Lessons from the climb

Being a Disney fan, I often find myself being one of those cheesy girls who actually does enjoy their movies and music. As lame as it may be, there is some great truths in them at times. While listening to "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus, I couldn't help but sing out in agreement. Her lyrics struck the strings of my heart. It's been an incredibly long journey since college graduation in May 2007. It's hard to imagine that that event only took place two years ago. So much has happened. So much has changed. My life has been completely remodeled. Even now, as the storm passes and light reappears and I can almost see that "dream I've been dreamin", the change continues. Just when I think I've made it to the top, another hill appears. It just keeps going. God keeps challenging...keeps rearranging...keeps pushing me forward.
It continues to strike me over and over that it really is all about "the climb." I'm such a goal oriented person. I see the end product. I see the top of the mountain and I'm incredibly focused on getting there. But over the last two years, God has challenged me in that area. Is it really all about getting to the top? What if what's at the top, although in appearance more glorious, is in all actuality far less beautiful than what's along the path I need to climb to get there? I'm so tired of rushing ahead, or being in a hurry.
This fast-paced girl finds herself wanting to fully enjoy this moment, for, as Steven James says in his book Heart Exposed, "This moment is all that [God] asks of me. I can either give it to [Him], or turn it into a fist and try to keep it to myself. And fail." Timing really is EVERYTHING, and it is His timing that is perfect. He has never been late. And He's never been early either. What He is doing now, during this moment, in me though this climb can never be replaced by the mountain top. I would not know Him as I do now if things went the way I planned them, when I planned them. No, this moment is all too sweet. I know fully well that I can not even begin to see all that is happening now in and around me that is preparing me for what's ahead and healing me from what has already passed. So, Miley may be right..."The struggles I'm facing, the chances I'm taking, sometimes might knock me down but I'm not breaking. I may not know it. But these are the moments that I'm going to remember most...

It's not about how fast I get there.
It's not about what's waiting on the other side.
It's the climb.