A Promise Drums Among the Peaks

Lisa, a typical high school girl in Washington State, had one outstanding trait in her love of music. After elbow grease and persistence paid off and earned her a seat in a prestigious out-of-state music academy, Lisa was on her way out of her hometown into a thrilling new chapter in her life. Her heart bubbled over with anticipation mixed with nervousness.

The day before her departure, Lisa was rummaging through old stuff and found a childhood photo of herself and her best friend, Danny. Danny had been her closest companion during their younger years, someone she trusted more than anybody else. One summer during a family camping trip, they made a solemn promise to each other: Lisa would be a musician, and Danny would be an artist.

That dream was torn to pieces when Danny's life was tragically cut short in a sudden car accident; he never had the chance to pursue his artistic aspirations.

As Lisa held the photo in her hands, a flood of memories came rushing back. It suddenly dawned on her that much of her unwavering dedication to music over the years had actually flowed from that childhood vow. This realization brought Lisa to write to Danny a letter-a candid telling of her journey, the hindrances she had to face, and the passion she invested in pursuing their dream together. She wrote to him how grateful she was for their friendship and assured him that she had never forgotten their promise.

To celebrate Danny in a real way, Lisa had an inspired idea: She contacted a group of mountaineers and asked them to carry a copy of her letter to the summit of Mount St. Helens-the very place where they had camped as kids. It was there, surrounded by the beauty of the wild, that they had looked out to the horizon and dreamed of a future filled with art and music.

She had sent her letter to the mountain peak as a means of connecting the earthly and the eternal in as heartfelt a manner as she could envision keeping her promise to Danny.