Please forgive the slightly self-indulgent nature of this blog, but there is so much to tell you about from my expedition to Morocco to climb Mount Toubkal as part of a team raising money for the fantastic charity XLP.
It really was an amazing experience, and before I share some of my thoughts from the mountain, I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who sponsored me to help raise £2000 for XLP.
To climb Mount Toubkal it was a 5 day trek and 4 nights camping. Over this time we saw a few glimpes of the way of life of those who lived in the heights of the High Atlas Mountains. To say that this is a simple life in contrast to the huge over complicated way many of us live in Britain is a massive understatement. To live and work together in a community, sharing natural resources and having a body clock that is primarily determined by the sun, had a real appeal that is difficult to put into words. Obviously there are downsides to living hours away from the secondary school and days away from the hospital, but there seemed to be a real air of contentment that perhaps you would not experience on a average day walking around Leeds city centre. The hospitality and welcome we recieved was made all the more significant by the fact that we were not expected, but were welcomed and not considered an interruption. On several occasions I couldn’t help but question myself about how I personally could lean towards a more simple life.
It is without hesitation that I say the highlight of the trip was reaching the summit. On a glorious day at 4167m above sea level, (to give you a perspective on this Britains heighest mountain Ben Nevis, is 1344m) after the joy and emotion of reaching the top it is difficult to have any other reaction than praising the God who created the magnificent sight before you. It was with awe and wonder that I was reminded that if God ever had a point to prove or a battle to win with me, than one look at His creation from this perspective put me right in my place, that God indeed is almighty and it is a privilage to know of His love for me & all that He has for us to do. In these moments in a very real and physical way it seemed as if there was nothing in between God and me. With nothing to look up at other than open space, I was forced to ponder on all those things that get in between me and God; emotional, physically and spiritually. As beautiful as it sounds, clearly I am not designed to live at the top of a mountain, and thoughts of the real world set in, but started my descent with a fresh resolve to not let that uncluttered space between God and me be filled so quickly again.
One of the other highlights of the week was the way our team looked out for, and supported one another. It was great to know that every step of the way there were other people who were aware of where you were and who were genuinely interested in how you were doing. It was without hesitation that we shared what we had between us, and served and received from each other at different times over the days. We laughed and cried together, and gave each other support and space when it was needed. 8 people where no-one knew everybody at the start showed to me a great model of how Church could and should be.
This week of annual leave was a great springboard into my sabbatical and I look forward to all the next couple of months brings. I hope that sharing just a few thoughts of the mountain with you helps you to reflect on your own life today, and I will save any stories of the less pleasant moments of smells, river crossings and storms for another time!
(If you would still like to sponsor me, or any of the team, you can still do so here.Thank you!)
Glenda
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