That Long Climb

(My hand held by my young friend while climbing–photo credit to Josh Wohlgemut)

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” 
And how does that work out? 
I’m tired, dragged down by all the brokenness: 
women scrounging far and wide for water, 
youth without a future, men distressed. 
Marriages are fragmented, replete 
with selfishness, misunderstanding, pain. 
Wars and crime are headlines every day. 
I cannot make it go away. 

“The joy of the Lord is my strength.” 
I turn away from the huge mess 
and try to focus all on him: 
my eyes, my inner being, frenzied mind. 
What I see is goodness: pure and strong, 
healthy, wise, courageous, tender, 
understanding, pulsing love -- 
love that gives itself completely for the other, 
and for me and for my good as I press on. 
 
May I remember this: it is a long climb! 
There is joy in the journey: new views, 
victories, signs of transformation, 
friends who care, numerous blessings 
way beyond what I deserve. 
If I just take time to notice. 
He holds my hand, and goals are met, 
slippery slopes avoided, treasures found. 
Remember these, tired soul; keep pushing on! 

And grab the hands of others, give them hope, 
especially one stumbling on the path. 
But while you keep on serving, 
hold tightly to that one strong hand 
that always pulls you through. 
Feel his goodness coursing through your veins 
to give you joy, and strength to climb 
to the sweet goal that lies ahead: 
renewal on the mountaintop, and rest. 

That climb up Ferke Mountain over a week ago reminded me of so much that I have been learning all my life. Let me share a few of the symbolic moments that are reminders of truth.

All the slippery gravel coating the climb made it essential to find what looks like a solid rock for your next step. I thought I was doing pretty well, even though the others in our company (all much younger than me) were making headway much more quickly. Then it happened: my left foot slipped a few inches on clustered pebbles and I fell. My left hand caught hold of a rock, and although my palm looked red there was no blood, not even a scrape.  I was not hurt. No bruises even! But everyone turned to check on me, and young Fouyahaton (one of the two teen Nyarafolo boys with us) scampered back to me and grabbed my right hand. He held onto it all the way up to the solid rock that covers the mountain top, making sure that kaceliɛwɛ (the respectful term for “elderly lady” in Nyarafolo) was safe. When we were climbing back down, Josh Wohlgemut held my hand for a while, then Fouyahaton took over again. I couldn’t help but think of these verses:

9 If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits,1 10 even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. (Ps. 139:8 CSB)

Wherever I am, wherever you are, in the U.S. or in some other land, Yahweh our Good Shepherd is with us. He is not just passively beside us; when we come to tricky places on the path that he’s put before us, he will grab us and hold us with his right hand. Why his right hand?  Because in the Hebrew world view, the right hand is the hand for good action and blessing; the left hand is reserved for doing necessary dirty work. West Africans have that same cultural understanding. We had to learn never to give a gift or pay for something with our left hand, since that is offensive. Your left hand is what you use to wipe your nose (no tissues available) and other places where body fluids exit. The right hand reaches out with respect and to do clean work. You only eat with your right hand!  My husband Glenn, who is left-handed, had to learn to do that in public spaces. 

While translating the Old Testament I kept running into the wonders of God’s right hand:

Your right hand, LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, LORD, shattered the enemy. (Exod. 15:6 NIV)
I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Ps. 16:8 NIV)

So whether my friend was holding my right hand with his left or my left hand with his right hand, I was firmly held and did not slip again. It was a firm picture of this verse:

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (Ps. 37:23,24 NIV)

Yes, climbing that mountain there were a couple of times when the next rock was too far away for my foot to reach, and I slipped a little bit. But the support of that hand holding mine kept me from falling! This “song of ascents” is very relevant:

A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; 8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (Ps. 121:1-8 NIV)

Right now the “mountains” we are probably climbing are more like those mentioned in the poem above: lament over world conditions, compassion fatigue, difficult choices, hearts broken by harsh words, concern for suffering or wandering loved ones. Whatever we are facing, we can be aware of Yahweh’s hand holding us and hold onto him! He is King of the Universe, and nothing is too hard for him. It may be a long climb to finally reach the mountain top where we can gain new perspective, looking all around to the horizons. We may be out of breath, but once there we can sit on a big solid rock and rest. Even now our Shepherd will give us rest as needed and show us the path to take, the one that brings honor to him and to his purposes:

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake (Ps. 23:1-3 NIV)

Sometimes that path leads up a mountain, or into a deep valley, but no matter where, he is with us. Always. All the way to that mountain top  where we will find our eternal peace and rest—he has promised this. As the psalmist wrote:

23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  (Ps. 73:25-26 NIV)

It may be a long climb, but we can make it with him holding us. And he even will give us promptings to run over to someone and hold their hand when life is tough, just like he does for us—and just like Fouyahaton literally did for me.  With God's good love pulsing through us, we are strengthened and moved to reach out to share his strength and love with others!