Lessons From the Summit - Endurance

 

One of my training techniques in preparation for Rainier was to load up my pack with jugs of water.  Each gallon weighs about 8lbs.  I loaded my pack with about 30lbs of water for my training hikes.  One of the first things I realized as I was adding the final items to my pack the night before the climb was that my pack was going to be closer to 60lbs than 30lbs. 

Pretty close to twice as heavy.  All that to say the first day was harder than I anticipated.

The first day of our trip was a long one.  It was only about six miles but with close to 4,000 feet elevation gain in the last three miles.  We took a number of breaks along the way with the last one  not far below Camp Schurman.  After getting a quick drink we started off on the last leg of the approach.  Somewhere around 8500 feet and tired from close to seven hours on the trail every step got harder.  I started to feel the effects of  altitude on my body.  At this elevation it is more like running on a full stomach.  You just feel sluggish.  Add that to the long haul and you just want to be done.  My feet started feeling heavier and my breathing was becoming more difficult. 

Pretty soon we got our first glimpse of the ranger cabin at Camp Schurman.  Something funny happens inside when you catch a glimpse of the destination.  This is the power of VISION.  We will come back to that one later.

During the trek from the car to the camp there were times my body begged me to stop moving.  My brain had to override my built in preservation mechanisms and push through. 

I had to DECIDE to not give up and I had to DECIDE to push.

I think in our spiritual lives, in life in general and often as church planters we give up too soon.  I heard a pastor one time commenting on the unusual growth in his church and the incredible influence the church had developed in their community.  When asked how it happened he had a very brief response.  "I said no to a lot of good opportunities."  The road he walked was long and often not easy.  His body was crying out to stop, but the conviction in his heart for the call of Jesus on his life would not let him give up.  So he kept on. 

Eric Steinkamp said something to me in an email before our climb that resonated with me and actually rang in my ears all the way to the summit. He said, "It is really all about how bad you want it cuz it’s a long climb."  Aside from weather and conditions he is absolutely correct. 

I had to recall that phrase a number of times and my desire to be on top kept my feet moving long after my brain told me they could not.

Somewhere around 75% of church plants fail in the first five years.  They close up shop, disband as a tribe and move on to other things.  Many times the lead pastor moves on to a different line of work swearing to never plant a church again.  Many for good reason. Possibly the plant was not calling but opportunity.  Possibly the community connection was off, right person in the wrong spot.  Possible mistaken buy-in to the notion that being the lead pastor is the end goal for every associate pastor.  Many launch into areas they are not wired to live. 

Good and understandable reasons aside, starting a church is hard and I think that too many give up too soon.

Years ago, while working with my dad in the commercial construction, I discovered something about myself ; I can do more physically than my mind thinks I can.  Every time I get to the bottom of the tank, there seems to be more. 

The million dollar question is "When do we know when it is time to quit and time to push?" 

First, it is a question of calling.  Are we following a calling that burns so deep in our gut that we can not live any other way?

I also go back to trust.

Have I trusted the right people as sounding boards?  Scripture is very clear and life will prove to us that the enemy is cunning and wants to get us to quit.  When we quit too soon he wins. 

In our community approximately 75% have no connection to church not to mention relationship with Jesus.  The enemy would love nothing more than to drive us out of such a ripe harvest. 

Back on Rainier, as I was approaching the summit I started to feel so exhausted that every step got more and more difficult.  Del was pushing on relentlessly and Jeremy was yelling encouragements at me from behind.  If not for those two tied to me I would have been inclined to lay down and take a nap.  Instead I was tied to two others who wanted to see me on top. 

Sometimes we need others to push and pull, encourage and prod, cheer and sometime yell when we are tired and our mind and spirit is losing out to fatigue.

The other critical components that got me to the top were FREQUENT pauses to REST and RE-FUEL.  We paused along the route a number of times to catch our breath, drink and eat. 

As church planters we rarely, if ever, pause. 

Forget about vacation, we suck at Sabbath.

No wonder we drop like flies. 

At lunch today my friend Pete was telling me a story about a tire store he passed.  Out front was a courtesy van.  You know, the one they give you a ride in when your tires are getting changed.  The irony was that it had two flat tires.  Isn't that hilarious!

That is such a great picture of the average church planter.  We are so busy with the work of people we neglect the flats in our own life.  A little over a year ago I was sitting with a friend talking about ministry and he could see the fatigue in my eyes and hear it in my voice.  He asked me how we enjoyed our last vacation.  I had to admit that we had not taken a break for close to two years after launching out to start the church.  Here is what he actually said to me, "Dude, you're an idiot."  When I got home we booked our vacation and today I am still alive because a friend had the guts to tell me the truth. 

If you don't PAUSE, DRINK of Jesus and EAT His food, you will die.  The church will be ok if you are gone for two weeks.

Set yourself up for the long haul, surround yourself with the right people, get it in your head that there will be hard times that you will need to keep pushing even when you think you can't.  Then pause, drink and eat.

 

If you are tired and frustrated, message me.  You were not made to do this alone!  You need people on your rope pulling and pushing. 

 

 

In future posts I will talk more about vision and relationship.  Two very critical leadership topics which were amplified in my mind and heart on this amazing adventure.