Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Strategic Monk

Home
Contemplative
Practices From the Inside Out: Climbing Toward Hope

Practices From the Inside Out: Climbing Toward Hope

Last updated on: February 23, 2021 at 4:52 am by Greg Richardson

Practices From the Inside Out: Climbing Toward Hope 2021-02-23T04:52:47-08:00 Greg Richardson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Climbing Toward Hope

There are times when we find ourselves in a deep hole, like a well, where we need to be climbing toward hope.

Many of us do not remember how we got into our holes or how we can get out. All we know to do is push off from the bottom and try climbing.

We look over heads and, if we are fortunate, we can see the light of hope. Our struggle is not about being lost or not knowing which direction to go. We are climbing toward hope even when we grow tired.

Some of us experience our struggle as an individual effort. We are on our own, making our own way. Others of us sense we are sharing the struggle, climbing together toward a common goal.

The last year has been a discouraging one. Each day has felt like an urgent climb. Each night we risk sliding back down to the bottom.

We are fighting an uphill battle with consequences of life and death. While we might not know how we got here or who is responsible, we know it is crucial we climb out.

Some of us think we might be better off trying to dig our way out, or waiting for help to arrive.

It does not feel like anyone is coming to lift us out.

Is this a test of some kind? Are we being punished for something we did or failed to do? Why are we here and how long have we been in this hole?

This is a long, slow, difficult climb. Sometimes we lose sight of the hope at the end of our hole. Each day we struggle to climb out of the hole exhausts and weakens us.

Will we be able to make it out of this hole?

Are We Climbing Toward Hope?

When we are stuck in a deep hole everything seems to work against us. There is only one way we want to go, which is out of the hole, and obstacles pile up to keep us in.

Climbing toward hope is hard work. It can be easy for us to become tired and discouraged. If we cannot get ourselves out right away we start to feel uncomfortable and anxious and afraid.

We start trying to reason our way out of the hole, asking ourselves questions for which we do not have answers.

Who dug this hole and put us in it? Why did they do it? What were they trying to accomplish? Are they going to come back and get us out? How long will they leave us here?

Some of us take stock of what tools we have to continue climbing toward hope. We hope we have the right clothes and the proper shoes for climbing. The things we usually carry with us will probably not do us much good.

Our cellphone might help, but there is probably not very good coverage in a deep hole. It will not help us climb.

I know people who experience being stuck in a hole as a competition which they want to win it. They are reluctant to admit, even to themselves, they might need help to get out of their hole.

Being in a deep hole is not only about getting yourself out, it is about getting out faster and more easily than everyone else. They want to extricate themselves before anyone else notices they are stuck.

Climbing toward hope is not about competing against other people. It is not solely an intellectual or emotional struggle.

How Are We Climbing Toward Hope?

Several things fit together into the challenge of climbing toward hope for me.

For one thing, contemplative practices have helped me appreciate how I put myself in these deep holes. I do not see a powerful outside force which tests or imprisons me, or is coming back to release me. The deepest holes in which I find myself are holes I dug myself.

I have also begun to understand climbing toward hope is not a competitive sport. Life is not all about living without challenges or deep holes. Needing to climb toward hope does not make us weak or hopeless.

Climbing toward hope makes us human.

The holes in which we find ourselves are features of the journeys we are following. Some of us dig deeper holes for ourselves than others do.

Our journey is about recognizing where we are and climbing toward hope. While some of us will face larger challenges than others, each of us will face our own.

The journey is not about going as far or as fast as we can without needing anyone else. We share the same path, even when we are going in opposite directions.

All of us are climbing toward hope, just starting from different places.

As We Are Climbing Toward Hope

Spiritual life is about finding ourselves in deep holes and climbing toward hope.

Some of us assume our spiritual journey will be gentle, meek, and mild as we amble toward God. It might be because I am unusually stubborn or obstinate, but in my experience spiritual life does not work that way.

It is easy for me to lose sight of hope. Maybe I am stuck in a hole so deep clouds cover it and block out the hope.

One of the challenges for me is to continue climbing when I know the direction but do not actually recognize hope.

For me, it is often the people with whom I share the journey, my companions, who keep me going. I depend on their encouragement and guidance, their insights and humor to keep me hanging on.

It is easy for us to get discouraged as we are climbing toward hope. Our anxieties and fears, our fatigue and expectations slow us down. We keep each other going.

We are climbing toward hope each day, each step of the journey.

How are we climbing toward hope today?

Where are we climbing toward hope together this week?

[Image by gagilas]

Greg Richardson is a spiritual director in Southern California. He has served as an assistant district attorney, an associate university professor, and is a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is StrategicMonk.com and his email address is [email protected].

Blog

Spiritual Practices

Previous Post

February 18, 2021

Listening to Sacred Stillness: Wisdom Lives in Stillness

Next Post

February 25, 2021 Book Review: Sabbath Economics

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Book Reviews Everything Else Guest Posts Leadership Monastic Strategies Neighborhood Pilgrimages Sacred Stillness Spiritual Direction Spiritual Practices Work

Select a Month May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus do at the wedding in Cana?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Healed a sick child Turned water into wine Walked on water Fed the guests