Andrews - The Final Summit

PRAISE FOR
The FINAL SUMMIT

Every generation or so, God produces a person who can communicate like no one else. His words are like cool water to a thirsty civilization. Andy Andrews is one of the best I have ever seen.

Zig Ziglar,
Americas #1 motivator and best-selling author

Is it possible to mix C. S. Lewis, Alfred Hitchcock, and Tony Robbins? The Final Summit is a unique and powerful blend of mystery and suspense and principles and emotional fire. Wow! Bring your highlighter to this party. Youll want to remember every word!

Hal Sutton,
PGA champion

This is no ordinary author. Andy Andrews is a Life Whisperer. He has a way of taking lifes most confusing issues and simplifying them, allowing us to harness principles and reach our fullest potential. The Final Summit is his best work yet... and thats really saying something!

Dave Ramsey,
Nationally syndicated radio host and
best-selling author of The Total Money Makeover

Have you given up in some area of your life? If it were possible, would you change something about the way you are? If so, The Final Summit is for you. Read this book now.

Patsy Clairmont,
Speaker and author of Kaleidoscope

People who dont like to read LOVE Andy Andrews books. Think about that for a minute. Surely, there is no higher praise.

Sandi Patty,
Grammy Awardwinning recording artist

This is not another celebrity author or motivational guy. People love Andy Andrews because his words change their lives. And those words have been carefully excavated from his own heart.

Joe Bonsall,
The Oak Ridge Boys

Once again, Andy Andrews draws us into the narrative with his masterful storytelling. But this is not ordinary fiction. Drawing from history, science, and religion, The Final Summit frames our individual challenge to make a difference. If youre comfortable with complacency or blaming, youll be uncomfortable reading this book.

Dan Miller,
author 48 Days to the Work You Love

The journey through The Final Summit and The Travelers Gift has allowed me to take on more than I ever thought I was capable of doing.

Lenny Sisselman,
LSA Entertainment

Under a master storytellers hand, history comes alive, and speaks to us all.

Howie Klausner,
Writer, Space Cowboys

The Final Summit is a crucial piece of literature for our times. Andy Andrews once again weaves an important, entertaining, and profound story imbued with a fundamental message that both challenges and inspires. If you liked The Travelers Gift, you will love and appreciate this book!

Scott Carr,
Director of Development, Hollywood Gang Production

A captivating climb to a crucial choice led by a collection of the most inspirational minds of all time, and one spellbinding story teller.

John Wilder,
Award-winning writer/producer

This is the book that the entire world has been waiting on someone to write. Thank you, Andy Andrews.

Jonathan Burleson,
Director of National Sales, Gaylord Hotels

Andy possesses the rare ability to entertain and enlighten at the same time. The Final Summit is evidence enough. Through laughter, sighs, chill bumps, and tears, youll lose track of time, learn about the world, and reflect on your life. Give it to yourself. Then give it to a friend.

Gary Keller,
New York Times best-selling author of
SHIFT: How Top Agents Tackle Tough Times;
Cofounder and Chairman of the Board,
Keller Williams Realty

Once again, Andy Andrews delivers chills, laughter, and tears. The FinalSummit is a masterpiece for our generation.

Don Reid, The Statler Brothers

For six years now, Andy Andrews words have influenced and greatly impacted every single Air Force Special Operations squadron at every location they occupy around the world. He is our go-to guy as we raise up new generations of leaders!

Lt. General (Ret.) Mike Wooley,
Air Force Special Operations Commander

OTHER BOOKS BY
ANDY ANDREWS

The Noticer

The Heart Mender

The Travelers Gift

The Young Travelers Gift

The Boy Who Changed the World

The Lost Choice

Mastering the Seven Decisions

Socks for Christmas

Return to Sawyerton Springs

The Butterfly Effect

The FINAL
SUMMIT

A QUEST TO FIND THE ONE PRINCIPLE
THAT WILL SAVE HUMANITY

ANDY ANDREWS

2010 by Andy Andrews

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

The Scripture quotation on the epigraph page is paraphrased in the authors words.

Chapter 1 mentions Soul of the Lion: A Biography of General Joshua L. Chamberlain by Willard M. Wallace (Gettysburg, PA: Stan Clark Military Books, 1996).

Chapter 4 mentions The Principle of the Path: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Andy Stanley (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009).

ISBN 978-0-8499-4866-4 (ie)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Andrews, Andy, 1959

The final summit : a quest to find the one principle that will save humanity / Andy Andrews.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-7852-3120-2 (hardcover)

1. Conduct of life. 2. Principle (Philosophy) I. Title.

BJ1597.A518 2010

813.6dc22

2010034235

Printed in the United States of America

11 12 13 14 QGF 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To Kathy and Dick Rollins
of Columbus, Mississippi.
I will always be grateful for your
influence and example.

For I am but a Traveler upon this earth.

DAVID (PSALM 39:12)

CONTENTS

I t is amazing, isnt it, how one sound can distinguish itself from another? When the hustle-and-bustle around us is intrusive and overwhelming, how do our minds separate from the din that solitary ring tone? Or how, on a playground vibrating with the chatter of youngsters, do we manage to quickly distinguish the single voice of our own child?

It was with those curious thoughts easing in and out of his mind that Carl Santiago looked up from the security desk. After all, it was almost time to close, which meant that dozens of workers were flooding the lobby, ready to leave for the day. Among them, Carl knew, was Gloria, who would be departing at the end of her shift. Still, he marveled at his ability to pick out the distinct sound of her high heels clicking across the marble floor of the lobby.

Carls deskit was actually a huge block of granitewas situated near the entrance and had been carved and placed in such a manner as to flow into the koi pond. At least that is how he remembered the architect describing it. Carl had been the first security officer, hired before the structure was even erected. He was part of the security for the foremans staff during the construction years, and when the work was completed, he walked right into the bosss office and declared himself a part of the place and in for life.