Hiking and the Christian Life

"Experienced mountaineers have a quiet, regular, short step – on the level it looks petty; but then this step they keep up, on and on as they ascend, whilst the inexperienced townsman hurries along, and soon has to stop, dead beat with the climb. . . Such an expert mountaineer, when the thick mists come, halts and camps out under some slight cover brought with him, quietly smoking his pipe, and moving on only when the mist has cleared away. . . You want to grow in virtue, to serve God, to love Christ? Well, you will grow in and attain to these things if you will make them a slow and sure, and utterly real, a mountain step-plod and ascent, willing to have to camp for weeks or months in spiritual desolation, darkness and emptiness at different stages in your march and growth. All demand for constant light, for ever the best – the best to your own feelings, all attempts at eliminating the cross and trial, is so much soft folly and puerile trifling." – Baron Friedrich von Hugel

Anytime you can compare the Christian life to hiking; for us Montanans, you are hitting a home run. This quote does it so gracefully and strikes the perfect note. We want things now and instantly. We want to leap to the top of the mountain, and we fail. The experienced climber with small persistent steps is what we need. I am using this as a wrap-up for my sermon tomorrow, but I am guessing not too many folks will read it between now and tomorrow morning.