King of the Hill
It was my return to college and I decided to take a part-time job at the church I was attending. It was one of those mega churches long before that term was coined. I was one of several young people who were part of the recreational staff. In the summer we had several children’s and youth programs that we led.
One of the things I did, in the summer I worked on the staff, was help lead the youth in various events at a week long Summer Retreat. It was in the beautiful mountains of Colorado. In fact, we could see Pikes Peak looking across from the mountain we stayed at.
Not too far out of my high school track days, I decided to participate in the one mile run they were having. My favorite running event was the mile. I knew I wasn’t in the top shape, but I also knew I could ease up on the pace I used to run. It didn’t take me long to realize that it was a lot different running in the high attitudes of the Rockies, rather than the near sea level places I ran track in high school. I huffed and puffed and had to stop a few times and put my hands on my knees and bend over as I gasped for air. I guess I really wasn’t prepared for running in the mountains.
We had them on the run. Our ships were chasing their ships. They knew they were in trouble. They ducked into a cove and stayed in the shallow waters. They knew if we came into the cove they would blow us up. So we just blocked the cove and tried to wait them out. Rear Admiral William Thomas Sampson grew impatient. He got in touch with Washington and told them that if he had 10,000 troops, he could land them and circle around their trapped ships and attack them from the shoreline. He also said the enemy fleet and the city they were protecting could be overtaken in 48 hours. Just like most government things, three weeks later his troops arrived.
It was not all smooth sailing for these troops. One group was dropped off without their provisions. In fact, they didn’t even have their horses. I guess someone must have realized the error, for when they were a few hundred yards from the beach they herded the horses off the ship and let them attempt to swim to the shore. The horses became very confused and started swimming out to sea. A quick-thinking bugler started playing his bugle and the horses turned around and started heading back toward the shore. Some didn’t make it though. Rain-in-the-Face was the name of one of the more notable soldier’s horses. That horse drowned.
Once everything settled down they caught up with the rebels they were sent to help find their independence. They were shocked when they met them for the first time. They were expecting to help a group of people just like themselves. Because of the constant sunlight these rebels had a very dark complexion. They were also dressed in rags, smelled like they rarely took baths, and their hair was dirty and messy. The rebels’ conduct was also rude. Eventually they just made the rebels do the dirty work while they “fought the war.” This didn’t leave the rebels feeling very happy, after all, it was their own freedom they were trying to gain and they, too, wanted to fight for it.
It was a very long and exciting journey. They had seen miracle after miracle and now there was a time to reflect on how far they came. They were very thankful that God got them this far. He was their leader and he was going to lead them to meet God Himself. First he had to get them ready. They needed to put on fresh clothes and clean themselves up. In addition, they had to be on their very best behavior. He also gave them a list of things they couldn’t do for three days, which was when the encounter was to occur.
Sometimes when you get excited about something, reality is one of the last things you think about. If you are part of a large group, their excitement can be contagious. But when it gets a little scary, that commitment can quickly be forgotten. Maybe that wouldn’t be the case with them.
On June 30th Lieutenant Colonel Joseph E. Maxfield gave the orders that the valves be open to the hydrogen for his balloons. This would lift him a thousand feet in the air, where he could observe the enemy. He could see the enemy forces in the town of El Caney. There were also two hills that would pose a challenge. One of the hills was called Kettle Hill for the sugar-making equipment that was located at the top. The other hill was a well defended summit. Once they captured the two hills they could look down on the enemy ships and demand their surrender.
The American forces assigned to attack El Caney far outnumbered the enemy. There were only 520 of the enemy defending the city. The odds were even greater on the fortified hill. The Americans would send up 10,000 troops compared to the 521 enemy soldiers. It was thought the town could be overtaken in about two hours. The plan was for the attacks on the hills to start about two hours after the attack on the town started. Instead, the start of the attacks happened almost simultaneously. Things didn’t go as planned.
El Caney proved so tough to take there was even talk of abandoning that effort. Kettle Hill and the other hill also proved to be tough goals with enemy soldiers just plowing down Americans as they approached. Finally a break came.
An American sharpshooter finally was able to hit the main marksmen on the main hill and the confused enemy started their retreat. The Americans swarmed the hill. On the other hill, Kettle Hill, the young man whose horse drowned in the water help lead a charge up that hill. In almost a foolish effort, bullets whizzed past him, but finally Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were able to make it to the top of Kettle Hill. By the time he reached the summit the Spanish had fled. They then set their sights on San Juan Hill, the well-fortified hill. By the time they arrived the enemy had retreated. So goes the story of Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders charge up San Juan Hill in the war for Cuba’s independence.
Moses was very excited that the Israelites were finally going to get to meet God just like he had. He had them cleaned up and ready to go. They sat at the edge of the mountain and waited for God. Then God came. The thunder, lightning, and smoke announced his coming. The people were filled with terror. They decided that they just wanted Moses to meet with Him. Meeting Him seemed way too scary for them. Their mountain experience didn’t turn out anything like they hoped it would.
Sometimes we think we come prepared for a situation. Sometimes when it arrives we realize we weren’t properly prepared. Sometimes we take too long to get there and it’s already gone. Then there are the times it looks us straight in the face and we run away scared. Life is full of these situations. It is wise to prepare, be ready to act, and to rely on God to calm our fears.
Prayer: Dear Mighty Father, Many times in my life I have had difficult situations stand in front of me. I confess I haven’t always done the best at dealing with them. But You have never given up on me and hopefully today You have prepared me for them. Please let my sense of timing, be the same as Your sense of timing. Please let me remain calm when these situations come so my emotions don’t prevent my ears from hearing your directions. Amen.
