How High is 29,035 Feet?

For those of us who have ever wanted for adventure, the name "Sir Edmund Hillary" rings a familiar tone. Notably, we know him as a man that climbed to the top of the world and then back down successfully. Since that first ascent in 1953 over 4,000 climbers, adventures, want-to-bes, and wealthy travelers have made it to the top of this great peak, if only or a moment. But, there is something about being the first that gives you the right to name recognition.

To literally touch the roof of the world is, well, beyond most's abilities, but Sir Edmund Hillary broke the impossibility of Everest for us and in so doing he gave the world something that would spark wonder in the minds of climbers and arm-chair explores for generations. Forever, we will hear his name, and for many there will always be the driving need to duplicate his climb or model his effort.

This morning, however, I read an article by, Maurice Isserman, published in the Christian Science Monitor, entitled "The Higher Summit in Sir Edmund Hillary's Life". The article was a poignant salute to a great climber and a great human being. In the toast, Isserman, points out that despite the fact that "Sir Ed", as the people of Khumjung called him, gained from his climb to the top of Everest, the village and those that supported his first ascent benefited from the man as well as the mission. In the 1960s, Sir Edmund returned to Khumjung a world famous climber, but his head was never in the clouds or only focused on lofty heights. Over the years "Sir Ed" provided the locals a school, a medical clinic, and a safe drinkable water system, something almost unheard of in one of the poorest countries in the world. The benefits of these acts of charity have effected the lives of each in the village, and will for years to come. The greatness that Sir Edmund achieved during his life was in part because of the great heights he scaled, but also because of the great heights he reached in regards to humanity and charity. We know Sir Edmund because of his feats of mountaineering, but we all should applaud and follow his quiet, less famous lead in helping "the locals", whom ever they end up being.

How high is 29,035 feet? I may never literally know, but this much I do know - greatness does not only come from summiting the world's tallest peak, but from a kind gesture, a sincerest smile, or even a soft voice when the milk spills and the cup bounces across the kitchen floor. Greatness is sometimes the result of extraordinary moments of seemingly superhuman ability, but what the world needs more of is "Sir Ed"-like greatness at heights well below 29,035 feet.

What will you do in the next 100 Days?