"Are you still on target to climb this summer?"
I get asked this a lot -- especially since people know why I've been training so hard.
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| I snapped this pic just now. Am I in good enough shape to summit the Allalinhorn? |
There are lots of philosophies and mindsets that might work here, but I usually give two points:
1. The Bible doesn't necessarily give us guidance about whether or not we should participate in any activity per se. That's the role of wisdom, which cannot be reduced to a single Bible verse. If you want to be a wise person, then you may also want to seek the advice of friends and family members before making up your mind, not to mention spending lots of time in prayer.
2. That said, the Bible does give plenty of testaments from men and women who trusted God completely as well from people who completely disregarded God. As Christians, these people can serve as guiding lights, illuminating our path to God. The Bible tells us exactly what God is like and what he expects from us -- our love, our trust, and our obedience when we understand his will for our lives. It's the final word on how to experience a rich and full life even as it helps us maneuver through every difficulty and decision.
As far as the Alps are concerned, there's probably no decision that is "totally" right and "totally" wrong. I guess that's why I like the prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr so much: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." I believe we can be as bold as Jabez when he asked God to enlarge his territory. But he also prayed that God would lead and direct his paths. We should always look to God for every step we take in life, approaching him in humility, faith, and complete reliance upon his goodness.
Just some thoughts!