Dark Brightness

I have spent most of the Easter weekend looking after the boys. We have gone for walks and trips (which I am in the habit of NOT taking photos for). The boys take their risks in the virtual world. However, many people find meaning in the hills. Where there is a risk that this will happen…

Colleagues and friends of Dunedin woman Lynne Marie Osborne were yesterday in shock at the news she had died in a climbing accident on Mitre Peak on Monday.

My sympathies to her children and relatives. However, if you walk in the hills this can happen.

Ms Osborne (46) was climbing in the area with her partner when she fell about 200m from the northeastern ridge of the 1692m peak, Senior Sergeant Richard McPhail, of Winton, said.

via Dunedin climber’s body recovered | Otago Daily Times Online News.

The hills are unforgiving when it comes to mistakes. And sometimes the hills will destroy you anyway: there is little you can do in the line of an avalanche. However, people will take these risks. We approve of them: to be a climber in Dunedin is to be admired. I guess the risk is about the same a cycling: and in the same period 9 people died on the roads.

For risk is not avoidable — if you sit at home and do nothing your risk of death increases — if you go out things can happen to you.

We are enjoined to live for G_d’s glory. This entails some risk. So let us think of this family today, and continue to have courage, and do what we need to.