Climbing Panther Mountain (or Enjoying the Journey)

Last weekend Kim and I spent a couple of days at our family cabin in the Adirondack Mountains. It was a nice break after all the busyness of my retirement weekend and the weeks leading up to it. Being there gave us a chance to unwind and catch our breath. 

As most of you know, however, when the Harrises go away to relax that doesn’t mean we sit on the beach or couch all day. For us, relaxing usually includes some sort of activity. So, our first morning there, after eating a relaxed breakfast, Kim and I decide to go for a hike up Panther Mountain. 

Now let me be clear, this was not a hike up one of the high peaks (as our son Jonathan would do). Although it was quite steep in some parts, especially towards the top, it was just shy of a mile each way with an elevation gain of 666 feet (don’t worry about that number, please!). Going up took us about 40 minutes, including a couple of short stops. Once we reached the top we sat on the rocks, ate a snack (there must always be snacks!), drank some water, and took some pictures. And of course, we took in the view.  Although the sky was cloudy, the view from the top was yet stunning. 

I know a lot of people will ask those who hike up mountains: “Why? Why would anyone climb a mountain?”  I thought about it myself as we were making our ascent and  came up in my mind with two answers. First of all, there’s something quite fulfilling about reaching the top of a mountain and catching a view of the world around you that you would otherwise not see. Secondly, there’s something invigorating about the journey itself. Ultimately, when you hike up a mountain—or go hiking at all--it’s not just about reaching a destination, but it’s even more so about the journey itself through the woods with all its sights, smells, and sounds. 

As someone who can be very destination-oriented, I sometimes need to remind myself of the importance of enjoying the journey. Yes, I look forward to reaching the final destination which we know as heaven. I know the view from there is going to be stunning. However, in the meantime, I want to enjoy this journey called “life”—living  my life with an appreciation for the sights, smells, and sounds of the world around me; experiencing the daily presence of God;  living with a heart of gratitude for the many gifts he has placed into my life, especially the people he has placed into my life. I don’t want to ever take for granted the blessings he has poured into my life, nor the help he has given along the way.  I don’t want to miss out on the joys of this journey.  

The writer of Ecclesiastes seemed to have been a very task-oriented and destination-oriented man. But when he realized the vanity and meaninglessness of all of his achievements, he came to realize the importance of enjoying the journey. Thus he wrote the following:  

“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 – NIV) 

“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

How about you? Are you working so hard to achieve and build and make something of yourself that you are missing out on the blessings that are right in front of you? Are you so focused on the destination that you are no longer enjoying the journey? 

Let’s climb the mountain and reach the top. Surely, the view will be spectacular. But on the way, let’s enjoy the blessings and the joys of the journey. 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris