Lessons From The Mountain pt.3: Detour to The Monogram

There are choices in life that we make that may not change our destination, but will greatly impact the experience of the journey to that destination. My life is full of these decisions, as I am sure yours are as well. From jobs to relationships, finances to salvation, there are decisions that God has left up to our free will that determine how quickly we arrive at our destination and the shape we are in once we arrive.

I experienced a physical representation of this on a 2024 return trip to the mountain. My presence coincided with a particularly challenging portion of my doctoral dissertation process, during which I was experiencing psychological and emotional fatigue as well as the worst writer's block I have ever experienced. I must have become absolutely unbearable to live with as Abby, knowing what the mountain meant to me, encouraged me to return to Lynchburg to find the breakthrough I needed to persevere through the completion of my doctorate.

It was with this mindset that I set out on foot up Liberty Mountain to the monogram and gazebo. For those who have never been, the hike to the top of the mountain consists of two trail options, a gravel road trail (now recently closed) that gradually meanders a mile and a half to the top, or a backcountry trail that leads out into the Central Virginia wilderness before eventually making your arrival to the mountain top. I embarked on my journey using the well-defined gravel road, as its gradual rise would be an easy ascent to my destination. 10 minutes into my hike, as I was enjoying the beautiful sunshine and warm spring air, I was greeted by a sign presenting me with a choice. I could continue on the easy path I was taking, or I could cut my journey in half and take a detour to the monogram. The caveat is that the detour was not well defined, had no gravel, and was roughly a quarter mile straight up at a 45-degree angle. In that moment, I knew I could take the easier route, which would require deferral of the enjoyment of the view and the accomplishment that awaited at the top, or I could take the shorter route that would be difficult, uncomfortable, and require sweat and resilience, but would get me there sooner. If you know me and my personality, it comes as no surprise that I took the shortcut, arriving at the top quicker than if I had stayed on the easy path, but I was drenched in sweat and out of breath.

In life, we are faced with many of these same decisions. We can take the easy path and prolong our journey to the purpose or destination God has for us, or we can take the more difficult road, sacrifice today's comfort, and achieve our purpose and destination sooner. Because I chose the more difficult path and arrived sooner, I was afforded extra time at the top to enjoy the view, embrace my accomplishment and seek God for what was next. Far too often, we deprive ourselves of enjoyment or opportunity because we are unwilling to do the hard thing, to get uncomfortable, to be stretched, or to pursue something that appears beyond us. I do not say this to shame anybody, as there are times in which all of us take the easy path and prolong our process or journey, and God has given us grace for those times. It is in that grace that he also continually gives us opportunity to choose the difficult path and do the hard things that develop resilience, and  confidence in him. As I traversed up the detour, there were times I wanted to turn back, regretted my decision, and struggled to continue because it was hard. I had to take multiple breaks on my way up to catch my breath, but every time I took my next step, I found myself feeling stronger and emboldened because the process was making me more resilient. This is how it is with God. When we do the hard things, take the more difficult paths, and push our limits in pursuit of his call and purpose in our lives, he is faithful to journey with us, encourage us, and develop a resilience and confidence within us that only comes through overcoming the difficult. From personal experience, I can honestly state that every time I achieve that mountain top, following the decision to take the hard road, it is so much more fulfilling and sweeter than the times I’ve taken the easy route.

If I have learned anything from this experience, it is this; If you want to live life to the fullest, the way God intends, you need to take the hard road. If you want to be used mightily, flourish in your giftings, and enjoy the destinations God has for you, take the hard road. The easy road is not the way; it is the exception, it's there for those times you have been so wounded and broken that there is no other way to the destination he has for you. We waste precious time and resources when we avoid the difficult in favor of the easy path. This is true when it comes to our pursuit of God and his purpose for our lives, but also professionally in our jobs, personally in our relationships, physically and emotionally in our pursuits of health, and psychologically in our thoughts and beliefs. We miss relationships and memories because we don’t do the hard work of forgiveness or investment. We miss opportunities to walk in freedom and clarity because the pain of changing psychological beliefs, facing emotional trauma, or physically overcoming an addiction is too much, and we avoid it. In John 10:10, Jesus states that he came so that we may have life, and have it more abundantly. This is true not just eternally in Heaven but today on Earth in this life, and the level to which we experience that abundance in this life is determined by the choices we make. We can take the easy route and find that abundance in heaven, or we can take the hard path, do the difficult work of pursuing healing, growth, maturation, and purpose today, and experience the freedom and abundance that Jesus came to give. Freedom, healing, breakthrough, and fulfillment are our destination, but the way we get there, when we get there, and the shape we are in once we get there will be determined by the decisions we make along the way. The choice is yours, as for me, I choose to take the hard path so that I may be a light in an otherwise dark world and be utilized for his purpose to my fullest in this life and I challenge you to do the same.