Journal of Sacred Work

A British mountaineer, desperate for oxygen had collapsed on a well-traveled route to the [Everest] summit. Dozens of people walked right past him, unwilling to risk their own ascents. Within hours, David Sharp, 34, was dead. – AP 5/27/06

   Ever since Mount Everest was identified as the world’s tallest peak in 1852 (and named Everest in 1856) people have sought to climb its peak. Mount Everest became a sort of Holy Grail for some as they sought to test the limits of their skill and strength by climbing her. A century of efforts passed before Sir Edmund Hillary and his Sherpa guide, Tenzeng Norgay, finally ascended the peak on May 29, 1953. They were hailed worldwide as heroes. Since then, hundreds more have tried and succeeded and many more have failed.   

  Ascending Everest is still an accomplishment that requires skill, endurance, planning, persistence and a stout heart. Apparently, though, it does not require the presence of a compassionate heart. The opportunity to compare the above story to that of the Good Samaritan is tempting. Dozens of people saw a fellow human in need and, like the priest and the Levite in the parable "walked right past him…"

   How often do we ignore the needs of others in favor of our own goals? How do we, as caregivers, find the balance necessary to give love and accomplish personal success at the same time?   

   The short answer is that we always succeed whenever we give love. Presence to the needs of another is the highest expression of the self.

  Many, including Sir Edmund himself, were outraged that, on the morning of May 15, 2006, no one stopped to help the stricken David Sharp (who had already ascended the summit and was on his way down when he fell ill.) In fact, one group did stop briefly and offer Mr. Sharp oxygen, but then chose to go on their way, leaving him to die.

   It’s easy for us, sitting comfortably somewhere near sea level, to pass judgment on those battling wind, cold, and low oxygen at an altitude of 29,000 feet. Still, it is clear that a number of climbers chose their own goals and ignored Love’s calling to help a weakened brother.

     Amazingly, on May 26, only days later, another climber, Australian Lincoln Hall (see photo) became stranded in the same fashion as David Sharpe. Again, many climbers passed by. But this time, a group, led by climber Dan Mazur stopped to help. Surrendering their own goals to reach the summit (they were within two hours of the peak) Mr. Mazur’s group (including two clients who had paid him to help them reach the summit) dedicated their lives and their supplies to saving the life of Mr. Hall. In true Samaritan style, they did not give up until Mr. Hall had been both saved and given follow up care.

   In failing to reach the peak, Masur’s group climbed an "Everest" far more important. They saved a human life by giving of themselves. They abandoned personal goals and took up the goal of helping another.

  "I don’t know why [others] didn’t stop to help," Mazur said. And he added that if he was ever in that state, he hoped a passerby would be "someone like me."

  Almost literally, Mazur lived the Golden Rule. Here is what this story can tell us: Climbing the Everest of the Heart is harder than climbing the Everest of the Himalayas.

   Mountain climbing requires a personal commitment to skill, training, brains and brawn. Living Love requires a depth of courage and Love far greater than any of these. To live love, we must climb a peak that requires the courage to face our darkest corners and to surrender our will to the call of Love. We must scale the heavens and open our hearts to that Love that lives on the other side of our own personal need. It is a climb that calls to us each day. We can ignore it and, like many, pass it by. Or we can stop and embrace it.
    What does a Samaritan look like? Dan Mazur (see photo) looks ordinary enough on the outside. Like all of us his soul is invisible. Does he have the skill to scale Everest? His resume shows that he does. Did Love flow through him on the morning of May 26? Clearly, it did. Just ask the man who’s life he saved.

   Each of us faces opportunities large and small, to climb the Everest of our hearts. Today, a caregiver will want to pass by the voice calling in need from a patient room. After all, as many caregivers have told me, there are always people calling out for help from their rooms or from stretchers or on the street or from images of places like sub-Saharan Africa, or Haiti or New Orleans.

   In some cases, the call comes from far away and we can comfort ourselves that far away is too far for us. But many calls will come to us from people well within our reach. We will often have the choice to interrupt our journey toward our own goals. We can choose to stop, offer a friendly touch, the soft eyes of your compassion and the full help another may need from us, or we can walk on by. It can be a hard mountain to climb, yet at its peak is the only summit worth reaching.

Reflective Practice:

1) After Hillary and Norgay climbed Everest, Hillary (see photo) said, "We didn’t know if it was humanly possible to climb Everest." Indeed, in a hundred years since its discovery, no one had done so. If you had been Hillary, would you have stopped to help another stranded climber if you had encountered one – and possibly given up your chance for immortality?

2) When we don’t stop to help, there are always excuses and explanations, but what does our failure to stop say about our values?

3) Is it fair for us to pass judgment on those that don’t stop or, for that matter, to praise those who do?

4)Do you agree that we don’t always need to travel to a faraway place to find adventure and opportunity to serve. Is the Everest of the heart truly harder to climb than the actual mountain?

5) What have you done to reach out to help another beyond your own need?

6) What is the most important thing you will do (or have done) to help someone today?