(5 Best Memories here & 5 Worst Memories here)
5. Teams can accomplish what individuals cannot. I absolutely could not have made it on my Mt. Baker climb without my guides and my team. In life, we often dream of what we can do as individuals, but the truth is, we are better and can go higher in life when we can share the load and keep each other encouraged! I kind of already knew this, but I NEVER saw it like I saw it on the mountain. A good team is better than a great person – the risks are less, the conversation is better, the work load is shared.
4. Risks are fine, but should fit within the mission of your life. I am re-evaluating my goal to climb the highest mountains on each of the 7 continents of the world. I am OK with being close to death and I am OK with taking major risks, but I regularly felt like I was taking risks on this trip that were outside of my mission in life – to lead people into a Courageous life in which they Love God, Love People, and Prove It! I was very honestly a few inches away from death multiple times and I did not feel the slightest bit fulfilled. When I minister in the hood after dark or travel to Haiti without security, I feel like I am honoring God and feel incredibly fulfilled.
3. You cannot do everything you want to do in life and that’s OK. I want to climb mountains. I really do. I want to climb them all around the world, but I am honestly not sure it is for me to do. I did not enjoy being away from my family – AT ALL. I hurt myself pretty badly a few times. I hated the food and generally did not have fun. Wanting to do something and actually doing it are not always the same thing and I am learning to accept the reality that that is OK!
2. Know your limits and actually honor them – they are there for a reason. I came off of the mountain a day earlier than I planned and did not feel the slightest bit wimpy. I was beat up pretty badly and was worried that if I stayed an extra day I may not be able to climb the 4.8 miles DOWN the mountain. It was very hard for me to choose to come down because I wanted to stay and look cool, but I knew I was at my limit. I have a life that I love beyond that mountain and violating my limits could have interfered (even more) with that life.
1. I love my family more than I love mountains, more than I love adventures, more than I love anything. Less than I hated not having technology – not being with my wife and kids (or even being able to talk to them) really did hurt my heart. I expected to miss them in a major way, but I missed them so badly that I often regretted being away. If I ever choose to climb any more mountains, I will have to have a satellite phone or something, but I am pretty sure I just generally hate being away from my family more than I love anything else.
{ 6 comments }
Kris Valottoon said something in a message once that has really stuck with me. He said it is foolish to die on a battle field you are not called to. That advise always pops in my head when I evaluate ROI. If God calls me there He can take me from there but if He didn't? That's another story.
Thank you so much for your transparency, Shaun. Sometimes we have to venture out to do what we really WANT to do to learn the lessons God knows we really NEED to learn. Thank you, Pastor!
Glad you're ok and glad that you had the wisdom to come down the mountain in one piece.
You're not a wimp. Sometimes the smartest thing to do is acknowledge your limits.
Awesome post, Shaun… you are so inspirational and so REAL. .
Shaun, I'm so proud of you. Not for the climb, but for having the wisdom to see beyond the climb. And for having the courage to openly say that although this is something you'd LIKE to do, perhaps it isn't something you're MEANT to do (or SHOULD do). Just before you left, I posted on your FB wall about the fact that getting to the summit was only half the goal – too many ppl push themselves beyond their limits and endanger themselves, and their team. It takes a real man to know the difference between ego & reality. I love how clear your perspective is on your experience. You never cease to amaze.xoxo, Melissa
Awesome Shaun!! Really loved this post and the previous 2 as well.. I'm leaving in a weeks time to do my mountaineering course in Nepal .. Wish me luc!