Jeff Harmon’s “Why”

I’m climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in September 2025, but my journey to climb Kilimanjaro isn’t just about conquering a mountain. It’s a symbol, a loud shout to the world and to myself that stepping into fear, embracing risks, and facing potential failure is where true growth happens. It’s about proving that the full, vibrant life Jesus talked about—living fully alive—is available to all of us, and it’s often on the other side of our fears.

See, growing up, I was the king of playing it safe. Avoiding risks was my game, primarily because I equated failure with the ultimate defeat. But I’ve come to realize that this mindset only held me back from truly living. It’s like I was watching life from the sidelines, scared to jump into the game.

But here’s the twist: when Jesus talked about giving us life to the full, I believe He was inviting us into something wild and beautiful. An adventure not defined by thrill-seeking for its own sake but by stepping out in faith into the unknown. This adventure isn’t about chasing adrenaline but about finding freedom from the fears that bind us—fear of rejection, fear of disappointment, fear of loss. It’s about stepping into a life marked by joy, purpose, and service to others.

Romans 8:14-15 in The Message paraphrase nails it: we’re called to a life that’s expectant, adventurous, asking God, “What’s next?” This is the mindset shift that transformed my approach to life. After my diagnosis in 2006 and adapting to life in a wheelchair starting in 2017, it would have been easy to stick to the ‘safe’ path. But participating in a triathlon swim in 2018, and later a Spartan race, taught me something vital: I didn’t have to let my fears dictate my life. Each time I chose to face a challenge, whether it was the cold water or an obstacle course, it was a declaration that I wasn’t going to let fear hold me back anymore.

The decision to climb Kilimanjaro is part of this declaration. Despite the real risks and the amplified challenges due to my wheelchair, I see it as embracing the fullness of life, pushing beyond what seems possible, and inviting others to do the same.

But here’s the crucial part: the adventurous life I’m talking about, and that I want to inspire in others, isn’t just about physical feats. It’s about daring to live beyond limitations, whether they’re self-imposed, societal, or physical. It’s about pursuing dreams, mending relationships, exploring new paths, and opening our hearts to what God has in store for us. It’s about living a life not defined by what we fear but by what we hope for and believe can be achieved.

The story from Matthew in the Bible, where friends lower a paralyzed man through a roof to Jesus, perfectly illustrates this. It’s not just a story about physical healing but a profound example of faith, community, and overcoming obstacles together. This narrative has been a powerful motivator for me. It shows the importance of community in overcoming challenges—some carry, others cheer, but everyone has a role in the adventure and everyone is transformed.

This journey to Kilimanjaro, and indeed every challenge I’ve faced, has reinforced my belief in the power of community. It’s shown me that living adventurously means being willing to ask for help and to offer it, to share in each other’s burdens and triumphs. It’s about encouraging one another to tackle our ‘impossible’ challenges, not in isolation, but together.

So, my “why” for climbing Kilimanjaro is about more than just reaching the summit. It’s about embodying and sharing a message of hope, faith, and community. It’s a call to live life fully, beyond the constraints of fear, and to inspire others to do the same, in whatever form that takes. It’s a reminder that the adventurous life is not one size fits all; it’s as unique as each of us, filled with opportunities to grow, serve, and experience joy in the most unexpected places.