On this day in 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary became the first person to climb to the top of Mount Everest.

The North Pole had been reached in 1909, the South Pole two years later. In 1953, the one remaining “frontier” for humans to conquer was Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, standing at an impressive and imposing 29,028 feet. At that time 15 expeditions had attempted to reach the top but had failed. It took a beekeeper from Auckland, New Zealand, and his Sherpa guide Tensing Norgay to accomplish that feat.

Edmund Hillary had devoted years of training to prepare for this attempt. He climbed the Southern Alps in summer and winter, to practice both rock climbing and ice pick work, and also took up wrestling. In 1951 Hillary made his first trip to the Himalayas, and the following year he joined a British Everest Committee training team.

Even with all these preparations, Hillary faced incredible obstacles. No one really knew the effects of high altitude and thin air on the body. It was an incredible test of strength, stamina, and courage. “We didn’t know if it was humanly possible to reach the top of Mt. Everest. And even using oxygen as we were, if we did get to the top, we weren’t at all sure whether we wouldn’t drop dead or something of that nature,” he said.

Hillary endured the test, and for his efforts, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and became an internationally known celebrity.

We all have times of testing in our lives. It may be a math class that is particularly challenging, or dealing with a person at school who is unpleasant to you. Whatever the test you face, we are instructed to “patiently endure testing” (James 1:12). In addition, “when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (James 1:4).

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him (James 1:12).

To Do

Think of a “test” that you are facing right now. Ask God to help you endure the test.

Also on this day . . .

1848—Wisconsin became the 30^th United State.

1911—The first Indianapolis 500 took place.

1917—John F. Kennedy, the 35^th president, was born.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.