Have Faith November Issue

Day 8
A Few More Steps... Psalm 40:2
You can’t throw a stick these days without
hitting someone that has a story to tell about
footsteps, or taking the next step or following
someone’s footsteps, the list goes on.
A while ago the footsteps thing was hammered
into my brain so hard but this time it was
physical steps. Walking up Pen Y Fan in Wales
for the OP Wamits project really tested me
out. Of course, it’s not an easy mountain to
walk up but achievable for most people with a
basic fitness level. The problem I had was two
years ago I was diagnosed with chronic heart
disease, put on a critical list and rushed into
surgery. It was devastating to find out that this
fit lad who loved challenges was no longer fit
enough to just walk to the shops. Thankfully
the operation was a great success and, with
medication, meant I could pick my life up
again. It did take a long time but I vowed one
day I would go up the Fan again under my
own steam.
Back to my effort, the last 500 metres felt like
500 miles. Every step felt like I was dragging
two of me up there. But I couldn’t give in.
I had promised a lot of people, including
veterans that I would do it. In my mind,
during that last 500 metres, I was carrying all
of the pain of the last two years, I was carrying
the hopes of OP Wamits, I was carrying the
burdens of all of my brothers and sisters who
I try to help but the heaviest was carrying the
will to go on.
Don’t get me wrong, I wont compare a couple
of hours leg ache with the suffering of our
troops but there are a few lessons in it. The
biggest one is, never give up. No matter
how high your mental mountain is, it has a
summit. Keep walking, you will get there.
Sometimes you need a hand. I did. I focused
on why I was there, I remembered the long
path I had walked to get me to this position
and I allowed God to help me the last few
steps. I read this passage the night before to
help me.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself
yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I
do: Forgetting what is behind and straining
toward what is ahead, I press on toward the
goal to win the prize for which God has called
me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:
13/14
I conquered my past, I achieved my OP
Wamits, but the biggest reward was the one
I had been employed for. I was able to turn
around, hold out my hand and help others to
the summit. In my mind, I shall remain on
the top of Pen Y Fan as long as I am able to
hold out a hand to my fellow veterans.
One step in front of the other, one at a time,
you will make it.
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