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• W. Wayne Gardner
  President
  Toccoa Falls College

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Several years ago I took a group of boys from an Explorer Post to Philmont Scout Ranch just outside Cimarron, New Mexico.   We were ambitious back in those days and so for our ten day hike we chose the mountain climbing, five or six peaks over a 126 mile trek.  

We began the first day full of energy, excited that we were hiking at such altitude beginning around 6,500 feet and topping out at 12,400 feet on Mount Baldy.  During our third night out we had climbed one mountain and had experienced a bear in our campsite one night.  We were on trail rations and the boys were getting tired.   What seemed like fun and a great adventure was becoming a very tough experience.  We would wake up in the morning to cool and at times  cold temperatures even though we were there in July. 

About the sixth day we were camping at the base of Mt. Baldy near an altitude of 9 – 10,000 feet.  I would get them up in the morning about 4 a.m. to begin our climb to the top.  As we neared the tree line the boys began to stop and grumble.  ”We don’t want to go” was a familiar phrase coming out of their mouth.  So I made a decision.  I took my Senior Patrol Leader aside and said, I am going on ahead.  When the guys ask where I am tell them I am going to the top.  Let’s see what they do.  Will they let an old man of 28 do something they gave up on.

I began the climb.  As I was about 500 feet from the top I turned around and I saw them, every one of them, coming after me.  I kept climbing and when I reached the top my best hiker was right there with me.  We were in shorts and short sleeved t-shirts and it was snowing at the top.  We stayed for the others to arrive and then put our names on the paper, placed it in the receptacle designed for this at the summit, and began our climb back down.   We had all made it.  No one was left behind because they saw the example of their leader putting out the effort to make the climb and they followed.

I often read Philippians and when I get to Philippians 4:8 – 9 I think of this example and I think of those 10 boys who made that trek with me.  Paul says “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

May we be the leaders who provide examples of excellence so that those who come behind us will be stronger and better because of the example we leave them.  May we challenge people to greater exploits for the Lord and may we encourage those who follow to be excellent in all they do.

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