Return to Everest

In case you wondered, I do try to apply this stuff to myself.

Last week I wrote a piece about starting with Everest and working back, my primary thought had been that facing our largest fears opens up the way to address others. I realise that this didn’t quite come across as I wrote because these things have a way of evolving as the letters turn into words and my mind wanders off down another path.

At various points in my life’s journey and subsequently since being married it has become a joint journey, we have been forced into situations, both by our own decisions and by the circumstances of life where we were faced with a situation of Everest like proportions.

The choices we make in those moments can define our lives for many years to come.

Almost eight years ago we embarked on a journey that we believed wholeheartedly to be the correct path for our lives at that juncture. I gave up a good job and we formed a business partnership with the aim of serving the church. This was never going to a lucrative venture but it was a sufficient income to sustain us as a family and remain in our home.

That was mountain number one. Stepping out of the consumerist whirlwind and capitalist culture while still living within it is not for the faint of heart. In truth, the journey to that point had been a series of lesser hills which get your mind used to the idea of the eventual mountain.

Fast forward four years and there is a group of people gathered together who want to start a church as a result of what we have been teaching and study together. Now don’t unfollow at this point because it has gone all religious, I promise it won’t get preachy! Starting a church was mountain number two; that isn’t a decision which is taken lightly in a culture where church is in decline and is no longer an acceptable proposition for most people.

Returning to full time employment in conjunction with this decision was mountain number three; my old boss called and offered me a job just as I was considering looking for one. Re-climbing an old peak is just as difficult as contemplating a new one, especially when it has been an experience which you don’t particularly want or relish repeating.

Now during those 4 years I was responsible for completing our tax returns; if you have had any dealings with the inland revenue you could probably guess where this is going. It is like climbing a mountain underwater without an oxygen tank while surrounded by stinging jellyfish and electric eels while being chased by sharks on mind bending drugs.

Is that a clear enough picture?

Enough to say, the battle with them has been long and protracted. Working with the church in this country does not pay well and achieving a taxable income, while not on our priority list, was equally not achieved. So when our friends at the tax office demanded from us a share we did chuckle somewhat.

Sitting last weekend at wits end (it’s close to world’s end) was reminded of my own words regarding Everest; I hastily Googled what was in my mind and acquired the email address of the Director General of the inland revenue (thank you hackers). One hour after contacting her I was assured that my case would be dealt with post-haste.

My battle strategy had been thus; I would begin a barrage of blitzkrieg proportions on the inboxes of this government department working from the top down until I achieved my desired goal. Mercifully this has not been necessary as someone must have received a sharp communique from the summit to fix this situation.

And he did!

Seven years of trench warfare is over and it is a little surreal.

Mountain number four was a virtual one, but the most mentally draining of all; I hope never to climb it again, ever!