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June 28, 2024

Dear Beloved Friends,

Before embarking on his third attempt to climb Mt. Everest in 1924, English mountaineer, George Mallory, answered a journalist’s question of “why?” with his simple and now famous response "Because it is there." He and his climbing partner, Andrew Irvine, perished on this attempt. Many people today would have loved to have asked him if he actually made it to the top of the 29,008-foot mountain. He and Irvine were seen through a telescope very close to the summit before disappearing. However, in my mind, a more important question for Mallory might have been, “Did you find what you were seeking in your heart, mind, body, and soul?” His death might have prevented him from being the first to climb Mt. Everest, but no condition or situation can prevent the revelations of the heart. This is also essential for us to ponder. What we have accomplished in our lives pales compared to the truths, insights, and wisdom we have discovered along the way. When I lived in Colorado, I attempted to climb eight “14teeners,” the name given to the 54 or so peaks in Colorado that rise above 14,000’. I was ‘successful’ in 6 of those attempts. The exhilaration of accomplishing these difficult feats and seeing the amazing 360-degree panoramic views was powerful and confidence-building. Yet I gained greater awareness and clarity in my 2 ‘failures.’ On both of these days, I was content with my journey because I felt a deep connection with my fellow trekkers in our decision not to complete the ascension and I felt guided by Spirit that that decision was right and perfect. That realization was far more valuable than ‘bagging a 14teener,’ as it is referred to in Colorado.

Are there times in your life when the insights and realizations you had while seeking an intention were greater than actually completing the goal? The actual ambition might not have been something that you ever obtained, or it did not last, or it ended up not that important in the grand scheme of things. However it took you in the direction of your dreams, and the journey itself turned out to be the actual dream. I have heard countless stories from friends and family that a relationship or a job or an educational opportunity led them to move or shift in their lives. The object of their desire might not have lasted a lifetime, but the wisdom and confidence gained by moving out of their comfort zone and into something new did, time and time again, prove that the journey is indeed more important than the destination.