though I redeemed myself by returning the favor to her in rummy. We like playing cards. Heck, we like playing most games. Sitting around a table with people you love is a win, regardless of what you do.

Last Sunday, I summited the highest peak in Colorado, Mt. Elbert. It.Was.Glorious! I started at 4am, headlamp in full glow. Two hours later I was at the tree line absorbing the sunrise. Two more hours later, I sat at 14,400 feet in the air. It was incredibly satisfying. Talk about feeling close to God. Not just the elevation, but the emptying of my soul, body and spirit on the way up. It's a divine excursion.

This was my first time using poles. I will never go back. The simplicity of stability those sticks enabled was surprising. Having two more touch points, besides my feet offered distributed momentum, support and strength. There are four major elements faced past the tree line: Wind, Altitude, Ground, Trail. Each one on their own is a fierce foe. Combined, they are what makes climbing a 14'er a big deal.

I lived in Oklahoma for 34 years. I'm familiar with wind. The open exposure to double digit gusts however will not only stop you in your tracks, it will knock you back. The ground turns into pebbles and somehow becomes slippery. The altitude is my greatest nemesis, because when we can't access oxygen, nothing else quite matters. Intentionally breathing slowly instead of gasping for air, is a step-by-step ritual.

ELEMENTS

What elements swirling around your life, under your feet or in your gut seem to be fighting against forward progress? Reality itself is a gale force of resistance. Life comes from all directions. And sometimes it happens so quickly, we don't even realize it until it's past. Ever wake up and feel like "What just happened?"

Walking through the woods on the way to the top is a sturdy trail. Once past the trees however, not only does the incline increase substantially, your feet don't have the same grip. It seems like it should be the most reliable source: Ground and gravity. What happens when the thing that's supposed to be our steady grounding gives way? Better have some dang poles in your hands!

MINDSHIFT

What if this week you determined to keep taking steps forward despite the resistance you encounter?

TRAIL

It happened again. I lost the trail. This happens to me every time I enter the "scramble". It's the most treacherous part. The closer you get to the top, the more rocky it become and less clear where the path is. Talk about symbolism. This time however, I realized it pretty quickly. And instead of just pressing on, I stopped. I KNEW there was a trail somewhere. I just had to find it. In the past, I would keep going up, figuring I'd get to the top. I didn't want to do that again. It's a lot harder. I wanted to stay on the trail. It's a better way to climb.

When not on the trail, I use up a lot more oxygen. So not only is it a lot harder, it requires a lot more of my vital resources, that I wouldn't be exerting on the prepared way. I have finally learned this critical lesson: STAY ON THE TRAIL! The scramble is deceptive. The scramble will misguide you. The scramble is the last trap before ascending to victory. Don't go off into the scramble.

MINDSHIFT

What if this week you look around your life and see if you've been ensnared by the scramble and have lost the trail. Find your way back!

PEAK

I'm always surprised by how quickly people leave the peak. They've just hiked for hours and hours and then after a few minutes, decide to turn around and go back. I bask in the glory of accomplishment. If I could, I'd set up a tent and live there. If I wasn't so winded, I'd be shouting "I made it to the top of a mountain! Woooo Hoooo!" Except everyone there has also done the same, so they probably wouldn't be that impressed. Though there is a shared sense of joy and pride for each other.

We don't live at the peaks. We achieve them so when back at sea level, we know what we're capable of.

I'm proud of myself. My core values and keeping my commitments are the two "poles" that keep me steady, standing and moving forward. What are yours?

SHIFTING

I hope this week you stay on the path marked out for your purpose. Despite whatever elements you face that attempt to defy you, lean into your poles, take another breath, then take another step. #ShiftAway