In May of 2001, Erik Weihenmayer accomplished something that only 128 other people accomplished that year —he reached the top of Mount Everest. The thing that made Erik’s achievement unusual is that he is the first blind person to succeed in scaling the tallest mountain in the world.
Erik was born with a disease called retinoschisis, and by the time he was thirteen he was completely blind. Rather than focus on what he could not do, he made the choice to focus on what he could do and went much further than almost anyone expected.
I am reminded of what Jesus said in the gospel of John:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10.
Erik could have allowed his blindness to destroy every hope. He could have allowed his circumstances to cripple him. But he chose something else. He chose hope. He chose life.
Sure, we could look at our situation and find a million excuses for not living life to the fullest…but that would be allowing “the thief” to steal, kill, and destroy all we were created to be.
That’s not what Jesus wants for us. He came that we might have life and have it ABUNDANTLY!
So whatever you are facing today, pick yourself up, brush yourself off – and blind or not – let’s climb that mountain!
Keeping the Faith,
Roy
