Month: June 2021

On a trip to Yosemite many years ago, I was enjoying the scenery when I noticed everyone around me looking up and pointing. Of course, I looked up to try and see what they were pointing at. All I saw was a massive rock wall towering above me (I shouldn’t say ‘all I saw’ because it was a pretty impressive sight). Everyone was insisting that there were three people climbing up that sheer cliff and they were pointing out three black specks on the rock face.

From my point of view, there was no one climbing that rock because you would have to be crazy to try and climb that rock. Someone close by me was saying that they would love to climb that rock. If offered the opportunity to climb that rock I would quickly decline. After several minutes, some of the watchers decided that no one was actually climbing the rock while others insisted that those black specks were indeed three climbers. I don’t recall if it was ever determined whether those black specks were climbers or shadows or dark rocks. I do clearly remember thinking that we were all standing around looking at the same thing and we couldn’t agree on what we were seeing. We were too far away to see clearly. If we had been able to get closer, or had a pair of high powered binoculars, we would have been able to determine the truth of the matter. We needed a better perspective of the situation. In today’s post truth culture, we would be wise to stop arguing about three specks on a rock wall and strive to get a better perspective.

I wrote previously about the importance of knowing our purpose and working strenuously towards accomplishing that purpose. I have often found myself distracted from doing the things I know I’m supposed to be doing. I also find myself a bit disheartened at the lack of progress towards my goals. I recall an Alaskan cruise some 20 years ago which put my lack of progress into perspective.

The glacier is famous for being incredibly slow moving, yet relentless. At a quick glance, we can’t really see it moving. But if you watch long enough, you will see pieces break off. Slow progress is still progress. That’s a good lesson to remember. Of course, human beings only have a limited amount of time on planet Earth, so we need to move a little faster than a glacier. Still, slow progress will eventually get us to our end goals as long as we don’t give up on them.