False Summit

I suppose the concept of a false summit is actually one based in limited perception and is primarily phenomenological; that is, one merely misapprehends that they are at the summit when the actual summit of the mountain they are climbing is obscured by a ‘false summit’ because of their smallness, the angulation of observation, and, again, limited perspective. Though, I suppose, virtually everything could be categorized in this way - as phenomenological - since we can never fully, properly perceive anything in its complete fullness. When you look at an apple, you don’t ‘see’ the electrons that comprise the atoms of that apple, but rather the Gestalt or summation of all of the atoms and visible-light waves bouncing off of that apple. You can never really ‘see’ the apple in its abundant fullness, electrons, mites, amoebas, dust particles and all the rest completely and fully. If you did, you might be tempted to fall down and worship it…literally. How much more if an angel from heaven allowed you to really ‘see’ them? This is certainly not to say that you can’t see the apple; you really can. You just can’t ‘see’ it in all of its totality. In a similar fashion, the actual summit of mountain that one is ascending may be shrouded in mist or merely covered by a closer, more localized yet lower summit that is not the the true summit, but indeed, a false summit. When arriving on what they originally thought the actual summit was only to find there is another higher summit beyond, the mountaineer should not be discouraged, but definitively encouraged. First, there is higher ground to take. Second, more challenges ahead means the potential for more growth, both of leg muscles and constitution. Third, more adventure awaits…and who but knows that next summit will reveal even bigger, more glorious ones beyond as well! Further up and further in forever and ever: that is the uniquely Christian hope.