In The Absense of Failure December 1, 2007

This is a poem I wrote…it was intended to be an application “essay” for Wheaton college. But then I realized that Wheaton doesn’t have my major! Oh dear! I still like the poem though.

Failure: no longer an option. freedom. How should I spread my wings? flying through a realm of possibilities glancing over each one in particular catches my eye playing my violin my Lionheart forever and ever and ever always in symphonies in soundtracks in worship in bands recording composing improvising creating juilliard wheaton oberlin sherwood new england conservatory royal college of music living on music But is music me? no. another glistening possibility shining from below I dive in, examining– evangelism preaching all over the country seeing thousands come to Christ bringing millions into the kingdom But is evangelism me? no. yet another, glinting in the sky far above me this time space travel to the unexplored heights discovering God’s creation anew for the first time again seeing things completely new and yet always there jupiter saturn neptune pluto and beyond where there’s just me and God and a metal flying vessel alone and content But is space me? no. where is this shining from? everywhere all at once travel the world visit every single country learn the language the culture the people seeing God’s artistry in its infinite neverending countless innumerable forms of landscape mountain ocean desert forest lake prarie tundra ice steppe swamp wetland volcano encountering everywhere under the sun But is travel me? no. one last possibility straight ahead of me what can it be? one lone mountain in a sea of mountains rising above all others the highest place on earth Mt. Everest. “what is the use of climbing mt. everest?” “it is no use. the struggle of this mountain is the struggle of life itself. what we get out of this adventure is sheer joy.” striving upward exploring the utmost of God’s handiwork here alone closest to God seeking for Him and finding Him in the midst of my journey to the top of the world and finding the joy of life of Him on the way But is seeking me? yes— y e s . “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?” I would climb Mt. Everest.