Trust The Climb

  Background —




In January of 2019, West Virginia University hired Neal Brown as their new football coach.  In June of 2019, he released a tweet acknowledging there is a rebuilding process that is underway and that it will take time.  He summed it up in a catchy phrase: Trust The Climb.  This phrase has gained momentum and usage throughout the WVU nation.  Even though (as of 23-Oct-2019), WVU is 3 - 4 on the season, fans across the country are reminding themselves that they can "Trust the Climb."

         Connection —



I'm not that much of a football fan.  I'll pay attention a little, here and there.  But as I kept reading and hearing this phrase, "Trust the Climb"  I started thinking about Hannah Hurnard's book Hinds' Feet on High Places.  Immediately I was reminded that the character Much Afraid had to trust the Shepherd to bring her up to the heights.  And the path chosen for her was not the easy one, nor was it the route that went the straightest.  In fact it went to and through places that Much Afraid did not want at all.  Yet she had to trust her Shepherd to make the climb.

  The Take Home—


Isn't this, though, exactly what we're supposed to do in our spiritual journey, climbing up to Emmanuel's Land?  We've never been there before; we don't know the way; there are many obstacles to overcome.  Surely if we chose the route ourselves, we would end up in a world of hurt, trouble and misfortune—to say the least.  But we have a Great Shepherd who has our eternal good in mind.  We may trust the climb because He is the One leading and guiding us—and, in fact, has promised never to leave us nor forsake us!  If Mountaineer Fans can trust a coach, how much more can we, as God's chosen people, trust our Heavenly Father and our Older Brother, Christ Jesus, as we climb home!



An Update and further Reflection—

Neil Brown was fired after six season with WVU on Dec. 1, 2024.  Many trusted the climb, but there was a limit to their trust.  And with good reason.  Neil is only human and can only do so much.  He has limited resources and limited abilities.

That is not the case with trusting our might Lord.  He is completely able.  He is all powerful and all knowing.  He has unlimited resources and is working all things out with infinite wisdom for His glory and for the good of those He loves.  We may trust the climb as we wend our way upward toward home and eternity with Him.  He is Sovereign and Good.  There is no firing Him: There is no one higher, and there is no ultimate reason either for ALL things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called by Him: 

 "No power can break that blessed unity which is conjoin'd betwixt my Lord and me.  I'm fix'd  in Him; my standing sure is made, and none can invade my eternal crown."  Benjamin Keach

Скажи мне, Господи—Tell Me, O Lord

Based on Psalm 39 (Psalm 38 in the Russian Bible)

“Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.

Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah

Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
Surely they busy themselves in vain;
He heaps up riches,
And does not know who will gather them.

“And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.”                                               Ps. 39:4 - 7 (New KJV)

Скажи мне, Господи, кончину мою
и число дней моих, какое оно,
дабы я знал, какой век мой.

Вот, Ты дал мне дни, как пяди,
и век мой как ничто пред Тобою.
Подлинно, совершенная суета--всякий человек живущий.

Подлинно, человек ходит подобно призраку;
напрасно он суетится,
собирает и не знает,
кому достанется то.

И ныне чего ожидать мне, Господи?
надежда моя--на Тебя.
                                               Псалтирь 38:5 - 8

Now, the song's lyrics:

Скажи мне, Господи, кончину мою
Skazhi mne, Gospodi, konchinu moyu
Tell me, O Lord, end (literary: death) [of] mine

И дней моих число - какое оно?
I dney moikh chislo - kakoye ono?
And days [of] mine number — what [is] it?

Дабы я знал, век мой какой,
Daby ya znal, vek moy kakoy,
So that I might know age [of] mine what [is]

Дабы я знал, Боже мой, век свой.
Daby ya znal, Bozhe moy, vek svoy.
So that I might know, O God [of] mine, age mine.

Ты дал мне дни, они как пядь,
Ty dal mne dni, oni kak pyad',
You gave me days, they [are] like [a] span,

Краткий век мне Тобой отпущен
Kratkiy vek mne Toboy otpushchen
Brief age [to] me [by] You given

Подлинно, лишь суета,
Podlinno, lish' suyeta,
Truly, just vanity,

Всякий человек живущий.
Vsyakiy chelovek zhivushchiy.
Every man living.

Припев:
Услыши, Господи, молитву мою
Uslyshi, Gospodi, molitvu moyu
Hear (listen to), O Lord, prayer [of] mine

И внемли Ты воплю
I vnemli Ty voplyu
And harken You [to the] cry

К слезам моим безмолвен не будь
K slezam moim bezmolven ne bud'
To tears [of] mine silent not be

Ибо я странник.
Ibo ya strannik.
For I [am a] stranger.



Near the end of the video, he opens an envelop and reads something written there:

«Прости»

"Prosti"  — This means "forgive" or "pardon" or "sorry."  In the context of no other words written around it, it almost certainly means "sorry."

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Zhednei

Zhednei. Ah postnei ihdokh
Zhepednei nostreem
Ikh khodah ladokh
Daprezhne dui freem.

Ikh tahme, lakhtamei lazhnii
Freduzhnah lakhsa ihm
Lah dokhah khadok
Lafrunzhe gui khla-ihm.

Teek  teek, leek leek
Simul simul tamil tammei
Haak haak, flaak flaak
Rimul timul lakhsei flanei.

Lhadnei. Tii bostnei ihdokh
Lhapezhdnep nostreeph
Tiip khodahp ladozhh
Drajprezhnah duii freeph.

Ikhl tahm, lakhtamtl lazhnip
Freduzhnag lakhsa jiulp,
Lahn dokhah khadohk
Lapfrunzhe guip khla fiulp.



A nonsense poem exploring how language and sylables fit together.

Bless That House — Благословен Тот Дом

 

Or click here for direct link to the mp3.

1. Благословен тот дом, где в каждом чистом сердце
Blagosloven tot dom, gde v kazhdom chistom serdtse
Blessed is that house, where in each pure heart

Слово святое Господа живёт.
Slovo svyatoye Gospoda zhivyot.
[the] Word holy [of the] Lord lives

Нет власти тьмы и страха смерти,
Net vlasti t'my i strakha smerti,
No power [of] darkness and fear [of] death,

И Сам Господь с тот дом Хозяином войдёт.
I Sam Gospod' s tot dom Khozyainom voydyot.
And Himself [the] Lord with that house Owner/Master will enter.

Припев 2 раза:
Chorus 2 times:
    Благословен, благословен,
    Blagosloven, blagosloven,
    Blessed, blessed, 

    Благословен, тот дом.
    Blagosloven tot dom
    Blessed is that house.

2. Благословен тот дом, где в тихий час молитвы
Blagosloven tot dom, gde v tikhiy chas molitvy
Blessed is that home, where in quiet hour [of] prayer

Духом Святым Господь касается сердец.
Dukhom Svyatym Gospod' kasayetsya serdets.
Spirit Holy [the] Lord touches hearts.

Где радости, счастья, любви в избытке,
Gde radosti, schast'ya, lyubvi v izbytke,
Where joy, happiness, love in abundance,

И благодать излил Небесный наш Отец.
I blagodat' izlil Nebesnyy nash Otets.
And blessing poured out Heavenly our Father.

Припев 2 раза + проигрыш
Chorus 2 times + instrumental

3. Благословен тот дом, где старость уважают,
Blagosloven tot dom, gde starost' uvazhayut,
Blessed [is] that home, where old [age is] esteemed / respected.

Где веру свято берегут из рода в род.
Gde veru svyato beregut iz roda v rod.
Where faith piously preserved [from] generation to generation.

Славят Творца и Библию читают,
Slavyat Tvortsa i Bibliyu chitayut,
Praise (3rd person plural) the Creator and Bible read (3rd person plural),

И возрастают в мудрости из года в год.
I vozrastayut v mudrosti iz goda v god.
And grow / increase in wisdom from year to year.

Припев 2 раза
Chorus 2 times



Translation and versified into English:

Blessed is then that house, where each with hearts so pure:
Dwells there the holy Word of God most high;
There is no fear of dark nor of death—
There God Himself will enter in most nigh.

   Blessings to them, blessings to them
   Blessings upon that home.


Blessed is then that house, where live true pious prayer;
There Holy Spirit touches ev'ry heart with grace;
There joy and love, happiness abounding,
And blessings from our Father's smiling face.

   Blessings to them, blessings to them
   Blessings upon that home.

Blessed is then that house, where agéd are esteeméd,
Where pious faith will pass from old unto the young.
So praise our God, read then His Scriptures,
And grow in grace and wisdom in each year to year.

   Blessings to them, blessings to them
   Blessings upon that home.

Another version of this song:

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Научи меня, Боже, молиться — Teach Me to Pray

1.
Научи меня, Боже, молиться,
Nauchi menya, Bozhe, molit'sya,
Teach me, O God, to pray,

Твой священный закон соблюдать;
Tvoy svyashchennyy zakon soblyudat';
Your holy/sacred law to observe (to obey);

Научи гордым сердцем смириться,
Nauchi gordym serdtsem smirit'sya,
Teach [a] proud heart to accept (to be humble / to give in)

Твою волю во всём исполнять.    2x
Tvoyu volyu vo vsyom ispolnyat'.    2x
Your will in everything to carry out.    2x

2.
Чтобы жил Ты во мне безраздельно,
Chtoby zhil Ty vo mne bezrazdel'no,
So that lived You in me undividedly,

Дух Святой чтоб во мне пребывал,
Dukh Svyatoy chtob vo mne prebyval,
Spirit Holy so that in me might remain,

Чтоб любил я Тебя беспредельно
Chtob lyubil ya Tebya bespredel'no
So that love I You boundlessly

И лишь имя Твое прославлял.    2x
I lish' imya Tvoye proslavlyal.    2x
And only name [of] Your glorified.    2x



3.
Чтоб, омыт драгоценною кровью,
Chtob, omyt dragotsennoyu krov'yu,
So that, washed [by] precious blood,

Чистым сердце своё я хранил
Chistym serdtse svoyo ya khranil
Pure heart self I have kept

И святой, бескорыстной любовью,
I svyatoy, beskorystnoy lyubov'yu,
And [with] holy, selfless love,

Всей душой своих ближних любил.     2x
Vsey dushoy svoikh blizhnikh lyubil.    2x
[with] All soul [of] mine neighbor loved.     2x

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