Trudging up the steep mountain trail, my much more athletic sister led the way. While I struggled to keep my footing on the rocky path, Colleen climbed the trail like a sure-footed mountain goat. I had already suggested she go ahead, knowing full well I wouldn’t have the fortitude to tackle this mountain like she could. Around halfway up, I could no longer see her. Meanwhile, my shaking knees and trembling legs had reached their limit.

Finding a large rock near the path, I sat to await Colleen’s return. By then, hopefully I’d have enough steam to make it back down the mountain with her.

Months later, while reading my Bible, my exhausting mountain climb came to mind. Luke 18:35-42 (MSG) shares the story of a blind man sitting beside the road. When he heard Jesus approaching, he called out. Those ahead of Jesus told the man to shut up, but he yelled all the louder. When Jesus heard him, he listened and healed him. The once, and no longer blind man, then followed Jesus, glorifying God. Everyone in the street joined in, shouting praises to God.

What struck me about this passage and thus made me think of the rocky trail was two-fold. First, this blind man sat by the road. He didn’t want to be missed. Much like me waiting for my sister to return back down the trail, I didn’t want to be left up there by myself. I knew if I stayed close to the trail, she’d see me and drag me off the mountain if needed.

If we want to have an encounter with Jesus, we need to be on the path where Jesus is. That starts with spending time reading our Bibles so we are trained to hear His voice and understand His will and purpose. Otherwise, it can be easy to be dragged off His path by deceptive or false teachings.

The second thought that came to mind is, like the blind man, we have to speak up, even yell if necessary. So many are afraid to speak up out of fear of being belittled. We have a responsibility to speak for what is good and right. Countless soldiers died defending our freedoms, including our freedom to speak freely. We also have a responsibility to speak up for those who can’t; children being trafficked, the elderly and infirmed, and the unborn.

Most importantly, we have a responsibility to speak up about the good news of Christ. Even if others disagree or brush us aside, we must respectfully speak up for what honors and glorifies God.

This life isn’t an easy journey. In fact, it’s a lot like trying to keep up with my agile sister on that rocky path. We might feel breathless, out-of-shape, and exhausted. At times, our knees might even shake, but as long as we stay on the path and speak up, we can be counted in God’s great army of warriors. So, on your feet warriors! We’ve got a mountain to climb for God’s glory.