After a week like I had, I found myself reading a familiar story as if for the first time. Fresh from shooting For Colored Girls, film maker Tyler Perry nurses his drained mind and spirit with a trip to Hawaii. His take on life's struggles seem to nurse mine, as well. Earlier this week, I struggled to focus solely on God's promises while ignoring life's earthquakes. How do you stand when your academic future seems so shaky? What do you hold on to when everyone around you is falling through the crevices? When fear, lonliness and doubt seems to seep in and the earthquakes of this world threatens my faith in God, I read this:
Yesterday, I was hiking a mountain in Hawaii with a friend. I was laboring up this beautiful green pastured mountain, looking down at my feet trying to be sure of my footing, while at the same time trying to catch my breath from the altitude. At times, I would make big steps, sometimes all I could do was take small ones. The terrain was uneven and rough at times. It took a lot of effort and a lot of thought so, needless to say, I was getting really tired and at times wanted to stop or just turn back.
I got to one peak and thought "I'm here! Great, we can rest now" only to realize that just because I was at the top of one peak, that didn't mean I had arrived. There were more…more valleys to go through and more heights to reach. It was interesting to me, that in order to go higher, we usually had to go down through a valley, and it went on and on and up and up. I was tired and wanted to sit down but my friend said, "Come on, let's go a little higher." So, not to be outdone by a girl (lol), I dug my hiking boots in and went a little higher. We finally got to one of the highest points and she said to me, "This is the best part, now turn around." I turned around and behind me was the most amazing view that I had seen in my 40 years on this earth. As far as my eyes could see, beauty reigned. The Hawaiian Islands seemed to be leaping up out of the silver blue sea, stretching up to catch the dust of the sky. The clouds seemed close enough to catch in my hand and make a wish; rays of sunlight danced through them trying to find a path to show off their own glow and power. Not even Picasso could have out-painted the canvas that was before me. The heavens were declaring the glory of God. I saw Him in motion.I said to my friend, "When did we get this high?” and she said, "It was in the climb." I couldn't help but think about life--mine and maybe even yours. I thought about how hard it had been for me chasing down my dream. I thought about how hard it can be to believe sometimes. I thought about the entire struggle, all of the pain, all of the hope, all of the doubt. I thought about the times I was working a dead end job, trying to believe; moving through day-to-day with my head down just taking one step at a time, some small, some big ones, wanting to give up; wanting to stop and sit for a while; wanting to lay in my sorrow; nobody believing in me; nobody thinking it would come to pass and never realizing that every step was taking me closer to higher. That hike was painful, it hurt, but through it all I was getting higher and had no idea how high I was. That's what it's like to chase down a dream.
Sometimes in life dreams are hard to follow, like that climb. You don't know how high you're going or even if you're moving, but every step, even when you can't see what's behind you, will take you closer to your goals. It's in the climb. I know you may be struggling right now, but you're in the climb; things may be hard right now, but you're in the climb; people may not believe in you, but it's part of the climb. They may take shots at you, but stay in the climb; you may have to stand alone, but you're in the climb. Even if you're not where you want to be right now, I want to say to you what she said to me, "This is the best part. Now, turn around." Look how far you've come. God has not brought you this far to leave you. Stay in the climb.
~Tyler Perry
I've lost my footing in pursuit of my Masters degree this year. Financial woes and self-blaming was eating away at my faith in myself and God, but He never stopped believing in me. Sometimes, we just want to sit, quit climbing and call the climb impossible. I've wanted to retreat, but something in me—a nagging feeling wants to know what's on the other side. I want to see the view that Tyler talked about. The Bible says that Jesus came that you and I may have an abundant life. Let's get our mountain top view, our abundant life. Stay In The Climb!!
Tell me, what's keeping you from pushing forward in your educational pursuits? What roadblocks have you encountered along the way and how will you (or have you) overcome?
