Knowing...

My favorite epistle (everybody has one, right?) in the New Testament is 1 John. I have read and studied, studied and read 1 John many times. There are a couple of things of note about 1 John:

1. It was probably written to the church(es) in Ephesus, a very polytheistic city in the first century. I'll tell you why I think this is of note later on.
2. In the TNIV translation, the English word "know" or "known" appears 41 times.

There are two Greek words in 1 John that are translated "know" or "known:

• Ginosko (25 times) - basically means to come to know, not just intellectual ascent but knowing something intimately...in fact, the same word is used for the union of a man & a woman in a sexual way. Check out Matthew 1.25 & Luke 1.34, it is used this way in the story of Mary. KJV fans may remember the Genesis 4 use of this concept - "And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived..."
• Oida (the other word translated know) - basically means to perceive, or to have seen...here's an Adam and Eve example (I made this up): Adam was standing in the garden and he noticed (knew-oida) someone was there with him, this someone was similar to him but much more attractive. One thing leads to another and Adam eventually "knows" (or ginosko) Eve...

There it is; one word basically means a growing, intimate knowledge and the other means to perceive or see. I have wanted to teach or explain this for some time now but could never figure how to teach it without usual the sexual idea of knowing. Through an unfortunate series of events, I have come up with the perfect example...

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I know (oida) that my car has a cooling system...a bunch of parts and liquid that are intended to keep the engine at a functional temperature. I have even looked under the hood and seen some of the parts that are components of this cooling system. One day I noticed (oida) that the temperature gauge was pegged out on the hot side, not a good thing. I knew (oida) that something was wrong. I decided to repair it myself to save some money. This decision would require me to "ginosko" my cooling system.

Now four days later, I have disassembled and assembled my cooling system three times with one more on the way. And I am proud to say I know (ginosko) my cooling system - the radiator, the water pump, the belts, the hoses, the thermostat, the thermostat housing, and all of the peripheral parts that must be removed to get to the parts that I need to know. I might even try to do it blindfolded because I know it so well...

This knowing was a process though...it required me to get under the hood, to get close, to take apart, test, tighten, adjust, get my hands dirty, and go back to square one more than once. In this process of knowing my cooling system there have been a few failures and a few successes with the ultimate success yet to come. But now I have an intimate, experiential knowledge of my car.

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Here are the things John wants the Ephesian church to know (ginosko):

• from chapter 2 - we can "know" him if we keep his commands; we can "know" we are in him if we live as Jesus lived; we can "know" him who is from the beginning; we can "know" the Father; we can "know" it is the last hour; we "know" that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
• from chapter 3 -  the world does not "know" us; the world did not "know" him; we "know" we will be like him; we can "know" what love is; we can "know" how we belong to the truth; we "know" God is greater than us; God "knows" everything; we can "know" he lives in us.
• from chapter 4 - we can "know" God, or not; we can "know" that we live in him; we "know" the love God has for us.
• from chapter 5 - we can "know" that we love the children of God; we may "know" him who is true

We can know. We can have this growing, experiential, intimate knowledge of God; of life in him. This is important to know - in a 1st century, polytheistic world where there were many things offering grace and peace, blessing and security. It is no less important in a 21st century world where there are many things offering grace and peace, blessing and security. 

What do you know? And how do you know you know it?

Walking to the Tops of Mountains

or, an answer to the question, "why?"

Me, fully alive at the top of Bard Peak...can you tell?

Climbing mountains makes me feel completely awake, alert, and alive! There is no other experience that is as fulfilling for my body, mind, and spirit. Every climb, despite the different geography, different weather conditions, different companions, and different results, energizes my whole being.

During the ascent my body comes alive. The first mile of the climb creates aching thighs and gasping lungs. After the first mile my endorphins kick in and my body begins to feels alive. My heart is pumping and blood is flowing from top to bottom. The legs still ache and the lungs still struggle for oxygen but they now seem to be motivated to pursue the goal.

Meanwhile my mind is rebelling to the same degree that my legs and lungs are. We always start our climbs early in the morning, around 5:30. Let the record show that I am not a morning person. My mind does its best to convince me that being in bed would be a much better alternative and this is the best time to turn around. If that doesn’t work, my mind will try to convince my left knee or my right hip that it is not strong enough to continue and our whole self should turn around lest we get stranded high up in the mountains. Then the second mile begins and the endorphin rush causes my mind to become alert. I must pay careful attention to navigation, the challenges on the trail, and the ever-changing weather conditions. My mind is fully engaged in the successful pursuit of this goal!

The only part of my being that is prepared for the pursuit is the spiritual side of me. I know from experience what to expect from beginning to end, good and bad. I feel fully alive when I experience the beauty of the created order that is revealed to me with each step up. I feel fully alive when I get above the treeline and see the expansiveness of this part of creation. This feeling is expanded when standing on the top of a mountain. I also feel fully alive when I recognize the loneliness at the top of the mountain. As beautiful as it is, it is not capable of sustaining life. This creates in me a deep appreciation for the life and relations back down in the valley. I am convinced that is where we are created to thrive, sometimes it takes a mountaintop to remind me.

It sounds silly to say this but I enjoy feeling alive. I also tend to become lethargic in body, mind, and spirit. As such, I must intentionally pursue abundant, whole life. There are many kinds of exercises and activities that awaken my body. My mind can become alert when I am reading a good book or solving a difficult problem. My spirit becomes alive when I allow God to reveal himself to me in nature, word, or people. Walking to the tops of mountains, with all of its challenges, danger, and possibility, is the way I have found to energize all parts of me simultaneously. It is here that I feel fully alive. That is why, dear Mother, that I climb mountains.

Thrice Rebuffed, 3.8

Nic's Story
My good friend Nic is a pleasure to hang out with and doubly a pleasure to hike/climb with. And he is capable of taking care of himself in the mountains...

When we last saw Nic he was on top of the ridge that ultimately led to the summit of Tabeguache Peak; we were about 3/4 of the way up and exchanged plans by yelling to overcome the distance that separated us and the winds. We couldn't really understand what the other was saying but he pointed up, which meant he was going to make a run for the summit (it was not in view for either of us).

borrowed image - Tab on left,
false summit right of cener

He continued on this ridge for a ways until he had to descend several hundred feet to a saddle between the ridge he was on and the western ridge of Tabeguache. He then began his climb up a false summit west of Tabeguache. This false summit is around 13,900 ft in elevation, no small task!

It was about this time that the storms came in. Undeterred, Nic continued up...he said it was fairly intense and there were times when he took shelter under large rocks. When the storm would ease, he would go up.

There was a time on this climb where he thought death was imminent - and not being afraid - sat down, said his prayers, lit a cigarette, drank a beer, and enjoyed the view! He continued his quest and made it to within 100 ft (little bump right of the tallest point on this pic) when he realized that he was walking on the fine line between testing fate and stupidity. I am not certain I would have recognized this being so close to the summit...he decided to hustle down the mountain. He was able to dodge the lightning, avoid slipping on the wet rocks and didn't break any legs - made it back to our car at 5:06pm, a little rattled but committed to tagging the top of Tab one of these days...

Civilization
We drove back to Salida and enjoyed a gyro from Mama D's (very good) and the hot tub at Silver Ridge Lodge (the best hot tub I've ever been in!).

For the record, this is a stock photo - these two girls were not with us but we were with two other pretty girls:

that's me on the right, not a pretty girl...

Thrice Rebuffed, 3.7

Had a great conversation with our "Good Samaritans," we spoke of their home in the Sangre de Cristo range southeast of Salida, we spoke of the economy in Texas, the fickle weather in the mountains, mentoring adolescents, and Unaccompanied Alien Children.

I arrived safely back at the car at 3:00pm thanks to the super-nice Colorado couple in the red pickup filled with large dogs! I found Caleb tucked safely in the car listening to classical music and playing games on his iTouch...none the worse for the wear. If you don't believe the story of my shoe, here is video testimony:



The only remaining mystery was Nic's status...I calculated that the earliest we could expect him was 3:30pm. I established 4:30pm as my drop-dead, official panic time. The time dragged by and my mind was racing with ALL of the worst-case scenarios for Nic - struck by lightning, a rock slide, a slip on a wet rock, him laying up there with a broken leg, etc. The panic time approached with no sign of Nic. I carefully reviewed our route and re-calculated hiking times, and re-adjusted my panic time to 6:00pm (I "kicked the can down the road," maybe I should be a Government Budget Consultant???).

Though we were several miles from civilization and deep in a forest, my cell phone was able to send and receive texts. Here is a message I sent to Brenda (tucked cozily and dry at the Silver Ridge Lodge in Salida) at 5:02pm:

"We are still waiting on nic...im not officially panicked but is getting close to the time where he would have had plenty of time to get back...will you find the sheriffs number and find out what the missing hiker procedure is...i will be getting worried if he is not here by 6 or 630"

Here is the message I sent to Brenda (still tucked cozily and dry at the Silver Ridge Lodge in Salida, perhaps she is wiser than us?) at 5:06pm:

"Nevermind..."

While I was composing and sending the initial text, Nic rounded the corner and was making his way down the hill towards us. What a relief!

Thrice Rebuffed, 3.6

The Road Back Down...
We finally reached the beginning of the Jennings Creek Trail Head and CR240; now roughly 3 miles down to the car. Normally I enjoy a good walk and 3 miles is about the perfect distance. But normal is not part of our vocabulary these last few hours...

1. We were walking in a deluge
2. We were walking in a lightning storm
3. There was also hail
4. I had one good shoe and the other foot was essentially a sock; now soaking wet and cold.
5. The temperature had dropped to the upper 50's, definitely not normal for two wet South Texans in July.

So we trudge down the mountain...

As we were hiking down the rocky 4WD road, I favored my left side to relieve the weight on my nearly-bare right foot. After a half mile or so, my left knee began to ache and ultimately locked up similar to my experience on the first Tabeguache Rebuff. So my hiking style transitioned from that of Festus from Gunsmoke to someone (or something) from the Zombie Apocalypse.

Much like Jonah in the belly of the big fish, my prayer life intensified...I didn't pray for my own deliverance (I have no trepidation about death or discomfort) but I prayed fervently for Caleb - that he would make it safely back to Salida without too much trauma. I prayed fervently for Nic as he was stuck up on the high mountain in the middle of this intense storm. I felt responsible for both of them since I had dragged them into this misadventure...

Still a couple of miles from the car, an elderly couple with a pickup full of dogs came driving down the road. They stopped and asked if we needed help or wanted a ride. Caleb jumped at the chance but I declined...I wanted to plod along and see if Nic might catch up with us. I gave Caleb the car keys and off they went.

And I hobbled along...

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The Devotional Interlude from Psalm 46...

Psalm 46 is a poem or song about the uncertainties of the journey...the earth gives way, the mountains fall, the waters roar and foam, the mountains quake...this uncertainty is contrasted with the stability of God, and that famous line comes from this Psalm (I've included several translations):

"be still, and know that I am God"

"calm down, and learn that I am God"

"stop your fighting, and know that I am God"

"cease striving, and know that I am God"

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My favorite thing about hiking and climbing in the mountains is, despite the pain-discomfort-uncertainty, there are beautiful reminders everywhere if we pause and observe...

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15 minutes or so after my side trip to this pond I hear a vehicle coming up the road...it was the elderly couple with a pickup full of dogs...seems Caleb told them that my knee was locked up and I didn't have a shoe on my right foot. They dropped him and immediately came back and demanded that I get in the truck and ride down with them.

I did.

Thrice Rebuffed, 3.5

Finally the Tree Line...
The storm clouds above were rapidly converging but once we arrived at the stable terrain of the Jennings Creek Basin we hustled. Or more aptly stated - Caleb hustled and I hobbled like Festus from Gunsmoke...remember that I am wearing only one good shoe.

We made the treeline before the storm hit but only by 10 minutes or so. It started raining on us when we made it to the "Stairway to Heaven" and we could hear the thunder rumbling back in the Basin from where we had come. We began to worry about Nic, still up on the Ridge or near the Tab Summit as far as we knew. There was a lot of lightning up there...

When we made it deep into the forest below the treeline most of the lightning danger was gone. Now we had to try to stay as dry and warm as possible. And trudge back down to the car, still about 3.5 miles away...

Thrice Rebuffed, 3.4

The Descent
Normally gravity aids the descent and the travel time is about one-third of the ascending travel time. Not so on a highly unstable boulder field. You have to carefully pick and choose the placement of each hand and each foot, hoping to find a rock that will stay put for a few seconds. It was very tedious.

The Eerie Sound
As Caleb and I made our descent we heard a very strange sound. Sometimes you can hear water running under a boulder field but this sound was not running water. We became perfectly still and quiet...and as best as I could tell, the sound was the sound of rocks moving underneath the surface rocks. I have witnessed a rock slide from a distance and it was quite powerful. We were about halfway down when we heard this, and when the hair on the back of my neck stood on end, I knew we had to:

1. Get out of this gully.
2. Get down back down to the basin as quickly as possible.

Responding to item 1, we moved laterally to a shoulder that separated gullies and into to the adjoining gully. This would take us out of the main stream of a rock slide. Movement down to the adjoining gully was just as tedious and slow. We made it down in one hour exactly.

The next crisis - converging storms clouds from the west and east and we were both the tallest things in the basin. We must get to the treeline quickly!

And I still have only one functional shoe...