image from interval
On a family vacation to Gray’s Meadow on Independence Creek, dad took off fishing. A sandwich for lunch in his creel, and mom drove down before dinner to give him a ride back up the slope. My sister was maybe 11, me 12, and we decided to climb the big hill on the other side of the stream. The peak seemed close, but upon arriving we discovered it was maybe 100 yards more. That peak also wasn’t the peak…well, you get the picture. Like the hill and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, many goals are changing targets. Becoming godly is one of them.
I've chased a rainbow's pot of gold enough
to know where it lies
And a mountain
can rarely be climbed
without the crest
you know is the last
revealing another beyond
At times
I think I've done
all you've asked
seen the growth
we both knew could be
ready to rest
accept the applause
for reaching the rainbow
attaining the peak
secure because I've arrived
But then you always show
I've yet to go
another step beyond
I’ll admit, I’m puzzled. Why doesn’t God give us the ultimate goal right away? We might be overwhelmed by the changes to come and feel impotent. Even when we adore Jesus, we all will still sin. We haven’t yet built the spiritual strength to take on bigger tasks.
But more significantly, perhaps because God allows us to begin with the easier steps, gain some confidence, build a foundation, and He takes us through our spiritual journey step by step.
Like building a house…the first step is the foundation, only then can you build the walls. Once you frame the walls, then the roof can be added. Once you have protection from the elements, then the walls can be drywalled. You get the picture.
The picture is biblical, “…you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:4-8).
The key: be on the journey. Accept the process. Realize we must have a decent grasp on one phase before we can move to the next. The goal: to have God’s love permeate our lives. The question, for all of us: are we moving in that direction?
Kick Starting the Application
Look at the stages in 2 Peter. Where are you now? What has given you confidence? How will you move up to the next level?
Note: this poem joins many others in the book “Outdoor Adventures, Sacred Trails: Poems of a Traveling Man.” It’s available as a paperback and ebook on Amazon, and I have a number of paperbacks for $10 that I can sign for you.