Wednesday, April 17, 2013

            I made a commitment 5 years ago with the 16-18 year old young men in my youth group at church to climb Mt. Baldy every month, sun or snow.  I live on the side of the mountain so the hike starts from our home at 1900 feet elevation and climbs steeply up the side of the mountain on our own trail to the mountain top at 2990 feet in less than a mile.  We calendar the hike for every month, but there are those months when it just doesn’t work out and we have to postpone our trip.  This winter has not been as regular as usual, but tonight we made our last winter trip with one of the boys carrying a snowboard, another a sled, and a third an ice ax.  Three adults also made the trek.  In five years, a number of young men have cycled through the group.  Some have served missions and are now in college, some are now serving missions, and more are graduating from high school in a few weeks and are eager to begin their missions.  Having an informal and inspirational opportunity to share with these young men has been a highlight for me.  Undoubtedly, they tolerate me as an eccentric who is trying to relive his youth and keep up with the boys, but they seldom turn me down.  Watching boys turn into men of good character is a moving and inspiring thing to witness, and playing a part in the process is an honor and a sobering responsibility. 

            Tonight we began breaking trail through 1-2 feet of snow from the last two storms at about 7:30 and paused for 15 minutes at 8:30 to talk about our faith in God and the future and our part in it.  At about 9:00 PM we reached the top to witness the sun close to setting, the beautiful snow covered mountains all around, and the city and the ocean below.  Seeing the wonder of God’s creation is always a humbling experience.  There will come a time when these young men are the responsibility of another, and my heart is heavy to see it draw near, but until then I am eager for next month.