The Climb

Last weekend, I went to my church's Women's Retreat in Asheville, North Carolina.  It was a fabulous weekend of great women, prayer, and a lot of good food including frozen yogurt machines in the lobby! 

I'd forgotten how much the mountains renew my soul and calm me like no other place I've experienced, and was lucky enough to spend both Friday and Saturday afternoons hiking with some of the women in my life group.  My friend Megan and I hit up Looking Glass Rock in Brevard on Saturday, one of my favorite old hikes from my days of living in Asheville.  On Saturday, Megan, Ashley, and I climbed to the overlook on the Cove property, the Billy Graham training center where we were staying.

I must admit, to my shame, I started off on Saturday feeling a little overconfident.  I mean, my legs weren't really that sore, and it's the Billy Graham center....surely the hike isn't that hard for all the newbie hiker Christians that come there, right?  We must have looked like we knew what we were doing, wearing our packs and hiking shoes, because many women asked us how to get on the trail before we even started.

Let me tell you...that hike is no joke!  It's not technically difficult in terms of climbing over rocks and roots, but it's two and a half miles of large gravel trail straight up the mountain, at least seven percent grade, with rare flat areas in the trail to let you catch your breath.

But that hike reminded me so much how we as Christians need community...us life group girls stuck together, made sure we all drank water, took breaks when we needed it.  Megan and Ashley didn't make me feel bad for asking to take a break - their lungs were on fire too, and they asked for breaks as often as I did!  We met many women who had to turn around, who didn't have people along the way encouraging them, not letting them turn back to the inn and cold frozen yogurt waiting for them.

Finally, we made it to the top!  The view was magnificent and worth the sweat and the effort.  We were part of the small group of women who completed the hike, who got to experience the joy of seeing this part of God's majestic creation. 

As Christians, as women, we can't do abundant life alone.  We want to think we can and the world tells us we should be able to do everything alone.  What a bunch of hooey!

If you have community, embrace it, love them, grow in and with them.  If you lack community, find one...there are lots of people waiting to meet you, get to know you, and grow in Christ with you.

Join the climb!