I hiked Mt Whitney a few years ago.

At the trailhead was a sign that said something to the affect, 

“The summit of Mt. Whitney is 14,500 feet high, 11 miles away, remember it is only halfway on your journey.  Make sure you’re prepared, you will not be rescued.”

I often wish that there was a sign like that a year ago at the start of this pandemic. Something like,

“The turning point of this pandemic is one year away, keep in mind that point is only halfway.  Set your mind accordingly, being rescued is a wishful thinking fantasy.”

Well, on that happy note let me say this.

Yes, we feel exhausted and a little beaten up and bruised but unlike hiking Mt. Whitney our return journey will not take us back to the same place.  

In fact, it’s not a return journey at all.  

It is a journey onward to a new and as of yet undefined and un-visioned place.

If, in our fatigue, we’re hoping to let circumstance sail us back to the world that existed before we’re then losing time and focus.

In many ways we now stand at a new trailhead. 

We need to take the first steps of visioning a new destination.

Who are we now going to become for our communities, our staff and ourselves?

What impact, what service, what brave new ideas.

We have become experts at pivoting in reaction to circumstances but now it is time to stop the swirling around and square-off on the future.

Possibilities are alive.

In many ways we’ve made it to a summit. We don’t need to be rescued. We are strong and able and zeroing in on the next peak beyond.

Onward,