False Summits
Learning to Stay Present on the Journey
I could see the wheels turning in Will’s head as we reached the midpoint of our journey to Gore Lake. We had already traveled a little over four miles and climbed nearly 1,400 feet, with another 1,000 still to go. Between breaths, he finally shared what he’d been thinking.
“I think we’re getting close to the top,” he said, noticing the blue sky peeking through the pines above the next ridge.
I didn’t immediately respond.
“What do you think, Dad?”
I sifted through the mental catalog of every backpacking trip I’d ever taken. I remembered how many times, in my inexperience and naïveté, I had thought the same thing when my legs were weary and the thin air pressed hard against my lungs.
“Have you ever heard of a false summit, Will?”
“A what?”
“A false summit,” I repeated. “It’s when you look up and see what seems to be the top of where you’re headed. But when you get there, you realize it’s not the top at all. There’s another ridge or summit beyond it that you still have to climb.”
He nodded quietly, tucking the thought away.
About forty-five minutes later, we broke through the dense tree cover into a rocky, open stretch where we paused to take in the views and catch our breath.
“I guess this isn’t the top,” Will laughed.
“I can’t tell you how many times my hopes have been dashed the same way,” I admitted. “Here’s the secret to backpacking, Will. Don’t get ahead of where you are. Watch your feet. Listen to your breath. Enjoy our conversation. Notice the little things around you. Stay present while we walk.”
He was listening.
“Getting preoccupied with what’s ahead only robs you of all the good stuff you’re experiencing right now. We’ll reach our destination eventually, but don’t miss the journey. This—right here—is what it’s all about.”
How often do we create “false futures” that rob us of the life we’re living right now? We imagine scenarios about people or situations, filling our mental space with fabrications that keep us from appreciating what’s right in front of us. When we fixate on the unknowns we’ve conjured in our minds, we risk losing our joy and failing to notice the gift of the present. The goal is never simply the destination. The goal is to not miss the journey along the way.
Question
What false futures have I been creating in my mind that are stealing my joy in the present?
Peace,
Brandon
A good word