What I learned on the Mountain

It's Friday; that means it's time to try again. Jose meets us at the house at 8 and we set off after coffee around 8:30. Familiar path to the base of the mountain. On the way I told Jose that I would like for him to correct me on every speaking error I made. He said to do likewise with his English. Then we stopped talking. Laughed. Then learned how better to use reflexives. We arrived with and searched out the path ahead. It seemed that a fence line ran straight up the mountain, while it did not have room enough for switchbacks it seemed to be the least dense in the foliage department. We made our way to the fence, through the fence and along the fence; until there was no fence. It had been a pretty good jaunt by this point and the terrain became steep; not that we were making our ascent at this point, but trying to make it to the mountain we would brave. At this point Kimberly opted to stay at base camp. It had been a tough row so far and the going was going, straight up. Jose opted to go his own way for a stretch as I advanced hugging the side of steepness. Kimberly positioned herself were we would be able to see each other for most of the ascent.
All I had going for me was that the plant life was no more than chest high; to describe the rest, everything was soaking wet, many barbed plants, bugs, gnats, stumps, rocks with loose morals, slippery slopes, mud and slick sticks. And sea shells? More on that later.
After a 15 minute jaunt forward into the wild, crossing a number of what could have only been the southern rear cleavage of the hills traversed, I heard a distant shout. Jose.
After doing a cross between George of the Jungle and the T-Rex off of Jurassic Park, Jose joined me on the South Butt (for all of you North Face fans) of the hill. We had at last come to the foot.
It's strange that one trip can have so many beginnings for here it was truly the beginning of our purpose: to reach the top. The going was difficult. I set myself to carry the camera (a personal rule) and toilet paper (in case their was toil to be let (see what I did there?)). Periodically my socks worked their way down my foot. This happened many times before reaching this point in the trip and I would like to provide further proof and evidence of the level of commitment Kimb and I share in our marriage for it was she who requested (after shoe and sock had run far away from anything resembling dry) that we trade socks since hers were longer. We did and I love her for it; nothing like trading wet socks to say, "I love you." And I know she does. Alas it was to no physical avail, however the sock itself provided better arch-support than my old shoes did (always a positive side). We climbed up and up, slipping, grabbing, being grabbed by bug and thorns. Every so often I would steady myself and turn to find Kimb, yelling or whistling to see if she was okay; she remained so. Jose and I walked together and my mind became occupied with the important and difficult task at hand. I studied my movements and decisions, thinking about terrain, nature and the path ahead. Brains have a funny way of making connections because this journey like many others experienced by many other people before became a metaphor for life. And I told Jose as much:

When you are falling backward making your ascent try grabbing the green lush plants that stick up. They will probably snap or give way because they are young and weak. Look to the root and find the old brown, woody stem; he is more likely to hold his ground and sustain you in your moment of need and desperation. There is much to be said for maturity and fast roots.

No matter how remote the location a path lay before us. It is often wise to follow the path, making the trail easier. No matter how difficult the situation and unlikely the circumstance you can find evidences of people that have gone along before you. Trust that, utilize that and leave a path behind you.

Be careful who you follow and how closely you follow them. An accidental slip or loose rock can cause unspeakable and irreparable damage. Always beware.

It is not so important to stay in the middle of the path. Sometimes the left is better than the right and vice versa. Don't be afraid to walk on the periphery utilize the best of both to make your path smooth and reasonable.

It doesn't take much distraction to slip and fall.

How far am I willing to go? When will I say here and no further? At what point will I stop giving? Why not the top? What reason is so justifiable as to renegotiate the terms of your primary and motivating goal? I say there is none.

I think about those in life who are near the summit almost there, their previous trial being unspeakable, the pains forgotten just by sheer numerical overload, yet here they stand mere paces from the top and they are eager to arrive; they look back down at the young ones with many emotions felt toward them as they know the journey ahead of the young one that the young one himself could not possibly know or predict. There will be difficulty, pain, frustration and despair. Yet with an encouraging shout down to those who would follow the old one bravely, with a new vigor in step press on and finish the task, scrambling headlong into the unknown of the top of the mountain catching a first glimpse of the mystery that is on the other side of the mountain.

To arrive is to be truly alive.

Jose and I arrived safely; we were able to peer over to the other side and see more mountains covered in green and white as the clouds neatly and fully crowned their crowns. It was nothing I hadn't seen before but I was seeing it as I never had before. How we see seems to be just as or more important than what we see. We rejoiced and took pictures, we prayed thanksgiving for safety thus far and for future safety in the descent. Then we took to the descent.
Kimberly had all but vanished; I could clearly see the spot where she was but could see nothing more than a white dot being her body enshrouded in my long sleeve shirt (no doubt protection from the local wildlife). The descent was perilous, too perilous (even for Sir Galahad), and to compound the issue, our legs were weak and supporting muscles badly in need of support. To lean forward was to embrace the end of the destination, forever. We slid and fell much; a stump found my forearm and gave me a good scrape and another caught my bum leaving a colorful tattoo that said something like "Look busy....." I found two shells that looked like they belonged to hermit crabs and successfully carried them down to safety. On further and secondary inspection I believe there may have been a healthy snail in residence though he had since moved out.
This ascent and subsequent descent total for the longest amount of time on this trip that Kimb and I had been a part. I desperately wanted to be with her, walk next to her and share the same space. It was a wonderful motivation to persevere and do so with diligence, confidence and caution. We made it and I kissed Kimberly. It is such a wonderful thing in life to have someone to kiss.
It was at this point, on the way back, that I realized it was Friday, Marina had come to clean the house and I had forgotten to leave the money out for her (because we pay her on Fridays). It was already 1 o'clock. We set a quick pace with hopes of encountering a taxi. Many we encountered but none cared to give us a ride or a look, one gave us a finger (not really, but it felt like it). So we continued on; I had a thought that God can certainly work it out to where I could call Marina and find her so I could give her the money, or that by some miracle she would still be at the house, plus previously I had told her I wanted to learn to make enfrijoladas and we were supposed to do that today. Ahhh, I got worked up there for a second, but finally I just let go, realizing things were beyond my control, and just set myself to making it home. And we did just that.
And Marina was still there. Life is wonderful. Warm bath, sandwiches, chilled, was introduced to the do lectures. Note: I highly recommend the do lectures; look up the website and listen to a few of the speakers. I have not listened to many yet, but I would definitely recommend that you listen to Alastair Humphries. Go to http://www.dolectures.com/ and click on the picture of the guy in the top right corner (Alastair) and then click play on the video screen directly above it and enjoy an inspiration to do life.
Isidro came later that evening and we (Jose and I) joined for the Friday night Bible study. It went well as we passed through a general study of NT. It's kind of funny in that one of them will read a paragraph of information from the study then pause, look at me and ask, "commentarios?" giving me the opportunity to go on a brief biblical rant about this or that throwing in the soup much of my Bible knowledge and some of the teachings of my esteemed professor's from Harding (particulary, Kyle Holton, Dale Manor, John Fortner and Scott Adair). The evening ended and Kimberly and I settled in to watch some X-Men and fall asleep. I thank God for that day.