Eagle Peak
Behind the city of Colorado Springs, at the back of the U.S. Air Force
Academy stands a mountain called Eagle Peak which is popular among local
hikers, and Scouts in particular. From it's summit you can peer into the
depths of the Rocky Mountains on one side or overlook the vast expanse of
the Great Plains on the other. Each summer the trail leading to the peak is
trod by those who've walked it's track before as well as those who make of
it a new experience.
The inexperienced hiker is generally always told, if he cares to ask, that
the hike will take all day to go up and back. He is told to start early and
to set a strong, steady pace for the journey will be difficult and rigorous.
The inexperienced hiker who follows this advice and plans accordingly can be
easily disappointed and even become angry or confused upon reaching the
beginning of the trail, because he can see with his own eyes from the
parking lot that the hike to the summit and back would take far less than
half a day with little difficulty at even the most leisurely pace.
And so he changes his plans. He meanders up the trail wandering frequently
from the path, taking numerous side-trips and detours. He stops to play and
to snack on some of the supplies he had brought since he obviously won't
need so much for such a short trip. He goes well out of his way to avoid
some of the more difficult parts of the trail. This he does until about half
way through the day when he finally climbs to the summit only to discover
that it was his eyes which had deceived him and not the words of those who
had gone before. For he now stands on a false summit which had blocked his
view of the higher summit far above.
Realizing his lack of foresight, this hiker now quickly reevaluates his time
and decides that if he pushes himself hard enough he can still make it to
the summit and back before it gets too dark. And so he sets off at a frantic
pace; stumbling, crashing through the brush, receiving bruises, scrapes and
scratches as the sun moves steadily toward the horizon. Until at last he
reaches his mark and looks up at still another summit.
You see, Eagle Peak has two false summits, both of which must be traveled
over before reaching the real goal. Our inexperienced hiker now sadly begins
his trek back down the mountain knowing he fell short of the goal he had
sought after. He will try again another day, for there are many beautiful
days in Colorado Springs. Wiser for his experience, he will doubtless reach
his goal on the next occasion.
In our journey through life, however, we are not so fortunate. There are
many false summits and if you strive toward only those goals which you can
see, you will fall far short of the genuine goal.
*RD Clyde
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"The better we know His Word,
the more clearly we will know His will."
[Stress Fractures, P. 241]
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