Let Go, You can Scale the Cliffs

It was crystal clear autumn day as we headed into the woods. We had plans to cook hot dogs over an open flame before hiking for a few hours in the back woods of Groveland. The air was light and breezy as we prepared the area to start a fire. Finding dead dry wood was an easy task in a woods that does not get many visitors. When the last log was placed in the fire pit, we began igniting the twigs and kindling we had gathered.  The smell of wood burning soon filled the air as the flames grew higher and hotter. For some reason there’s nothing like cooking hot dogs over an open flame in the woods. The smell of food cooking when you’re camping out is just awesome.

As we packed our cooking utensils and extinguished the fire, thoughts of hiking now filled my head. As a young child I always enjoyed camping with my family because we often would go hiking. Hiking has a way of helping to clear my head. There is something about being in the woods on a sunny day that is very relaxing.  Many times when I’m off walking by myself I come up with ideas that turn out to be great ideas.  

With the fire out and the walking now begun we made our way down the ridge into the ravine. A stream gently made it’s way through the valley softly heading towards the Genesee river. Birds chirped and sang, and squirrels scurried through the forest searching for nuts as we turned and headed up stream. There’s nothing like being with friends, laughing and talking as you stroll along in the woods. The thought of being able to pick up a rock and throw it as hard as you want at whatever you want in any direction is just awesome (I guess that’s the little kid in me). When you’re hiking in the woods how can you not throw a rock at something. It’s the challenge of hitting a certain spot on a tree, or knocking a can off of a log. It’s so cool to stay light hearted in life.

After strolling upstream for a ways we came to cliff walls on all three sides. Now we could have turned around and headed back to where we came from but everyone likes a challenge. So we started looking for the best place to scale the cliff. We steadily made our way up the steep slope until we came to a place where a rock formation prevented us from climbing any further. We were stuck. We were quite ways up the slope, perhaps twenty feet from the top. Going down the way we came was not something we really wanted to do. It was getting towards sunset and the thought of making our way back the way we came was not a pleasant thought. Looking over to the left the rocks made thoughts of moving over that way to climb, quickly leave out thinking. To the right there was what looked to be loose gravel which gave us thoughts of tumbling to the valley below. Sitting just below the rocks we discussed what we should do. After what seemed like twenty long minutes of talk, I boldly proclaimed ” I will go out on the gravel and make my way to the top, if I slide down into the gorge you guy’s will know to go back the way we came.” As I gingerly stepped out onto the loose grave I recognized that the footing was solid, and the climb to the top was going to be easy. I quickly scurried to the top and called out to my friends, “It’s safe come on up.”

Sometimes scaling the cliffs of life can have it’s obstacles, and fear of the unknown can set in. Those that make it to the top are the ones who stay persistent at overcoming the obstructions.  They Let Go of their inhibitions and fears, and go outside of their comfort zone to make the climb . Of the great men who have made it to the top, most will tell you that it wasn’t easy. The key is, they kept their eyes on the goal until they made it. You and I can Scale the Cliffs of Life if we don’t quit until we make it.

So Let Go, You CAN Scale the Cliffs of Life.