Over the last few days in Scotland there have been several references to ‘Munros’. Apparently a Munro is a Scottish mountain that’s over 3000 feet (914m) high. They’re named after Sir Hugh Munro who first compiled a list of them in 1891. I’ve learnt that there are 282 Munros.
Since then, some British walkers and mountaineers record all of the Munros that they have successfully climbed; some attempt to ascend all 282 peaks. This pursuit is known as ‘Munro-bagging’.
I identify with Munro-bagging. I’ve always set myself challenges.– projects, activities, new ideas –Once one is completed I look forward to the next one – the school production, the church sermon, the presentation at next week’s meeting.
I’ve climbed each of my Munros to the best of my ability, ticked it off, and set off for the next one. This is the way I lived my life. This is the sort of man I am. This is what has motivated me.
In school I encouraged children to live with goals and purpose – to read a challenging book, stand up to bullies, compete in competitive sports, perform in a school production – to identify and bag their Munros.
Last night thirteen-year-old Alastair played the bagpipes for us at our hotel. He’s really good. I chatted to him and his Mum. He’s knowledgeable, enthusiastic, inspirational. Taught by a champion piper he takes part in piping competitions across Scotland. He’s doing his version of Munro-bagging.
In ‘The Sound of Music’ the Von Trapp family sing:
Climb every mountain, ford every stream
Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream
Their Munro-bagging isn’t in the Scottish Highlands, but in the Austrian Alps as they seek their freedom.
And David, in the Psalms, the help he gets from his God in his version of Munro-bagging, and when he says: ‘I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.’
malcolmsmusings.org 