The Mountaintop

Finally at the summit

I surveyed the beauty around me,

It was so much different up here

From down in the valley

I had struggled up the mount

But it was surely worth it,

Now I could see for miles and miles

And it boosted my spirit.

It reminded me of life

And the many uphill climbs,

The temptation to throw in the towel

And the many declines.

The hazardous and the precipitous

The grind and the pain,

The frights and anxieties

The days of effort and little gain.

My friends tried to discourage

And my foes relentlessly taunted

But an inner voice whispered,

“Never mind, do not be daunted.”

That’s when I took a deep breath

And with greater resolve

I ignored the demeaning negatives

And all my members involved.

Even before I had started out

I was told that I would fail

And that given my many weaknesses

My efforts would not avail.

Many stronger had attempted

But they did not succeed

And it would be in my best interest

If their advice I would heed.

Had I given into their attempts

I would never have started

But I knew anything worth achieving

Was not for the faint-hearted.

  

I am so glad that I insisted

And as one of the climbers enlisted

And all those naysayers resisted

And from deep within me persisted.

I was not the first to the top

And my time was not the quickest

But I rejoice in my triumph

Even though I was not the fittest.

In any case, I had some help

I do not mean of the earthly type

But from a friend, I truly know,

A friend that is always right.

And so as I stand at the top today

I know they will be other climbs,

They all will start from some valley

Where few things appear to be fine.

Where one’s view is nearsighted

And one’s grasp is very weak

And the taunting and the teasing

Makes the outlook particularly bleak.

Where the forecast is stormy

And the mood is quite downcast,

And where even the fittest of climbers

Will undoubtedly not last.

Unlike the strong, I need help

So in that category I will enlist

And such help is always forthcoming

From Him who will always assist.

The weak are perfect candidates

In whom God’s strength will work,

It’s then His strength is made perfect

And there is no urge to shirk.

So come on whatever the climb

With God, I am up to it,

For as a weakling I trust in God

And this is my daily habit.

If today your challenge is a climb

And difficulties are all around,

Remember it is on the mountaintop

Where the beauty will abound.

No such beauty will be yours

If in the valley you decidedly remain,

But if you resolutely climb with God

That mountaintop you will claim.

Stewart Russell © March 2019