Looking Up: The Hike

A few years ago, I went on a weekend hiking trip with a group of about twenty other people. We stayed at a campground up in the mountains that was kind-of in the middle of nowhere, without any amenities. If we wanted to wash, we had to haul a bucket of water up from the river that was down the hill from our campsite. It was springtime, so it was warm during the day, but chilly at night. We bundled up in our sleeping bags and wore knit caps to stay warm while we slept. I chose not to sleep inside one of the tents, but rather under a tarp out in the open, because I wanted to be able to see the stars and the moon and to feel the night breeze.

We were there for two nights and parts of three days. We would go hiking during the day, and then go back to base camp at dinnertime. We also spent some time going off on our own individually to spend some time alone and write in our journals. At the end of each day, we would spend some time together around the campfire, talking about the day and what we had learned. Part of the purpose of the trip was to look inward – we all have much that we can learn about ourselves, if we’re willing to look.

Saturday was the roughest day because we went on the longest hike. Most of our other hikes were short hikes, but we had a specific destination in mind for Saturday, and it was quite a distance away, and mostly uphill. We were hiking a path that mostly followed the river upstream. Sometimes we could see the river through the trees, and sometimes we couldn’t. We had heard that there was a beautiful waterfall at the end of this hiking trail, and wanting to see it, we assumed that the long, difficult hike would be worth it to see the waterfall.

Now I’ve got to be honest, I wasn’t in the best physical condition then. I hate to admit it, but I was smoking at the time (though not on the trip), too, so my lung capacity wasn’t exactly what it should have been, either. But I was determined to complete the hike, even though it wasn’t easy. When my legs started to ache, I had to find a branch to use as a hiking stick. I was very thankful for my canteen of water, which I had to drink from regularly. There were several times that I considered sitting down and giving up, unsure as to my ability to make it to the end of the trail. But I kept going, and every time I saw a trail sign indicating how far it was to the waterfall, it gave me the drive to keep going.When we began the hike, we were all commenting on how beautiful the area was. The sun kept shining through the trees and sparkling on the water. Occasionally we saw an animal, such as a rabbit, or a deer, and we could hear the birds singing in the trees. It was very peaceful and quiet. I kept looking around and admiring the landscape. Unfortunately, with the strain of the hike, it got to the point that I stopped looking. I think I started to lose sight of why we were on the hike in the first place.

I hadn’t seen a trail sign in a while when one of my friends, who had been ahead of me, came back to see how I was doing. I remember asking her how much farther it was to the waterfall. She stopped walking, and turned to look at me, with a puzzled expression on her face, and told me that we were there. I was only then that I realized I had been hearing the sound of the waterfall crashing into the river for quite some time, I simply hadn’t been paying attention – I wasn’t looking up. All my energy was concentrating on simply getting through the hike because it was difficult. I was so focused on where I was walking, that I wasn’t watching where I was going. And that’s when it really hit me: all too often life is like that.

Throughout our lives, we spend too much of our energies focusing on our day-to-day struggles, that we forget why we’re here – we forget what the ultimate goal really is. Life throws so much at us that sometimes it seems too much to bear, but we don’t have to do it on our own. There is a much greater strength for us to lean on -- A strength that will never fail, though our own strength might. We need to look up. The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13 NIV) Unfortunately, we often forget this simple fact -- When we accept God into our hearts and into our lives, He will be there for us through everything we have to endure in this life.

I’m not saying that as soon as you give your life to Christ everything suddenly becomes easy, because it doesn’t – in fact, sometimes it becomes more difficult. By definition, the World and Faith oppose each other. Society tends to reject the faithful. The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans "... We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us." (Romans 5:2b-5 NIV) When I was on that hike, I was tired, I was hot, my legs hurt, I was out of breath, I was thirsty, and I was tempted to give up, but I knew that I needed to keep going, so I didn’t give up, and I’m glad that I didn’t. The sweat and the pain were worth it to see that beautiful high waterfall crashing over the cliff into the river. When I saw it, I wondered how I ever could have considered giving up. Paul wrote to the Philippians “…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13b-14 NIV) The prize that God has waiting for us will be worth anything we have to go through in this life. Our lifetime is like a grain of salt compared to eternity.

There was much that got me through the hike and helped me to keep going: the branch I turned into a walking stick, my canteen filled with water, and my friends. God gives us many things to help us get through our lives. The walking stick added to my own strength – I leaned on it and it supported me. “The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him.” (Exodus 15:2 NIV) The water quenched my thirst and cooled me. “Jesus [said], "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13b-14 NIV) My friends encouraged me with their smiles and kind words. Jesus said in John’s Gospel, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27 NIV)

There is no need to allow ourselves to get so anxious and stressed out over the troubles we face in our lives. If we turn to God for help, He will carry us through it. Jesus said in Matthew’s Gospel, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34 NIV) We need to look to Him FIRST. When we put our faith in God, and trust in Him, we have assurance of His promise, “[Jesus said] …and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 NIV)

I made it through that hike, and the experience has stuck with me, because it forced me to realize something about myself. I try so hard to do everything on my own – using my own strength, and you know what – I often fail because I’m simply not strong enough. No one is. But I don’t have to be – because God is strong enough, and I’ve put my life in His capable hands. Every time I start to feel the stress and strains of life dragging me down, I remember to look up.

IQ, EQ and Real Success

Congratulations, Eileen! Your IQ score is 138

"This number is based on a scientific formula that compares how many questions you answered correctly on the Classic IQ Test relative to others. Your Intellectual Type is Visionary Philosopher. This means you are highly intelligent and have a powerful mix of skills and insight that can be applied in a variety of different ways. Like Plato, your exceptional math and verbal skills make you very adept at explaining things to others — and at anticipating and predicting patterns. And that's just some of what we know about you from your IQ results. "

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I took this IQ Test back in March, and it seemed to be pretty accurrate, since as I go just about the same score as I did when I took similar test throughout the years in school. When I was professionally tested, I scored between 130 and 145, so this result of 138 makes sense.

I don't know how much IQ really matters, though. What does the fact that I have a "very superior" IQ that is higher than 99% of the population really mean? What bearing does it really have on my ability to be successful? I work as a Receptionist and I'm working on an M.Ed. focusing on Middle School Christian Education. I know I'm overqualified for my job and so does my boss, but I'm happy where I am for now. I used to work in a job that paid more, but I wasn't happy there so it wasn't worth it to me.

How do you really rate a person's ability to succeed? I think that depends at least partially on how you define, "sucess". I am happily married to a wonderful man. We are both active in our church. I'm working on continuing my education. I enjoy my job and get along well with the people who I work with; I may be overqualified for my job, but I do it well, and my hard work is appreciated. Am I successful? I don't make a lot of money, but does that mean I'm not successful? I don't think so. Many people who the world (secular society) would label as "successful" aren't happy which causes them to make poor behavioral choices. I'm happy. I like my life.

How you define success is determined by your values -- what you see as being important in life. Do you value money, fame, advancement? What I see as being the most important things in my life are my faith and my family: everything else is secondary. I have my faith and my family -- I have what I need.

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IQ Test Scores: The Basics of IQ Score Interpretation

"What do you mean my child isn't gifted — he got 99 on those tests! That's nearly a perfect score, isn't it?"

"The criteria you handed out says 'a score in the 97th percentile or above.' Peter got an IQ score of 97! That meets the requirement, doesn't it?"

Comments like these are not unusual and indicate a complete misunderstanding of IQ test scores.

IQ stands for intelligence quotient. Supposedly, it is a score that tells one how "bright" a person is compared to other people. The average IQ is by definition 100; scores above 100 indicate a higher than average IQ and scores below 100 indicate a lower that average IQ. Theoretically, scores can range any amount below or above 100, but in practice they do not meaningfully go much below 50 or above 150.

Half of the population have IQ's of between 90 and 110, while 25% have higher IQ's and 25% have lower IQ's:

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Descriptive Classifications of Intelligence Quotients

IQ Description % of Population
130+ Very superior 2.2%
120-129 Superior 6.7%
110-119 High average 16.1%
90-109 Average 50%
80-89 Low average 16.1%
70-79 Borderline 6.7%
Below 70 Extremely low 2.2%
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Apparently, the IQ gives a good indication of the occupational group that a person will end up in, though not of course the specific occupation. In their book, Know Your Child's IQ, Glen Wilson and Diana Grylls outline occupations typical of various IQ levels:

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140 Top Civil Servants; Professors and Research Scientists.
130 Physicians and Surgeons; Lawyers; Engineers (Civil and Mechanical)
120 School Teachers; Pharmacists; Accountants; Nurses; Stenographers; Managers.
110 Foremen; Clerks; Telephone Operators; Salesmen; Policemen; Electricians.
100+ Machine Operators; Shopkeepers; Butchers; Welders; Sheet Metal Workers.
100- Warehousemen; Carpenters; Cooks and Bakers; Small Farmers; Truck and Van Drivers.
90 Laborers; Gardeners; Upholsterers; Farmhands; Miners; Factory Packers and Sorters

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IQ Expressed in Percentiles

IQ is often expressed in percentiles, which is not the same as percentage scores, and a common reason for the misunderstanding of IQ test scores. Percentage refers to the number of items which a child answers correctly compared to the total number of items presented. If a child answers 25 questions correctly on a 50 question test he would earn a percentage score of 50. If he answers 40 questions on the same test his percentage score would be 80. Percentile, however, refers to the number of other test takers' scores that an individual's score equals or exceeds. If a child answered 25 questions and did better than 50% of the children taking the test he would score at the 50th percentile. However, if he answered 40 questions on the 50 item test and everyone else answered more than he did, he would fall at a very low percentile — even though he answered 80% of the questions correctly.

On most standardized tests, an IQ of 100 is at the 50th percentile. Most of our IQ tests are standardized with a mean score of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. What that means is that the following IQ scores will be roughly equivalent to the following percentiles:

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IQ Percentile
65 01
70 02
75 05
80 09
85 16
90 25
95 37
100 50
105 63
110 75
115 84
120 91
125 95
130 98
135 99

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An IQ of 120 therefore implies that the testee is brighter than about 91% of the population, while 130 puts a person ahead of 98% of people.

A person with an IQ of 80 is brighter than only 9% of people, and only a few score less than 60.