...And He Had No Answer #2

“Are you crazy?”

I looked incredulously at my companion as he glared back defiantly. It had been three weeks since my friend and I had started our trek. Our friendship of ever so many years was a result of the one passion we both had in common—trekking. The terrain had been rough and craggy during our trip and my friend had injured his foot rather seriously. Being the stubborn individual he was, he had insisted we continue the journey instead of heading back. I had reluctantly agreed. We had now reached the final lap of the journey where we were supposed to climb upto the local temple which was built overlooking one of the most breathtaking landscapes.

We had heard that the journey was cumbersome but what we had not heard was that we had to climb precisely ten thousand four hundred and twenty seven steps to witness that magnificence. I had flatly refused to continue with the trip but my friend remained obstinate.

“There is no way you are going to convince me to climb” I declared.

“There is no way you are going to stop me from climbing” he said heatedly.

“Why are you being so difficult and silly? It’s okay if we don’t finish the trip!  You shouldn’t be climbing steps with that injury.”

He looked at me and I could tell he just wasn’t convinced. “I will never be able to accept the fact that I couldn’t finish a trek because of a menial injury” he stated and continued, “Besides, it is a temple we are visiting and you know the faith I have in God. I must visit the temple.”

I had now seated myself shamelessly on the road at the foot of the flight of steps. I looked at my friend and said to him, “Give me one solid reason why you should be climbing those steps in this condition and I will come without saying a word.”

He exclaimed, “What faith can I flaunt if I turn back now and not see the Lord in the temple!”

I replied simply, “And what faith can you flaunt if you think you can see the Lord…. only in a temple.”

…And he had no answer.