Reaching the Summit: Reflections for the Journey
A Devotional Guide to Ponder as You Make Your Way Through the Colorado 14ers
by
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KIT CARSON PEAK/
CHALLENGER POINT
SOS. Help. The side of our Garmin InReach satellite phone has a flip-up cap with an easy-to-press button that directly alerts a crisis center with specific location coordinates. It should be easy, but sometimes it’s hard to let go and say, “I need help.” Pride, embarrassment, and stubbornness get in the way and we make the situation worse before calling out for assistance. My husband found himself in this predicament on Kit Carson Peak. We had summited Challenger Point, then I positioned myself to wait the approximately two-hour round trip for him on Kit Carson. After a successful summit, he missed the turn for Kit Carson Avenue and ended up “ledging out” on The Prow after negotiating Class 5.8 rock climbing, without rope. He could not safely down-climb from this ledge and made the call—SOS and 911. Then he hunkered down in thirty mph wind gusts on a five-by-five foot ledge waiting for the wonderful, amazing people from Custer County Search and Rescue. As SAR was formulating a plan, another hiker made the same route-finding error and found himself on the ledge with my husband. What are the odds? While my husband was prepared to spend the night and had the clothing and provisions to do so, his new ledge-mate was not as prepared. He gently talked his new friend out of attempting the down-climb. Fortunately, SAR was able to rock climb to the stranded hikers and set up a rope belay to rappel them off The Prow. They made the right call—calling out for help. As the Incident Commander remarked, “We like these kind of outcomes.”
You will seek Me and find Me
when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
In countless situations, we all take pride in our abilities and accomplishments. We think that if we simply get stronger and gain more knowledge, we can overcome new challenges. We can have all of the tools that we think we need and the knowledge of a situation, but eventually, at some point in our lives, we all “ledge out.” The Lord says that if we search with all of our hearts, with totality, we will find Him, even if that search for God is our last resort—an SOS—after we’ve exhausted all of our other possibilities and solutions. When we are able to put aside our pride and own abilities and hit the SOS button, we allow ourselves to be rescued by our Savior.
Dear Lord, please help remind us to always seek You, even when there are smooth waters and smooth sailing in our lives. We tend to call out to You in times of need, but help us remember to call Your name in joyful, celebratory times as well. We are grateful for the ways we are humbled. Thank You for the gentle reminders that You are the One we give all the glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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About the Book
For the past five years, Linda Kozacek and Leigh Legere have been on a quest. They have a desire to increase their study of the scriptures while also setting a goal to embrace living life to the fullest. They have had many adventures while hiking and exploring the Colorado 14ers with their husbands. This book is an intersection of those goals.
About the Author
Linda Kozacek has worked in the non-profit world for the past 20 years in the areas of education and poverty alleviation. She currently teaches a life skills class to clients transitioning out of incarceration. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and cherishes all three roles. Linda has grown to love the outdoors and enjoys pushing herself to new experiences. She and her husband, Kurt, live in Overland Park, Kansas, with their dogs, Atticus and Wrigley. In their free time, they like to spend their days chasing whimsy.
Leigh Legere hiked her first 14er over 25 years ago. She relishes her roles as wife, mother and grandmother. Being a Jazzercise instructor and helping people achieve fitness goals brings Leigh great joy. She is the author of a children’s book, Do Antelope Eat Cantaloupe, and enjoys traveling and volunteering at church. Leigh and her husband, Shawn, live in Overland Park, Kansas, and are embracing the empty nest phase.