My Testimony: Part 1

In the spring of 2011, my dad, Brian Dickinson, left to climb the highest mountain in the world. He ended up summiting Mount Everest on May 15, 2011. For more about his story, you can find his book here.

Although Everest may be my dad’s story, his story is still part of my own. I was in first grade when he left to climb Everest. I didn’t understand why he left. I remember crying on the playground and not being able to explain to my peers what was wrong.

When my dad returned, he was still partially snow blind. A lot had changed in those two months when he was gone. His faith and my mom’s faith had grown. Suddenly, my dad started speaking all around the United States. He finished climbing the seven summits (the tallest mountain in each continent) and he wrote a book called “Blind Descent.” My dad spoke each year in my class at school and I felt pretty special knowing how big of a deal my dad was. The problem was that I began having anxiety around my family leaving. I couldn’t be left alone without panicking inside.

It took me a while to realize how much I was rooted in fear. I was afraid of losing someone close to me because I had almost lost my dad. Some people wonder if I wished my dad hadn’t climbed Everest. But I am glad he did. He listened when God was calling him and even though he had to sacrifice two months with his family, God was able to use him to bring many people to Christ. I am so proud of my dad and I would never change a thing about his experience or my own. So when I was rooted in that fear, I had a turning point when I realized I couldn’t live my life in fear any longer.

At nine years old, I gave my life to Christ. I didn’t want to be in the bondage of fear any longer. That was the best decision I have ever made. When you begin living life with God, suddenly you don’t feel alone anymore. I had to face my fear of losing someone I loved by thinking of the possibility. Even if those thoughts and those fears came true, I knew that through God, I could get through it. Having faith in God was a breath of fresh air.

It took me a long time to be able to finish reading my dad’s book. It brought up a lot of sadness for what my dad had endured and for remembering how sad I was when he was gone. But what’s cool about my dad is that he said yes to God and his entire life changed for the better. He’s my inspiration for my future. I know that life takes work and there is so much hardship that comes, but I truly believe that if I keep saying yes to God, He will take my life and transform it before my eyes.