Climbing My Mountain

I am sure that there is no-one of my generation that doesn’t know the song sung by the Mother Abbess in “Sound of Music”.

Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
'Till you find your dream

I have never been adventurous, ambitious or competitive.  By contrast, my daughter wrote (in a card to us when she left for a gap year in Australia aged 18) that “Life is an Adventure, or Nothing”.  She continues to live up to that maxim, whereas I prefer to stay at home!  I enjoy a slow hill walk, but certainly no Munro Bagging for me!!

When faced with the almost constant inspirational encouragement to “Dream Big”, “Find your Dream”, “Aim High”, one can be made to feel that one is an under-achiever.  Watching the Commonwealth Games, one cannot but be thrilled for the athletes that have achieved their goals.  But one has to remember that there can be only one winner in a race and that the others are not losers, but competitors.  Good on everyone that even made it to the Games!

I was particularly struck by a Facebook post by Christine Rasmussen (secondfirsts.com)

https://www.facebook.com/Secondfirsts

which said:

If it feels like a crawl, 
it is not your mountain.  
If it feels like a nightmare, 
it is not your dream.

I think that these words are a consolation to those of us that are content with our lives.  Contentment seems to be something that is under-valued and maybe even discouraged in our modern materialistic world.  In the New Testament we read that Paul has learned to be content whatever the circumstances (Philippians 4:11). Timothy is told that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6) and the readers of the letter to the Hebrews are urged to be content with what they have (Hebrews 13:5).  Meanwhile, the media and advertisements constantly make us desire things we do not have nor need. Even if we are immune to advertising, the opinions or expectations of others can make us feel inadequate. 

I feel truly blessed to have been brought up in a loving home where both parents set me an example of hard work, discipline and service.  At the same time, I don’t remember them telling me what to do with my life or them ever trying to influence my decisions.  They simply loved me for myself – a dreamy, introverted child who spent her days with her nose in a book. They supported me when I failed and gave advice when I asked for it, but left me to make my own choices. 

I’m sure that my mother secretly despaired of me. She was very much the proverbial wife who “gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family …..and her lamp doesn’t go out at night”. (Proverbs 31:15 and 18) I remember going to bed at night listening to Mum’s typewriter clicking-clacking as she typed up the school’s exam papers and waking up to a cooked breakfast. If she wasn’t typing, she was sewing or baking for one or another fund-raising effort. Mum enjoyed reading, but didn’t have much time for books.  Instead she subscribed to women’s magazines that enabled her to read short articles in odd moments.  She left the gardening to Dad, but she loved picking and arranging flowers.  After retirement, Mum became very involved in her local branch of the Women’s’ Agricultural Association (the South African equivalent of the WRI) as well as in the Methodist Women’s’ Auxiliary.  She organised outings, entered competitions, gave talks and helped with catering.  On top of all this, Mum valued family and friends.  She never forgot a birthday or anniversary.  She seemed to be able to effortlessly host parties for up to 30 or more people, the table groaning with food. She visited the sick and made up “love boxes” for friends having a long stay in hospital.  The box would contain a little present or inspirational card for each day of their stay.  This is but a small snap-shot my Mum’s life.

Dad’s death hit Mum hard. For a while she seemed vulnerable and unsure of herself, but she found consolation in:

• Her grandchildren whom she adored and she would drop everything to come and look after them
• Her friends, many of whom were also recently bereaved
• Her committee work which kept her busy
• Being able to indulge her love of travel
• Her faith and her involvement in her local church.

Despite our very different personalities, I have to acknowledge that Mum’s example has had a huge impact on my life and that I have learnt far more from her than I thought. However, I shall continue to climb my mountain and to live my dream at the end of my rainbow.