The Experience:
As we made our way up from base camp toward the summit the team was grouped into two smaller teams. There were three of us in each team and within the smaller team of three we were roped together. Del led our rope with me in the middle followed up by Jeremy. When you understand why we were tied together you will understand why I was in the best spot. Most of our climb was on the face of the Emmons glacier. As glaciers slowly move down the mountain they crack and split and break a part. As a giant chunk of ice slides down over a ledge it will crack open leaving an gap with an often undefinable bottom. As you are climbing you cross many of these openings. Many are covered with snow and you are unaware of the chasm below, but many are visible and can be ominous. If a team member falls into one of these holes, the others respond immediately. You drop to the snow, dig in your ice axe and your toes to stop the falling members decent and keep the rest of your from being drug into the opening as well. Once you are secure and the middle man on the rope is anchored down, the other member gets back up and proceeds to establish snow anchors which will hold the weight on the rope so the team members can initiate the rescue process. The middle position is good because in most cases it is either the first or last guy on the rope that will fall into the opening. Either the front guy discovers an opening or the last guy falls through a weakened snow bridge.
Being tied to each other is frustrating at times.
There is the issue of pace. I was in one situation on a different rope when the leader was feeling good and had a nice pace going, yet the guy behind me was feeling pain in his knees which slowed him down a little. So I had a guy pulling me forward and another pulling from behind. I got frustrated and, feeling pretty good about the leaders pace, yelled back to the guy behind me to pick up the pace. I regret that now.
On our decent from the summit I was the weak link on our rope. Jeremy was descending very quickly in the front, from my perspective it looked like he was floating or flying over the surface of the glacier. Del was moving quick behind me. I was moving slow. So there were two issues. First, I was getting pulled off my feet downhill. Second, I was getting coils of rope piled up under my feet because I was not moving as fast as Del. At one point during a break, I said to the guys, "I am trying hard to keep up and not get frustrated." Del, being the super encourager that he is, said "You're doing great man, just keep it up."
The Meaning:
I experienced the power of community during this climb.
Sharing this experience has brought the seven of us closer than we were before. Some closer than others but closer for sure.
I see more clearly now why Jesus lived in community, why we see the power of the church in Acts thrive in the context of community.
Being roped to others you share the experience.
Being roped to other you are there to rescue or be rescued when falls happen.
Being roped to others you feel the tension of healthy spiritual growth, sharpening each other. Sometimes pulling others along, sometimes slowing down and encouraging those lagging behind. Many times being pulled forward by those more mature and stronger.
Being roped together you stop thinking only of yourself, but how you fit into the context you have been placed.
Being roped together, when one goes down, the others focus all attention on restoring the fallen and the overall health of the team.
Life is full of gaping holes, hidden crevasse, and challenging moments.
We were meant to be roped to others in this adventure.
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