I’ve been to the top of the mountain…

Last week when I was thinking about the year ahead and asking God for some inspiration and his thoughts a line of one of Martin Luther Kings speeches flitted through my head. “We’ve got some difficult days ahead…” mmm not really that encouraging, we’ve had plenty of difficult days (including prepping for holiday and hoping to get on the flight home to Heathrow without testing positive for covid) but I knew there was something in the speech about a mountain top, and as we had travelled hundreds of miles from Worthing to Italy and were perched up in the snowy mountains it seemed appropriate so I checked out the speech and here it is.

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like any man, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Since studying Martin Luther King with year 11 non GCSE I’ve always been profoundly inspired by him and his attitude and humility as one of the key leaders of the American civil rights movement. He lived his faith out practically and fearlessly challenging injustice in society and believing that he would see change. I love the words from this speech and feel that its relevant for us as we move into 2022.

I’m really not a skier, having skied badly once before on a school ski trip as a teacher back in 1996 my ski legs are pretty much non existent, but having got to Italy which was a feat in itself, along with 11 members of my family I wanted to show willing and of course wear my brand new ski suit (which I’m selling on eBay) So I stayed at the bottom of the piste and only got as far as the nursery slope and the pink elephant cafe in Artesina for my Italian coffees. I spent my time checking on the whereabouts of family and friends in relation to the rescue helicopter and seeing if I recognised anyone coming down in the ski stretcher. The sun was shining and the skies were blue so I was grateful to have some time to relax and unwind.

Everyone kept pinging photos of the top of the mountains to the family WhatsApp group, it did look amazing. They had been to the top of the mountain, looked over and were loving it skiing for hours on end. They didn’t want me to miss out. The girls said they had a plan for me, they had found an easier nursery slope up the mountain, however it turned out it would also involve the button lift from hell and a short trek on a red run so I politely declined the trip and ordered another expresso. By New Years eve I was getting a bit tired of looking at the same old mountain and wondering what was over the horizon. If you know me you’ll know I do love a view. So I decided on a trip up top on New Years day everyone would meet me up there. I nervously sat on the chair lift minus my skis and closed my eyes tight. But, finally yes it was worth it, views across the mountain range were stunning, I could see that what looked like a narrow mountain ridge from below was miles of beautiful gentle ski slopes with wide open spaces. This photo really doesn’t do it justice. We celebrated the occasion with Italian Hot Chocolate a strange cross between custard and Tesco chocolate mousse.

So what about you this year, what’s your mountain top ? Have you got a big dream ? Is there something that you’re longing for or are you trying to make sense of your life’s purpose ? Are you tired of the view from the bottom of the piste ? I needed the encouragement and love from my teenagers to move me up to the top of the mountain range, we’re not designed to do life alone, we’re stronger together. I would love to encourage you up your mountain of life this year. Spiritual Life Coaching the past two years has been exciting, seeing people getting breakthroughs and moving forward with their faith and lives. This year in addition to Spiritual Life Coaching I’m also focussing on Life Coaching individually or in small groups.

Kings unshakeable faith and vision meant he could see a breakthrough coming, despite the difficult days ahead he’d also seen the promised land. He kept his eyes fixed on God and his strength. He looked upwards rather than down at his circumstances. Be encouraged for 2022 that God has so much more for you. I’m skiing, (snow ploughing slowly really) into 2022 echoing Dr King “I’m not worried about anything, I want to do Gods will My eyes have seen the coming of the glory of the Lord.”