The Sherpa named "Dad"

Mount Everest is as beautiful as she is deadly. Standing at 29,029 feet this monolith can create its own weather patterns with frigid temperatures, white-out blizzards and hurricane force winds. The crevasses, ice falls and narrow paths are a labyrinth of lethal traps. At over five-miles above sea level, the air is thin and altitude sickness is a constant threat for climbers. However, amidst all this danger are breathtaking vistas of God’s creation. The challenge of a lifetime and her unparalleled majesty is what draws so many intrepid souls to risk life and limb to plant their personal flag on its summit.  

Most climbers wouldn’t try to scale the slopes of Everest alone. They hire special guides called “Sherpas.” The Sherpas are a unique people who, for generations, have inhabited the Khumbu Valley, the national park surrounding Everest. Because they have been living in the area for so long, they have developed an ability to function at very high altitudes. Whereas most people start to have oxygen problems above eight thousand feet, they have an amazing endurance up to about twenty-three thousand feet. Since the Sherpa guides have trekked Everest many times, they are experts when it comes to knowing the weather patterns and the best time to climb.

Hillary and Norgay

In May 1953, two men became the first in history to climb to the top of Mt. Everest; Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand beekeeper and explorer, and his Sherpa guide from Nepal, Tenzing Norgay. They reached the summit together and attained instant international fame. On the way down from the 29,000-foot peak, Hillary slipped and started to fall. He would almost certainly have fallen to his death, but Tenzing Norgay immediately dug in his ice-axe and braced the rope linking them together, saving Hillary’s life. At the bottom the international press made a huge fuss over the Sherpa guide’s heroic action. Through it all Tenzing Norgay remained very calm, very professional, very uncarried away by it all. To all the shouted questions he had one simple answer: “Mountain climbers always help each other.”[1]

Reflecting on this, I realized that God placed “Sherpas” in every family. His name is Dad and he is just as indispensable to his family as Norgay was to Hillary. Children need their fathers, like inexperienced climbers need the Sherpas, to guide them and to help them avoid the perils and unwise decisions of life. But they also need their fathers to help them appreciate the wonders that await them on the upward journey to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives.

Listen to the words of Solomon writing to his son in Proverbs 4:10-12, “Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.”

Fatherhood is the most amazing journey where Dad’s guidance and wisdom can lead a family from earth to heaven. Dads direct the destiny of their children. They are following in your footsteps. Where are you leading them? Are you leading them to a relationship with Jesus? Are you showing them how to find The Way to heaven?

Consider the words of this poem, by an unknown author:

“Walk a little slower, Daddy!” said a little child so small.
“I’m following in your footsteps and I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast, sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower Daddy, for you are leading me.

Someday when I’m all grown up, you’re what I want to be.
Then I will have a little child who’ll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right, and know that I was true;
So, walk a little slower, Daddy, for I must follow you!”

-DM

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[1] Adapted from Roland Warren, Bad Dads of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 176-178.