On Saturday, I took a little jaunt to Lake O’Hara and ran the Alpine Circuit. It was one of the most spectacular days in the mountains. The beauty was breathtaking, and around every corner, there were gasps of “Wow” or “Holy shit!”
There were times when emotion washed over me, and I could feel tears forming in my eyes. I thought of the conversation we had at our Connect’d Men group last week.
We discussed the things that make us come alive. We talked about seeing the world through different lenses, how the world looks different after certain life experiences, and how we can all try on the lenses of others to experience the world in various ways.
So Saturday, I got to see the beauty and wonder of Lake O’Hara with the woman I love and good friends. I practiced seeing the beauty through the eyes of a man who has lost loved ones, and through the eyes of others:
- Through the eyes of a man who has stage 4 lung cancer
- Through the eyes of a man who has lost a marriage after 22 years
- Through the eyes of a man who has lost everything and sometimes feels like he has nothing to live for.
- I saw Lake O’Hara through the eyes of a man in recovery, trying to rebuild a lost decade with his daughter.
I was privileged to see the world through the eyes of so many men, and its beauty made me weep.
Awe reminds us we’re alive. But empathy reminds us we belong.
Standing at Lake O’Hara, surrounded by beauty that defied description, I realized the real adventure isn’t the mountain — it’s learning to carry that awe into how we see and support each other when we come back down.
Whether you’re standing on a summit or sitting in silence with a friend, the invitation is the same: keep your heart open, your curiosity alive, and your compassion active. The world, and the people around you, are aching to be seen through eyes of awe.
I always love hearing from you. What’s been your “Lake O’Hara moment” lately?
