Sometimes Climbers Of All Kinds Seek the Wrong Goals

I'm currently reading Ed Viestur's book on Annapurna called The Will to Climb. And much of the book explains the history of the many expeditions and brave climbers who took on this incredibly hard mountain. In the middle of it all were those like Ed who at least entertained the goal of climbing all fourteen peaks above 8,000 meters.

The leader of that pack was one of the world's most revered climbers Reinhold Messner, the first in the world to climb them all (Ed Viesturs was the first American and he also did it without supplemental oxygen). However, it's important to note that closing the loop or climbing them all was only a secondary goal for Messner. His primary goal was one all of us who climb granite or even life's mountains would be wise to keep in mind.

Messner writes, "Climbing increasingly harder routes, setting myself new targets, was of far greater importance to me."

It's easy for us to become enamored with our own records or accomplishments and miss reaching the more important, though perhaps less noticed, goals in life. We want to be better than someone else, overcome our struggle faster or make some sort of name for ourself when there are far more important things.

Like what? Perhaps just doing the next thing, maybe reaching a place just farther down the trail than last time or getting to a new personal record of some sort. Some of us are possibly stuck because we're failing over and over again at some goal or target that really isn't that important. What we may need to do is find a new dream or at least one different from everyone else and go for it whatever that means.

Maybe God has some unique goal and plan designed just for us that we're missing because we're obsessed with climbing the wrong mountain or overcoming in ways that just aren't possible right now.

Try praying for and looking for some other goal more within your reach and purvue. No, don't settle for less, just something else. Chances are it will still be some big mountain that you'll need every resource including God to reach. But my hunch is that once you go for that one you'll know you're now on the trail you should have been on all along.

Live Like You Were Dying

I spoke a couple of days ago at the funeral of a friend who passed away at 52. He obviously left his family and friends way too soon.  And of course we've all been reminded, sometimes inappropriately,  that life could end any moment, any day. The issue isn't really how old we are but how many days do we have left.

But this week I was reminded as I thought about my friend Don and heard the many comments about his life that people really can live with the eternal and important in view. Don certainly did. I only wish that I could hear the phrase "servant heart" at my funeral as many times as I heard it at his.

Don didn't have an easy life. Yes, he had a wonderful wife, great kids to cherish and numerous talents. But he also had enough rocky roads to keep him focused on his own stuff most of the time. But instead he was known for serving and helping others. In fact the day he died he was assisting a friend in the hot sun.

He lived like he was dying, so that when the day came, he would have a full life doing the things that mattered.

Some, however, would say that thinking this way is just morbid. Why ponder the fact that we might die early?  But the reality is that when we embrace the possibility our life could end today we start to actually live accomplishing the things that really matter and hopefully for a long time!

Where do you start? Well, there are unique trails we all can take but here are a few suggestions. Spend regular time with your kids. No, not just being a taxi driver or spectator, but enjoying something together, being spontaneous and doing things no one else does.

If you are married , do the same with your spouse. Don't abandon each other for eighteen or twenty years while kids are around.

Serve others. When we give of our time, talents and resources to someone else our life takes on new meaning and significance like never before.

So are you truly living or instead living like you are dying? The latter is the best!

New Year's: Not Just The Same Old, Same Old This Year

So how many New Year's mornings is this for you? Twenty, thirty, forty or more? Lots of parties, gatherings with friends, celebrations, fireworks, good food and drink the night before and a nice, quiet start to the year afterwards, right?

Good for you. However, how many times, during the weeks to follow, would you say there was some significant change in your life? How many of those resolutions you made really took root and flowered in you?

My hunch is there weren't that many. And while there's nothing magical about starting something new in January perhaps it's worth thinking about why we don't move forward and the dangers of just staying put.

I think one of the biggest problems is not that we don't take some great leap ahead, but that we never get started. But think of it like climbing a mountain. If you just look at the summit, the biggest part of the goal, you'll never get anywhere. That's what a lot of people do with New Year's resolutions. They decide to finally lose sixty pounds but never take the first step toward shedding three.

They determine to finally look for a job that they love or feel called to and then never send out one resume. The summit is just too daunting.

So, the answer? Start with just ONE fundamental change that you plan to stick with for three months. If you're going to start working out, make that change something like walking for a half - hour five days a week always at the same time. Do it religiously. Don't let anyone stop you if possible. At least have it become such a habit that if you miss a day, you will go right back to it.

If you plan to slow down your life and spend more time with your wife and kids, start putting that afternoon or evening in your week that you are going to commit to be home. Get it on your calendar and hold to it. It's a small change but it's a fundamental one and will start to etch a new way of living and thinking into your lifestyle.

Do it for three months without adding or subtracting anything. Then evaluate and starting raising your goals and objectives to a higher level. Before long your habit will have become a lifestyle and bigger gains will come more quickly.

And come next year, you'll look back and say, "Yes, resolutions can be more than just talk. And I really did make it to the summit."

A New Year Begs For A Life Revolution

Recently my wife and I spent some time at my sister-in-law's home having enjoyed several days of family time. And I found myself thinking a lot about how blessed I've been to have first lived this many decades (don’t ask) and second to have the family I've enjoyed for so many years.

However, while some of my life’s journey was beyond my control, I'm also grateful that at various turns on my journey people have encouraged me to both evaluate where I've been and to regularly reconsider where I'm going. 

So during this New Year season I want to encourage you not just make some casual resolutions that you will probably forget about in a week or two. What if this year you thought about just one major new direction that you will take this year in your marriage, parenting, or life climb?

What if you said, "I'm not going to settle for this being just one more year of my life? Instead, I'm going to do something different, something more life-changing that will make a difference in the life of someone else and matter more for eternity."

Maybe it will involve the fulfillment of a personal dream. Dreams are often those things that would best use our skills and resources anyway while breathing new life into our everyday world. Perhaps you could serve others through giving your time and talents in the community, your church or city.

Maybe there is a local or foreign mission that needs your specific skill set and passion where hundreds, even thousands of people would be changed as a result. The possibilities are endless.

You see most of us tend to get into ruts that are comfortable in many ways but that have stymied our personal and family growth. It's hard to find a new way to look at life and your future when all you can see are the walls of the long bunker you've lived in for a long time.

Our marriages and families could discover new energy and excitement if we'll just take time to ponder how our direction might change and our purposes could be fulfilled.

That’s why I want to encourage you to consider a New Year’s revolution this year.

Where would you begin? Well, you might start by simply answering these questions:

What have I always wanted to do that I've never done before? You know, develop a Bucket List! Sometimes those goals can lead to creative and intriguing ideas that could literally turn your life around.

Second, what passions and talents do I have that could be used to help someone else?  Don’t limit yourself to the usual. There are places waiting for your specific skills all over the world or right at home. I just returned from my fourteenth trip to Russia where musicians, artists, technicians and leaders all got to share their skills for 11 days.

Third, has anything - a cause, need or person - been gnawing away at me lately and occupied a lot of my thinking? 

Some careful thinking, pondering and praying with a spouse, friend and even older children could help give you a whole new direction and turn your former resolutions into a life revolution.

Whatever you do, start somewhere! Don't let this next year just be another 365 days of the same. God made you and me to be difference makers so dare to be different. You won't regret your decision, I promise.