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| Scott and I celebrate Half Dome by crossing our hiking staffs |
Scott
and I just returned today from California after climbing up to Half Dome. It was a strenuous hike, harrowing at times
because of the steep slippery granite terrain.
First I had to battle my fear of heights—Half Dome majestically towers
over Yosemite Valley at the elevation of 8800 feet. Then I had my physical preparation—I had
trained for several months for this, but had been hobbled a few months ago when
I twisted my ankle. I found myself
really struggling to catch my breath in such thin air at this elevation. The trail ascends upward to gain about 5000 feet
in elevation from the valley floor. It
took 14 hours to cover the 17 miles we traversed to get up and back. At one point, I was weeping as I prayed for
help climbing up the steep incline of Sub Dome, which sits at the base of the
peak of Half Dome. Heavenly Father
helped me overcome my fears and ascend that hurdle. On Sub dome, I enjoyed a stunning view of Yosemite
Valley and the surrounding High Sierra Mountains.
This experience made me think of an Olympic athlete who
received the help of his father to complete his race. Derek Redmond, a 28 year old British athlete,
was competing in the 400 meter semifinals during the 1992 Barcelona
Olympics. He was favored to win this
event and showed his strength as he led the pack around the track.
As he rounded a corner with 250 meters to go, he
collapsed in agony. It felt like he had
been hit by an arrow in the back of his leg.
His hamstring had torn—an extremely painful injury. Medical personnel raced to help him, but he
waved them off. He struggled to his feet
and continued around the track, hopping on his good leg. His competitors had already sped past him—he
clearly had no chance of winning anymore.
But Derek was intent on finishing this race. He would not drop out.
Meanwhile, Derek’s dad Jim was on his feet. He scrambled through the crowds from his seat
in the bleachers and barged past security to get onto the track. He rushed to his son. “You don’t have to put yourself through
this,” he told Derek. Derek said simply,
“Yes, I do.” Jim responded, “Well then,
we’re going to finish this together.” He
wrapped his strong arms around his son, pulled him close and supported him as
he limped to the finish line. The 65,000
spectators stood applauding this display of individual determination and
fatherly love and support.
One commentator wrote, “Derek didn’t walk away
with the gold medal, but he walked away with an incredible memory of a father
who, when he saw his son in pain, left his seat in the stands to help him
finish the race.” Although Derek
finished dead last, with his fathers’ support, he DID finish!
Often we can’t do what we set out to do alone. Even with the best preparation and most
earnest effort, there are things we can’t control. Even if your dad isn’t physically there to
help you and support you, you always can count on your Heavenly Father to help.
I know I needed His help to reach Half
Dome, and we really need His help and support daily in our smaller challenges. He has told us to rely on Him through the
prophet Joshua, “Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou
dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9.)
For more information, see:
Harris, Gerald. Olympic
Heroes; World-Class Athletes Winning at Life pp. 53-56.
Watch the event described here on YouTube by searching
“Derek Redmond 1992 Olympics.”
If you’d like to learn more about our hike up Half Dome, see
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/halfdome.htm The video shows the climb very
realistically.
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