Lone Survivor is one of the best movies of all time. If you don’t think so, there’s still time for you to change. The film is based on the true story of a small unit of four Navy Seals who found themselves alone in a ferocious gunfight against Taliban forces in Afghanistan. Their mission was supposed to be reconnaissance only, meaning that they were only meant to get close enough to the enemy to verify that one of the key Taliban leaders was currently in the village that they were observing. The mission turned sideways, however, when some goat herders stumbled upon the Navy Seals. The Seal team quickly realized that their cover was blown. They knew that the goat herders would go straight to the Taliban and alert them of the Seals’ location. The soldiers were unable to get in touch with their commander as the mountains were blocking their radio signal. Desperate to call in a helicopter so they could be evacuated before the enemy arrived, the group decided to head for higher ground in hopes of gaining a clear radio signal. Gesturing to the highest point that they could see, their leader Mike Murphy says, “let’s see if we can make that peak.” The small band of soldiers scrambles up the rocky terrain, constantly glancing behind them to see if the enemy is gaining on them. They finally reach their goal, yet quickly realize that the place that they were trying to get to was actually not a peak: it was just a jagged rock formation stuck midway between several larger mountainsides. This area would offer no better radio communication and was actually a horrible position from which to set up their defense against their pursuers. Upon reaching this point, one of the soldiers, Marcus Luttrell, glances around at the towering peaks surrounding their position. Deflated, he mutters in frustration what the rest already have realized: “false summit.”
False summit. What a great picture of the destination trap that so many of us are pursuing with relentless yet futile determination. I’ve lived a pretty good life so far, but if I’m honest, a lot of my internal world has been plagued by the pursuit of false summits. The trouble is, most of these destinations are actually noble pursuits, yet they set me up for disappointment because I attach a false sense of arrival to them. As our young family was growing rapidly, my mentality was “if I could just get us into a bigger house so that we could have some space, our family would be so much better off.” As the kids grew and got more expensive, my thoughts shifted to “if I could just increase my income to this level, we would have some breathing room to live more comfortably.” Lately, it’s been, “If we could find a way to put in a swimming pool, we could really create some timeless summer memories.” None of these pursuits are bad. In fact, I could argue that all of them are actually pretty noble. The problem is that I convince myself that once I reach those destinations, I will experience some sort of permanent satisfaction, some form of blissful peace, some sense of arrival that will leave me fulfilled. The truth is that I did get us into a bigger house. I did increase our income. (I have not put in a pool yet, but I know that day will come as I continue to channel my inner Clark Griswold). Each of those milestones provided some sense of accomplishment…for a moment. And then my attention was quickly redirected to the next destination on the horizon.
Our family has thoroughly enjoyed watching the Marvel films, and it has been especially fun to get caught up in the adventure of the Avenger series. In the movie Infinity War, the ultra-super-bad guy Thanos is consumed with his mission of acquiring all six of the “infinity stones.” Each stone is a source of a different power in the universe. Thanos is obsessed with possessing all six stones so that he alone can have the power to control the balance and distribution of power. He describes this insatiable desire to Dr. Strange. After hearing Thanos describe his mission of acquiring all six stones, Dr. Strange simply asks “and then what?”
Thanos replies, “I’d finally rest…and watch the sun rise on a grateful universe.”
Ah, yes. There it is… “I’d finally rest.” Isn’t that the destination trap that we’re all falling for? There are few things that appeal to the human soul more than comfort and rest. That’s what we are convinced is waiting for us at the end of the rainbow. If I can just reach that destination…then I can finally rest. The problem is, it’s actually a false summit.
In this life, we will get to experience some beautiful moments of peaceful rest, of delicious comfort. But these moments aren’t meant to be interpreted as a destination, but rather a glimpse into our eternal hope that is coming. The truth is that we were born into a world at war, so if we become consumed with a destination mentality, we are setting ourselves up for a frustrating pursuit of false summits. Maybe the biggest trap in all of this is that we somehow think that we can reach these destinations out of our own determination and striving. Instead, I believe that we are supposed to trust the One who gives us peace in the process and joy in the journey. My life isn’t supposed to be measured by outcomes, but by relationships. It’s not supposed to be a collection of achievements, but a level of partnership that is lived out.
For too long, I’ve tried to convince myself that if I can make it to the next peak, then “I’d finally rest.” It’s a destination trap that leads to a false summit. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of chasing false summits. I recently heard a speaker say something to the effect of “It’s time to take our daydreaming eyes off the horizon and turn our attention to our own feet. It’s time to start moving those feet down the pathway of purpose and find joy in the journey.” Yeah, that sounds like a much better plan to me…
for underdogs & kings... 