The Second Mountain

The annunciation moment occurs when a person realizes that there is a vocational pursuit to which they are called. For some, this can occur via a sudden epiphany, but for others, it may require laborious effort to uncover.

For Brooks, a commitment is “a promise made from love” (55). Commitment is an integral aspect of the second-mountain life. It entails the decision to dedicate much of one’s life to projects, people, and communities that have moved one’s heart and soul. Commitments are decisions that have to be continuously rechosen and reenacted over long periods.

The second mountain is the metaphorical analog of a life filled with commitments to self-transcending others, like a spouse, vocation, community, or religious faith. The second mountain is characterized by resolute and humble dedication to endlessly valuable endeavors. Personal fulfillment and moral character are developed on an individual and social level in a radically gratifying manner that cannot be matched by the first mountain.