Proclaim Trust

The Key of Determination

Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. It rises over 29,000 feet above sea level, and can be seen from 100 miles away. The top of the mountain is so high that it reaches into the jet stream, where winds often exceed 200 miles per hour.

The first attempt to climb this immense mountain was made in 1921 by a man named George H. Leigh-Mallory. The attempt failed, but he tried again in 1922. This time seven members of the expedition were lost in an avalanche. Mallory was determined, however. In 1924 he led his final expedition to conquer the huge mountain. It looked as if they were going to make it, but as the climbers neared the top, both Mallory and another climber disappeared and they were never seen again.

At a banquet given in the memory of the brave climbers, one of Mallory's friends gave a speech that epitomizes the spirit of all enterprising people, everywhere. He turned from the podium towards a huge picture of Mt. Everest hung on the wall, and addressed the mountain: ‘I speak to you, Mt. Everest, in the name of all brave men, those living and those yet unborn.  Mt. Everest, you defeated us once. You defeated us twice. You defeated us even three times.  But we shall some DAY defeat you, Mt. Everest, because you can't get any bigger and we can!’

Eight more attempts were made on the mountain after that, and each of them failed. But finally, on March 29, 1953, after eleven total attempts, Edmund Hillary finally beat the challenge and stood with his Guide on the summit of the mountain.

The key to reaching the summit of the mountains in your path is determination. Failure is not the end; it is the end of only one step in reaching your goal.

What mountains are you facing today? Have you just taken on extra responsibilities and found that it is a lot harder than what you were expecting? Have you just finished a season of preparation and find things aren’t working out the way that you thought they would? Maybe you’re trying to get a new Project off the ground and the doors aren’t opening?

Listen. Whatever your Mt. Everest is don't give up, keep going. If something hasn’t worked, try again. If that doesn’t work, try another route. If that route is blocked, go round it. If you can't go round it, climb over it. If you can't climb over it, get out a shovel and dig under it! Remember, the key to reaching the summit of the mountains in your path is determination.