Over the summer I spent a month living in Antigua, Guatemala. During my time I engaged in conversations with the locals (well, attempted to), drank
lots of coffee, and accepted adventures as they came my way.
There was one adventure unlike any other—the night I slept on the volcano Acatenango. It was a grueling 10 miles up. My friend Emily and I were told the hike was worth the intense pain we would experience along the way, so we got a group together and set out early on a Saturday morning. It was a test of endurance and we didn't know what to expect. We arrived at the base of the volcano as rain started to come down. The next step was to put on rain jackets, strap on our packs, reposition our sleeping bags, and jackets and then begin our ascent.
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| trail near the summit |
It was hard. The beginning had us grasping for air as the path (made of volcanic ash) went straight up ahead of us. Each step forward led to a slight slip backwards, due to the makeup of the path. Slipping was inevitable. Every step became more difficult and I kept thinking
there is NO way I'm going to make it to the campsite. We had breaks throughout the trek as we passed through cornfields, jungles, dry forests, cloud forests, and the barren top of the volcano. We traveled as a group but it was an individual experience. Everyone handled the situation differently. Some stopped to take pictures of the scenery, some walked quickly, other slowly, large steps, small steps, long breaks, short breaks, etc. Each experience as unique as the individual on the trip. It was the rain, sweat, laughter, tears, struggle to get air, and landscapes along the way that made the whole trip worth it. Upon making it to our campsite (many hours later) a storm came. The tent shook with such intensity, the volcano next to us erupted, the wind howled, and our belongings slowly became wet.
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| views from the top |
Sunday morning we woke up at 3:30am to climb to the summit of Acatenago to catch the sunrise—the moment we had been waiting for. It was suppose to be spectacular. Views of Fuego as it erupted next to us, magma spilling down the sides, colors unfurling in the sky above; however, we had a different experience. Our summit experience was glum and foggy, as we sat in the 30 degree temp in a cloud of grey (yes, we wore winter jackets in central america). It was a bummer. We sat shivering looking at the grey volcanic ash that was no less than 10 meters from where we stood. There was no changing the circumstances so we spent time filling our lungs with oxygen. On the way down (the
in between) the sunrise was beautiful. The valley stretched our below, we could see for miles—Amazing! It was exactly what I wanted it to be...an
adventure.
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what we experienced (above) vs. what we
expected to experience (below)
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I think life goes a lot like this hike sometimes. We constantly look towards what is to come—the destination—and forget about the in between. If I didn't enjoy the journey up the volcano, the summit would've been pointless. I would not be writing or reflecting on my time on that volcano. I would despise it for the beauty it did not show. It was in the laughter, and the struggle of the climb that I found the most joy. The moment where I realized how blessed I was to endure an intense hike made it all worth it. It was the in between that was the sweetest, not the beginning and not the end. Recently I have been learning about the
in between, about patience in the wait. Transformation happens in the transition, we learn by going and seeking, we learn by waiting. In the unknown of the trail we can experience the sweetest joys, such as a sunrise or magma spilling out of a volcano. God is visible in the waiting for we are the most vulnerable as we wait for what is come. Embrace this time.
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| sunrise on the descent from the summit |
Ben Rector sings "Cause life is not the mountain tops, It's the walking in between." Yes, the mountain top experiences are amazing but if you don't enjoy the different terrains and experiences, the pictures at the top are worth nothing. Each individual takes the road to the top differently (some slow, some fast) but somehow we can end up at the same place. During this season as we get ready to transition into a new year, to a new time, embrace the in between. Embrace the moment and where God is taking you. For the smallest of moments can bring joy to the ordinary. Become alive in the in between, as Jesus uses these moments to bring about change. For Jesus is on the opposite side of the in between, waiting as we journey with Him to the end. How sweet it is!
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| fuego ft. emily |
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| campsite ft. volcan Agua in the background |
