In the heart of men lies the desire for something greater. Some men are content to challenge themselves in their daily pursuits while others look at the most audacious of challenges and feel a stirring of conquest welling up from the soles of their shoes.
No better quote sums up the unexplainable desire to overcome the ordinary in order to accomplish the extraordinary than that of George Mallory. As he prepared to face highest summit on God's created earth, he was asked, "Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest?" His curt response, “Because it's there.”
In three short, concise words, Mallory summed up the ache often found in a man's heart. We often do things because it’s right in front of us and it speaks to our soul.
Some men wish for greatness, many of us long for legacy, and a few will push themselves to the limit to find it. Some men only dream of reaching those dreamt of, heights but are bound by uncertainty and fear. Some men shoot for the top and lose themselves along the way.
In June of 1924, Mallory attempted his climb of Everest. Reportedly, observers below saw them reach a height within a thousand feet of the summit. Then they disappeared from sight — and did not return. Mallory died on the mountain.
Whether or not Mallory was an intelligent man or a deranged adrenaline junky is up for personal convictions. What I can clearly conceive is that Mallory wanted something greater and was willing to risk his life to achieve his goal.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians about his deeply felt convictions. You could estimate, based on his writings, that Paul was determined to reaching the summit of his faith and allegiance in Christ. He tells us about his commitment when he wrote:
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
- Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:13
My first love of nature and camping came during an unexpected and lengthy journey through the Boy Scouts of America program. Prior to joining their ranks, my adventures were fairly local and somewhat generic. Exploring trails, waterways, and rolling hills were the normal summer routines. After joining the Boy Scouts, I was immediately connected with God's creation through hiking, exploring caverns, ascending small summits, and hiking the Appalachian trail (albeit a short 54 mile stretch).
In the years which followed, I still have adventure in my heart. The men I've encountered around the world also express this same desire for something greater than themselves. And as Christian men, there are those among us, like you, who are daring to ascend a summit of faith and life and find the challenge to be daunting.
What I learned at an early age was that God is big enough to satisfy my craving for greater things. I don't need to climb Mt. Everest to find God. He's at my desk with me right now. However, that doesn’t stop me from pursuing the relationship and sharing discoveries with everyone I meet. For me, reaching that summit is ever present.
Men, like you, have shared their desire to a part of something great. They've expressed how alive they feel when pursuing things that matter. We each have goals for ourselves, and they take us in various directions.
A few years ago, I was following a curiosity about mountain climbing and stumbled across the book "No Shortcuts to the Top" by Ed Viestures. He's a living legend in the mountaineering community. The book is a thrilling personal account of his life as a climber. It was in those pages that I discovered there are 7 mountain peaks in the world considered to be the greatest, “elite”. In order to ascend and safely descend these summits, an incredible amount of preparation, training, focus, and will power must be on-hand and in daily supply.
With this experience fresh on my mind, I was in the middle of praying through the Psalms when I encountered Psalm 101. As I read David's emphatic statements of what he and we should commit to doing as Godly men, the Holy Spirit spoke.
These exhortations for living as one of God's men is challenging! They are relentless! They are unapologetic! A man who pursues these characteristics can accomplish amazing things in this world.
Psalm 101 has become a satisfying drink of water for a thirsty soul. If any man craves to be something greater, if you crave to be something better, all while desiring to fill the God shaped hole in your soul, then Psalm 101 is a pathway to get you there.
Over the next year, I began pulling apart each verse of Psalm 101 to discover 7 key mandates required of a man who wishes to ascend to the summit of faith and life. In a short moment of clarity, I connected the discipline and commitment necessary to climb the 7 summits of the world with the 7 mandates offered in Psalm 101. The result became a powerful journey with God in the pursuit of being a Godly man - every day in every situation.
7 Summits is more than learning how to climb the mountain of faith, but a journey which is designed to satisfy that longing in our soul for something greater. A longing for legacy. A longing to be remembered as a man who left his world better than he found it.
As you pursue this 7 Summit study, remember your adventure and prepare for a challenge like you've never experienced. I do believe it might be easier to climb a mountain peak than to address some of these mandates issued by the Psalmist.
Rest assured, the contentment and focus you will find in attempting to summit these 7 peaks of faith will bring a sense of accomplishment and a better view of the world God has created, just for your eyes to see.
Ready? Let’s get to climbing - because it’s there.
- Don't expect to win every summit from a simple bible study. The summit is an exercise of reflection, prayer, action, and sustained ability.
- Men's groups may use 7 SUMMITS as a set of character mandates for ongoing exploration
- Solo study is acceptable, but you will find the need to eventually call on a climbing team to complete some of your challenges
- Take your time, be kind to yourself if you have difficulty with any Summit. Patience is a biblical discipline.