I was recently discussing with a friend some areas of life that have changed for me over the years and the discovery that has ensued as I have allowed myself more freedom to pursue things that appeared, on the front side, to be ‘out of my reach’. Several years ago now, I and my son had the opportunity to climb Pike’s Peak. It was a chore and very uncomfortable for me physically; I felt sick most of the way. I wanted to enjoy the event and everything around me, but just couldn’t because of my physical condition. At that point I determined two things: one, that I did not want to be that uncomfortable again, and two, that I wanted to be able to truly enjoy such things, such challenges and such beauty going forward. I decided to get in shape and climb it again. The result was a much more enjoyable experience for me 2 years later after picking up a regimen of daily running and exercise. Today I can say that I continue to see many benefits from the discipline I determined to achieve back then and there are many things I can now enjoy that I simply could not before.
I often reflect on the significance of this story on other areas of my life, seeing even that the benefits in one area actually spill over into benefits in many other areas as well. All of this would have continued to go undetected, had my experience not forced me into new considerations of the way I was living my life. I can experience more because of something I wanted to avoid and because of something I wanted to enjoy. I think this applies to other areas of life, beyond physical conditioning, as well. I can experience more relationally, emotionally, spiritually, financially, etc. by imagining (now from understanding) that there is much more yet to experience – things to avoid, things to pursue.
The point is not that there are lies surrounding truth (in fact, that is always a given), the point is that there is truth to be discovered and that, in so doing, we embark on new legs of the journey that we have not yet experienced…in part, by the sheer discipline of doing it. I do not believe that I can be or do anything I want…but I do believe that I can be and do a lot more than I know at any given point. Here again, lies and truth are side-by-side. Understanding the difference is helpful (after all, we simply must be honest…), but pursuing the latter is transforming. “The more I know, the less I understand”…is not a defeating thing, it is a liberating thing.
Let’s climb…for more. After all, it’s the truth that will set you free.
