“Climb Every Mountain”

Sing along, “Climb every mountain….. from ”Sound Of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein

Every ascent on our mountain climb/journey (see the Spinning Rabbi Theme) is one of struggle. Just like a cyclist, you may be tired after an ascent, but you can’t get stronger without it (heart and soul). You might say, “I don’t care if I get stronger.” Then remember this, there is another ascent coming whether you like ascents or not and each one prepares you for the next. Each one, while sometimes much steeper/difficult is actually easier because you made it up the previous ones. The struggle may not be what we want; it is what we need to get to where we are meant to go. It is a question of attitude. Sometimes a cyclist comes to an ascent and looks ahead and has an uh-oh moment. Sometimes, he says “bring it on”.

“The manner in which one endures what must be endured is more important than the thing that must be endured.” – Dean Acheson

It is natural to see the ascents/struggles as something you wish to avoid. It is often painful and who doesn’t want to avoid pain. It is then that we must remind ourselves that the struggle is ultimately good for us.

“It’s easier to go down a hill than up it but the view is much better at the top.” – Henry Ward Beecher

The fear of the struggle and the pain it inflicts often causes us to only see the darkness of going through/up it, rather than the light it will bring us at the end/top.

“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.” – Charlotte Whitton