Don't Go There

Matthew 7:15  “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

We rested at the summit of Chola Pass (17,782 feet above sea level), for an hour or so. It was early afternoon when we began the descent on the northeast side to the valley below. About noon the sun had peeked over the horizon behind us. The ice had become wet and slick. The climb down became as “interesting” as the climb up the south side.

We rounded a peak to the west and suddenly a full view of Mt. Everest was before us. The splendor of the highest peak on earth was breathtaking. At 29,035 feet, Mt. Everest makes the Alps and the Rockies (at half that altitude) much less impressive.

Chomolungma, Sagarmatha, Everest, are all names given to the mountain. Many of the indigenous peoples regard the mountain as a spirit dwelling. For many years, women were not allowed in the vicinity of Everest because it would displease the spirits. However, as the years passed, the money spoke louder than the gods.

To climb Everest is very expensive; sixty thousand U.S. dollars minimum. The ones climbing are usually sponsored or wealthy. We were only going to base camp.

We were still fifteen miles from Everest but the death zone was clearly definable against a clear blue sky. A little later we could see the typical afternoon weather being generated on the peaks of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. By the time we got to the valley, the sky was completely clouded over and the temperature was dropping as on any other day in April.

The Himalaya stretches 1500 miles and five miles high from Afghanistan to Bhutan. Geologists estimate the mountain range to be 450 million years old. Nine of the ten highest peaks on earth are a part of the Himalaya. Some of the most exotic species of wildlife on the planet reside there and are often seen while trekking.

Beautiful architecture is appreciated in the monasteries and the devotion of the Buddhists is observed in the prayer flags strung high on the mountains. I wondered how they managed to get them is such precarious places.

We were allowed to attend a Buddhists class at Tengboche Monastery. The giant Buddha statue, gong and other non-familiar practices and objects, made for a great learning experience.

The village of Labuche was barely inhabited. The one building was a tea house. It was made of rock with no windows. There was no need for windows. If I wanted to look out, I simply looked between the rocks.

When we arrived at Labuche, I was exhausted. I think I was the oldest one on the trek so I used that for an excuse. I went into the tea house; a cup of hot tea sounded really good, and I knew it would warm my bones, or maybe, thaw them out.

The tea house had a wood stove. At that altitude, above the tree line, there is no wood so they burned yak (Himalayan bovine) chips. Apparently yaks have a very efficient digestive system because the chips were plentiful. Yaks are used above 10,000 feet to haul supplies to the villages. The lungs of yaks are large in order to absorb more oxygen at high altitudes.

With the cup of hot tea and the heat from the stove, I got warm for the first time in two weeks. When I finished the tea, I talked to a trekker from Italy for a while and then went back out. It had gotten cold; very, very extremely horribly cold! I quickly realized the reason it seemed so cold was because I had gotten warm and comfortable.

It would have been best had I not gone into the tea house. To re-acclimatize was sheer misery. I was so cold, even into the next day, my teeth chattered. The next day’s trek was less than ten miles to Gorkashe, the last village before Everest base camp. Every step was painful.

The Christian environment is unique to the faith. At times, we find ourselves in places that are not compatible to our preferred surroundings. To attempt to continue in the company of other like-minded Christians, but fulfil the Great Commission, seems like pulling on opposites ends of a rope.

The word “backslide” comes to mind. Several years ago, it was such an insult to refer to someone as a “backslider.” Most everyone tends to get off track occasionally, so we don’t talk about it. But that doesn’t make it good or right.

We know we should be in regular church attendance, pray, read our Bibles and associate with other Christians. In my case, being retired, we may be gone weeks at a time and it is almost impossible to attend church. I always take a Bible and spend time in it every day. I also talk to people and the subject of religion always comes up, so I take every opportunity to share Jesus.

Just as I discovered, it would have been best to stay cold in the Himalaya, it would be best if we stay focused and keep our eyes on Jesus. Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” When we stray into these things, thoughts and places that are abhorrent to the Christian life, we can get back, but it is best not to go there to start with.

Those ravening wolves in the leading scripture come in many forms: money, power, prestige, as well as all the material things we think we must have. We also allow those ravening wolves to take our time, our dedication, and our focus. Being a Christian takes full time vigilance. Be careful and think before you go into a tea house at 15,000 feet.