Go Climb That Mountain
There is a monster mountain
aptly named Survival.
No climber attempts to clamber up
for sport or glory.
Those who make it are not heroes,
only tired survivors.
Those who have the life-luck
to draw the short straw
and must scale the cloud toucher
gaze up startled
at the snow-covered peak.
When they get the assignment
to ascend, they ask: "why me?"
That universal question was asked
on the stairs of the Mayan temple.
Wherever some have it harder than most,
this question comes to the fore.
Asked but never answered,
for it is not known.
The appointed climber has
just time to breathe deeply
and accept the task.
Lack of choice is a major motivator.
So off to tackle old Survival.
Crowds collect to watch the event.
There are three populations who gather
to observe the ascent.
First are cheerleaders
who spread optimism as a stairway.
There are the gamblers who
make book on the outcome.
History prompts them to offer high odds.
The last group wishes and cheers for a disaster
to validate their life pessimism.
The successful climber of Mount Survival
needs to take strength for each group.
Cheerleaders provide the love to fuel
the energy-demanding climb.
Gamblers provide the challenge
to beat those tough odds.
But most helps comes
from the mean skeptics.
For they are at the point where
arrogance and ignorance meet to
feed on each other.
Their trail-blocking doubts
demand a strong teaching effort.
The curriculum needed is the value
of dedication, determination,
optimism and hard work.
Despite the skeptics' doubts
there is more good than evil
in the world..
Success in climbing Mount Survival
is a lesson taught
to these most needy students.
Corner-stone to our survival as a species is
climbers' proof that
we can overcome Mount Survival.
Doug Minnis
December 13, 2009