BOYS FROM THE HILL: PART TWO

The Climb Back

Some never make it back. We know that.

But some do.

Not quickly. Not cleanly. Not with applause. But slowly, stubbornly—step by brutal step. Not because someone rescued them, but because someone challenged them. Encouraged them. Saw something worth fighting for and told them so.

This part is for them—the boys who start climbing.

Here are seven truths about what it takes.

1. It starts with a crack, not a breakthrough

The climb doesn't start with a perfect plan. It starts when something breaks through the fog—maybe a hard truth, a wake-up call, a death, a kindness, a prison sentence. Not everything that shakes them destroys them. Sometimes it's the beginning of something real.

2. Encouragement isn't soft—it's fierce

The boys from the hill don't need flattery. They need real encouragement—the kind that says, "I believe in you, but I won't let you lie to yourself." Encouragement that expects more, not less. That speaks truth with steel in its voice, not sugar on its tongue.

3. Discipline makes a comeback

They fight it at first. Rules. Schedules. Responsibility. But when the chaos in their lives becomes unbearable, order becomes a kind of medicine. Making your bed. Showing up. Keeping your word. These things seem small—until they save you.

4. They have to face what they ran from

The climb always includes confrontation—with shame, regret, grief, fear. No healing without it. No shortcuts. Some try to skip this part and fall harder. But the ones who make it face their own darkness. Not all at once—but honestly. Slowly. With support.

5. They need a mission, not a lecture

They don't need someone to "fix" them. They need a reason to get up in the morning. Something to build. Something to protect. A purpose bigger than themselves. Often, it's work. A younger sibling. A girlfriend. A cause. Doesn't matter what it is—as long as it's real.

6. Brotherhood saves lives

Most boys don't climb back alone. They need other men—mentors, brothers, friends—who've seen the hill and remember the way down. Not perfect people. Just present people. Encouragement with boots on. Real accountability. Real care. It's the difference between relapse and return.

7. Progress is ugly, but sacred

They still fall. Still mess up. Still disappear sometimes. But now, they come back faster. They apologize. They keep going. The climb is never straight. But every time they choose to try again—it's holy. It means something. Even when no one's watching.

Conclusion: Don't stop calling them up

The boys from the hill are not projects. They are people—flawed, hurting, dangerous, beautiful people. Some will run. Some will fight you. Some will break your heart.

But some will come back.

And when they do, don't just welcome them—challenge them. Don't lower the bar. Don't make excuses. Give them something to rise to. Because encouragement is not soft. It is the fire that says:

You matter too much to stay broken.

You are not beyond repair.

You are not alone.

Let them climb. Let them sweat. Let them fall and rise again.

And if you're lucky, one day you'll see them walking back down from that hill—not perfect, but alive.and ready.

Raymond and Ken