In his book Backpacking with the Saints, Belden C. Lane candidly shares a couple of hiking “fails” in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains when he was a college student. On one occasion, he and his roommate were on a descent that involved a seemingly endless series of switchbacks. So, they thought it’d be a good idea to take a shortcut down through the rocks. Before long, after becoming separated by the boulders and unable to reconnect, they realized they’d made a huge mistake. Not until after dark, several hours later, did they meet up, sheepishly admitting the folly of their plan.
From https://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/whitney.htm
Some time later, they decided to climb Mt. Whitney—at 14,505’, it’s the highest peak in the lower 48. The views along the way are incredible, but they’re matched by the dangers. As Lane describes it,
“There are risks of dehydration, twisted ankles, and altitude sickness. Sunburn and frostbite can threaten on the same day, not to mention quickly rising storms and the onslaught of galloping fear.”
They set out on their adventure in early June—much too early for novices with no experience hiking in snow and ice. There was plenty along the way to provoke fear. At one point, he stumbled off the path, and were it not for a rock he could cling to, he likely would have plummeted over a steep precipice. This was enough to make him incredibly skittish. Then dense fog rolled in, so thick anything beyond his own feet was lost in the white mist. “I was scared to death,” he admits.
“When we later came to a place that required my stepping over what seemed a sheer drop into an abyss below,” he writes, “I couldn’t do it.… Nothing could have enticed me to go any further at the time.” He was only 1,700 ft. from the summit and some of the most spectacular scenery imaginable.
Hours later, Lane and his roommate were back at their campsite down the mountain when several Boy Scouts came by, returning from their attempt at the summit. “How far did you get?” Lane asked. He was a bit humiliated to hear the entire group—including a twelve-year-old scout—made it to the peak.
Without a doubt, there were several factors involved in the success of the Boy Scouts and Belden Lane’s failure. But as I thought about the whole scenario, I can’t help thinking that the single greatest factor is leadership. The scouts had a leader who knew the mountain, the risks, the unique challenges, the type of equipment needed, and so on. The scout leader was so adept, he could guide even a twelve-year-old to impressive success. The two college buddies had only themselves and their pooled ignorance.
Reflecting on my own first serious hiking attempt, I’m thankful for Will Murphy—the youth leader who took us to the summit of Camel’s Hump in Vermont. Will is an experienced hiker. He, too, has summitted Mt. Whitney and other significant heights.
So here I was in my blue jeans and oversized hiking boots, trying to keep up with the group and sucking wind. Will graciously stayed in the back of the pack, just ahead of me. He could hear my gasping and frequent sips from the water bottle.
“Try breathing through your nose,” he suggested. “It won’t dry your mouth out, and you won’t feel like you need to drink so often.” I tried. I really did.
The trail can be quite rocky in places. “Watch where I step,” he instructed, as he stepped over a rock, not on it…around another, even though it added a step. “You want to try to maintain a steady pace and gait,” he explained. “Stepping up on a rock can take more energy and throw off your rhythm.” I planted my feet where he’d planted his all the way to the summit—though I was still sucking wind!
In the last 23 years, I’ve hiked dozens of trails, from as far east as Acadia National Park in Maine to as far west as Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks in California…trails in Wisconsin, Illinois, South Carolina, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and more, I’m sure. I couldn’t tell you how many times Will’s advice echoed in my ears on a rocky path and a lung-busting ascent.
A good leader-mentor makes a huge difference in ensuring success!
Will’s influence came back to mind last week when I was working on the sermon text for Sunday morning—Ephesians 5:1-7. The passage begins,
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us….
I was struck by the imagery portraying God—Christ Jesus—as the leader-mentor I need to follow on this trek of the Christian life.
Being the follower of a leader can elicit several different images, can’t it?
Think West Side Story and gang leader Riff and his followers in the Jets, or leader Bernardo of the Latin Sharks. Such leaders often hold their position through fear and intimidation; rarely, if ever, do they lead in the right direction.
Or the fickle fans following a pop icon “leader.” The “leader” fades in popularity and influence; all but the die-hards find another pop idol to adore.
Or the political zealots who fawn over a candidate who promises the moon and seems to espouse the values of his followers. I’ve recently seen a few episodes of Ken Burns’ documentary The Vietnam War, which of necessity includes a great deal about Richard Nixon. I remember being a zealous 10-year-old Nixon/Agnew supporter. “He’s gonna end the war in Vietnam! He promised! And besides,” I parroted, “he might even be a Christian!” Yeah, pretty naïve. How many followers were following still on August 9, 1974—the day after he resigned from the presidency to avoid being forced from office?
None of these images are called for in Ephesians 5:1. I am to follow or imitate God—Christ Jesus—as a beloved child would so naturally imitate his father.
Some who are from my generation will recall the anti-smoking commercial of the late 1960s. A father—clearly portrayed as a good, loving dad—is routinely imitated by his son, washing the car, skimming a rock, picking up the pack of cigarettes…. Bad leadership, that last action, but the point of the ad is clear. A child secure in his father’s love will want to imitate him, follow his lead.
And that’s the spirit of “following” Paul calls for in Ephesians 5:1. Christians are to follow Christ, recognizing our privileged positions as children of God. And His disposition toward us is not like so many of the mythological gods of the ancient world—indifferent or even hostile. We’re “beloved” of him! And guess what? That’s the very same word God the Father used when he spoke of Jesus at both his baptism and on the Mount of Transfiguration: “This is my beloved son,” he said!
My hiking mentor, Will, showed me how to walk up a mountain path, encouraged me to imitate his steps.
God encourages Christ’s followers to imitate Him, as well. God has treated the Christian with an abundance of grace, showing kindness, treating with compassion, granting forgiveness. “Imitate God,” Paul exhorts.
Christ walked in love toward us as He sacrificially gave himself for us. We’re to walk the same path. “Walk in love!” Paul instructs.
Every genuine Christian will reach the summit. “…he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ,” Scripture promises (Philippians 1:6 ). But the journey is so much more enjoyable; it’s far less fraught with danger, anxiety, weariness, and fear—if we will but imitate God and follow Christ along the way.
