May 8 – Born Halfway Up the Mountain
When you realize how much of your life was shaped by forces you did not control, gratitude is the only honest response. David Steindl-Rast
Gregg’s Reflection
Living in Colorado, I’ve learned a lot about mountains. Most 14ers have trailheads starting around 11,000 feet, which means you’ve only got 3,000 feet to climb to reach the summit. Compare that to starting at 5,280 feet in Boulder—it’s a whole different challenge.
In my life, I’ve come to see that I was born halfway up the mountain. My father was an entrepreneur, and I grew up in a family business during a time of unprecedented economic growth in America. I’m white, male, and was given access to excellent schools without ever wondering how I’d pay for them. Even my height—6’7”—tilted the odds in my favor in the business world. None of that was my doing.
For years, I mistook privilege for personal achievement. I assumed my success was the result of my hard work and ambition alone. But when I began to see how much had been handed to me before I ever took my first step, something shifted. Gratitude replaced pride. Grace replaced self-congratulation. And with that came a deeper awareness that these gifts weren’t meant to be hoarded—they were meant to be shared.
Scripture
What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
1 Corinthians 4:7
To whom much is given, much will be required.
Luke 12:48b
Ancient Quotes
Do not pride yourself on borrowed virtues.
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, VI.30
He who receives a benefit should never forget it; he who bestows it should never remember it.
Seneca, De Beneficiis
Modern Quotes
When you realize how much of your life was shaped by forces you did not control, gratitude is the only honest response.
David Steindl-Rast, Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer
Our privileges are not for our personal advantage, but for the sake of those who have less.
Richard Rohr, Daily Meditation, 5/12/17
Journaling Prompts
- What “starting elevation” were you born into?
- Which parts of your life were shaped by your own effort, and which were shaped by circumstances beyond your control?
- How does recognizing privilege change your view of generosity and responsibility?
- What would it look like to use your starting point to help someone else climb higher?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 19 Reflections: Gratitude