The climb was rugged, and the hikers for the most part were unused to mountain climbing. The exception was their leader, Ian, who was a veteran of many trips up rugged Mount Hood in Oregon.

On and on they went, ever climbing higher. It seemed that any step now would bring them to the top. Up over this next ridge, and they should be at the top. But right there they were faced with a sheer rock wall. It looked impassable. They felt that they had reached the end of the trail.

Ian's practiced eyes searched the wall. "Right here," he called. "We'll go up here," indicating a three-sided break in the wall. "We'll go up this chimney." They gaped unbelievingly at him, but obediently they stood as he roped them together, with himself in the lead and one of the stronger, more able young men at the end.

Up they went. They soon caught the idea of the rope. Ian went first, as the rest held him. Then one by one each person moved, like checkers on a checkerboard, while the others held the rope -- up that wall, from rock to rock, finding handholds and footholds where they could find them -- until at last they stood triumphantly on the summit.

Not one of those young people could have gone up that chimney by himself. Only when they had an able guide who showed them how to keep from slipping could they make their way up. Their final triumph was due to a good leader and to their willingness to follow his directions.

There are times when we all come to rock walls that seem impassable. We meet with difficulties that make us throw up our hands and cry out in despair, "I can't do it!" And we are probably right -- by ourselves we cannot. But we have a Guide who can show us how to get over this difficulty.