We accomplished one of Mary’s bucket list items last week. To understand why it’s on her bucket list you need to know a little more about my wife. Young Life was a huge part of Mary’s faith journey. Through her Young Life leaders, she experienced what it’s like to be pursued by God, to trust Him, and to have a relationship with Him. When she was a teenager she went to Frontier Ranch Young Life Camp near Buena Vista, Colorado 3 times - twice as a camper and once as summer staff. Young Life loves to help teens accomplish difficult things, like facing their fear of heights, or pushing them past what they think they can do. At Frontier Ranch they would take the campers on a hike to the summit of Mount Chrysolite. It’s a difficult hike, with lots of boulders and rocks to climb up, but the views at the top are great. Mary remembers completing that hike when she was at Frontier Ranch, and for years it’s been on her bucket list to climb that mountain again.
So last week we stayed at Frontier Ranch Camp and climbed Mount Chrysolite. The hike has a 2,214 foot elevation gain, is 5.5 miles round trip, and the view at the top is at 12,841 feet. Most of the hiking websites describe it as a “hard” or “difficult” hike. And it was. We took lots of breaks to make it to the top. As we were nearing the top, I felt an adrenaline rush of excitement, and when we got to the top the feeling of accomplishment was great, and the view was even better! Now we can cross “hiking Mount Chrysolite” off of Mary’s bucket list. We still have to cross off “swimming with sharks” from her bucket list!
I’m so thankful for the Young Life ministry. I’m thankful for the Young Life leaders that pursued Mary with a Christ-like love when she was a rebellious teenager. Her life (and mine) would be way different without those leaders driving to her house and dragging her to Bible Study or to Club. It was fun to text those leaders and send them pictures of us at the camp and climbing Mount Chrysolite.
The challenge I’m reminded of and want to pass on to you is, who is God asking you to relentlessly pursue, and stubbornly get them to youth group, or church, or Bible study. Who is there in your workplace, or neighborhood, or school that God wants to use you to reach? Christ pursued us when we were his enemies, he kept coming after us. Now we can be the hands and feet of Jesus and pursue others to show them Christ! Don’t underestimate your influence, and don’t give up on them. You can a part of changing a life just like Mary’s young life leaders were.
See you Sunday!
Pastor Kyle