Each of us have our own mountains to climb in life, heights we hope to scale, obstacles to overcome. But as we face these mountains of ours, we would do well to heed the advice of Sir Edmund Hillary who said “it is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”

It is easy to be awed or intimidated by the mountains that loom before us. But even if what we seek to conquer seems as daunting as climbing Everest itself, we must first look inward to find the tools we need to endure the trials that we face.

We pray to the Holy One, the Creator of us all, to open up our eyes to the unrealized possibilities ready to be awakened within ourselves, and we humbly ask for the strength and stamina to always forge ahead. May this be God’s will--AMEN.