The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
A Saying of Confucius
The mountains in Appalachia where I live expand in layers across the horizon. One ridge upon another in every imaginable shade of blue fade into the distance. When the first settlers came to this region, they must have found the range daunting and impenetrable. How were they to traverse this massive obstacle before them with their families, supplies, and animals to reach the West? Men like Daniel Boone looked for “gaps” in the landscape—places where the Bison left trails or the rivers carved out gorges in the rock. Embracing hope, one small step at a time, they moved through or over what at first appeared impossible to reach the other side. And so can you.
You may not stand before a literal mountain, but you surely have faced insurmountable obstacles in your lifetime. How have you dealt with the walls keeping you from accomplishing your goals? Whether you crossed over, walked through, or perhaps moved a mountain, I’m guessing the endeavor wasn’t easy. It’s unlikely you flew above the mountains like a bird to reach the other side. Almost always, any difficult goal worth achieving is accomplished one small step at a time.
People achieve great deeds when passion and perseverance meet and they’re willing to be patient with the process.
A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.
James N. Watkins
When I felt God calling me to write, I had no idea the height of the mountain I’d need to scale. I loved writing short stories and poems in high school and college and my teachers rewarded me with A’s for most of my creative efforts. But this did very little to prepare me for today’s publishing industry and the uphill battle it presents for hundreds (maybe thousands) of writers trying their hand at crafting books just like me.
My writing journey has demanded a huge commitment of time, resources, patience, and perseverance. As I look back, I realize I’ve scaled not one but many mountains along the way. One of the most daunting challenges for me was gaining social media followers and email subscribers to build a platform.
Yet, one small step at a time, I’m gaining ground. Right now, one of my novellas is a semi-finalist for a prestigious award and I’m working on manuscript revisions for a potential publisher. I wouldn’t have dreamed this was possible even a few years ago. A part of me wants to shy away from any expectations for a publishing contract on the horizon. I’ve suffered so much disappointment in the past. Why open my heart up to anymore rejections?
I’d made it this far and refused to give up because all my life I had always finished the race.
Louis Zamperini
Needless to say, mountain climbing (and publishing journeys) are not “safe” endeavors. They are not for the faint of heart or for those who give up easily. Persistence trumps talent any day. So, no matter how much I’d love to protect myself, if God has called me to writing, there will be pain involved. Not simply the pain of rejection but the pain of change. The hike into the mountains will and has changed me. I’m definitely more resilient now.
And the flowers and views along the upward path are amazing. Blessings abound. The places I’ve seen, the people I’ve met, and the friendships I’ve made are well worth the occasional frustration and setback. As long as I don’t quit, a rejection email doesn’t have the final say about the value of my calling. If instead of giving up, I work to improve the quality of my next submission, then I’ve used rejection as a learning tool.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.
Winston Churchill
I’d like to think when I reach the summit of my goal, then I’ll enjoy flat terrain on the way forward. But that’s not the way it generally works. Once I’ve scaled this particular mountain, there’s likely an even more challenging one on the other side. God’s calling to write doesn’t stop with one book. Successful authors all concur. The publishing journey is never easy or trouble free even for seasoned, bestselling writers.
Perhaps when the climb is over and this life’s race is complete, Heaven’s shore will offer me level ground. But until the Lord calls me home, He beckons me onward and upward. I’m embracing His hope for me one small step at a time. For I am convinced it’s only through challenges that God is molding me into the best version of myself He created me to be. And I firmly believe this is true for us all, no matter what mountains we’re called to climb.
