Looking up at Black Tusk

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Credit: Laurel Burrowes

My parents enrolled my brother and me in a Christian Science Sunday School from an early age. We learned Bible stories, which taught us wisdom and fearlessness. There was the story of Daniel, who was not harmed by the lions, and who remained focused on God instead of fear when thrown into their den (see Daniel 6). There was the story of the three Hebrew men thrown into the midst of a burning fiery furnace, who came out without even the “smell of fire” on them (see Daniel 3). Bible characters had an awe-inspiring faith and fearless trust in the one God.

Despite learning that God cared for me and kept me safe, I recall being afraid of heights. My first proof of overcoming this fear was during an experience I had at a summer camp for Christian Scientists in British Columbia. An experienced mountaineer led some of us on a trip up the peak of Black Tusk, in Garabaldi Provincial Park, 7,608 feet above sea level.

Our leader helped prepare us mentally for the trip by a morning reading of the Christian Science Bible Lesson. He carefully explained what we were to expect on the trail. There was encouragement and good humor shared along the way, and I was able to climb up the steep trail and exposed rock without fear. I even helped one of the other girls, who had been really challenged by the steep section. All eight teenagers and our leader summited the mountain with joy. After this, my fear of heights faded and I became an experienced hiker.

Last year, more than four decades after that trip at summer camp, I prepared for my fifth climb up the Tusk. My family hadn’t climbed the Tusk, and my daughter had always wanted to do it. My brother, daughter, her boyfriend, and I comprised the hiking party. We were all used to mountain climbing.

It seemed a good idea to do some training prior to the trip, and I have found that mental preparation is always key. Praying with the ideas in the Christian Science Bible Lesson once again was important. While studying the lesson on “Life,” I challenged the fear of injury, which had crept into thought as I anticipated the climb. Recently I had been hearing about so many of my contemporaries having knee injuries based on the common belief that as we get older we face decline in strength and suppleness. But I knew we don’t have to accept this!

Throughout my life, I have been healed of many sport injuries. Two separate knee injuries were healed—one after trying to clear hurdles in a track class at university and another while hiking. I had a permanent healing of dislocated shoulders as a young adult, injuries sustained while road cycling and alpine skiing.

I have found mental preparation is always key.

As I studied the Bible Lesson in preparation for the family hike, it was interesting to find many ideas in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, about prayer being proactive. Mrs. Eddy often uses words that evoke real action on the part of one turning to God for spiritual growth and healing. Some key words are: dispute, destroy, dismiss, disagree, meet, rise, overthrow, blot out, rebel, rule out, prevent, banish.

I memorized: “Banish the belief that you can possibly entertain a single intruding pain which cannot be ruled out by the might of Mind, and in this way you can prevent the development of pain in the body. No law of God hinders this result” (Science and Health, p. 391). I substituted injury for pain in this quote. In fact, I also used some of the key “proactive” words for the first word, banish. I could “dispute” or “destroy” or “disagree with” or “blot out” the fear of injury on the hike.

This verse from the Bible also speaks to trusting God’s angel messages for protection: “They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone” (Psalms 91:12).

The hike up Black Tusk was a two-day trip. In total, we hiked 30 kilometers, round trip. We kept a good pace up switchback trails, while backpacking all our camping gear to Garabaldi Lake, a campsite up in the alpine. I prayed for strength and stamina while hiking up the continuous steep grade to our base camp.

I always love to hike in the mountains or walk quietly on valley trails because I have meaningful conversations with God, my Father, during these times. I’m reminded of this quote from Science and Health: “Nature voices natural, spiritual law and divine Love, but human belief misinterprets nature. Arctic regions, sunny tropics, giant hills, winged winds, mighty billows, verdant vales, festive flowers, and glorious heavens, — all point to Mind, the spiritual intelligence they reflect” (p. 240). I was constantly inspired and awed by the natural beauty around me as I hiked.

After hiking three hours, one of our party fell on the trail. I held to the truth that he couldn’t falter because he was endowed with all the spiritual strength and stamina that God permanently gives. He made it to the campsite and enjoyed some welcome rest and refreshment, while watching some of us plunge into the cold waters of Garabaldi Lake. I felt grateful and happy to have hiked a steady pace that day, with dominion.

The next morning all of us were ready for the ascent, with renewed strength and sturdy resolve. We departed and stashed our camping gear at a campsite along the way to lighten our load. A wonderful sense of family bonding occurred during the climb. We encouraged one other as we looked for hand- or footholds or as we approached drop-offs, while negotiating an exposed “chimney” portion of the climb.

As we carefully moved forward, I prayed to know that God’s law was the only law governing. Critical steps were taken safely. All four of us ascended to the peak successfully, and we enjoyed some hot drinks we heated on our tiny propane stove. The panoramic view looking out from the top of Black Tusk was incredible!

View from the top of Black Tusk

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Credit: Raven Smith

On the descent, still listening for God’s guidance, I was inspired to suggest we hike down the chimney backward, facing the stone wall, instead of facing out. There was no fallen rock or climbers in the chimney, and the clouds stayed at bay. We enjoyed the descent and broke into a joyful run with our camping gear on our backs in the last two kilometers before the parking lot. What an inspiring trip! We had a lot to talk about in the car on the ride home.