It may sound weird, but climbing isn't meant to be all about enjoyment. It's meant to be a challenge. It's meant to be a chance to improve performance. It's meant to help you become stronger.
Every single climb I've done over the past 9 years has been extremely challenging. I get so sick of hearing myself and lots of other people making excuses for why they're not doing the things they want to do. Climbing, like anything else in life, is a decision. You make it a part of your life and you GO. That's it.
Every single climb I've done has taught me an important lesson. Actually, several important lessons. Often they provide insights into something I read in the Bible. Like this last climb. Let me give you an example.
The Anglican minister Augustus Toplady once wrote a hymn called "Rock of Ages." It was based on a footnote in the KJV for Isa. 26:4. Tradition has it that Toplady drew his inspiration for the title from an incident that happened to him in Burrington Combe, England -- a cliff where he found shelter during a storm.
This led me to examine the verse he used, Isa. 26:4. Here Isaiah refers to God as our tsoor owlamim, our "rock eternal" or "rock of ages." The word tsoor properly refers to a sharp rock or a rock wall. The term could well be rendered "cliff." It depicts a crag that offers water, shade, shelter, and protection. Israel's topography is dotted with such stony landscapes, as are the Alps. The Riffelhorn is one such tsoor.
Now that I've climbed it, I believe I have a better understanding of what Isaiah meant when he called God our tsoor owlamim.
Figuratively, it means that God is our security. His protection is unassailable.
Like a rugged cliff face, the safety he provides is steady, immovable, unshakable.
I love that!
Friend, do not grow weary in the battle, even though sometimes God gives us more that we feel we can handle. With God, we can climb cliffs! He gives us the needed strength, hope, and courage. Faith helps us to hold on and prevail even on rocky crags. But we must humble ourselves and admit our weakness and receive his help. "He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand," wrote the Psalmist. "He put a new song in my mouth. a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him" (Psa. 40:2-3). "He is my strength and my song" (Exod. 15:2). "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). He will make us "strong, firm, and steadfast" (1 Pet. 5:10).
He is our tsoor owlamim!