Mountain

My husband and I were invited to join the Methodist Hospital Family and friends for an event in Colorado this past weekend. My parents, for years, had a place in Vail and the drive from Denver to the ranch, 30 miles north of Vail  was a very familiar one that brought back a truckload of memories.  The beauty of the scenery surrounded us and just continued to peak.  When we got to our destination, we were tucked into a valley surrounded by up close and personal mountains, one which was branded as Table Top. I do have a streak of adventure within me and the following morning, mu husband and I  set out to climb the mountain from which the ranch was named. 

I can not begin to tell you how high it was, only that when you were at the bottom, and looked up, it was a massive venture,a lofty goal and it was going to be a challenge to reach the top, especially for someone who considers exercise something of dread. Now, mind you in comparison someone is great shape like our host can make it up in 30 minutes or so, it took us roughly an hour, and that included many a stop to try to adjust to the altitude and to catch a breath.  Actually Mel, said that he had come just to protect his interest, me, for I was the only one winded, and my judgement does not always coincide with my ambition. Well we made it to the top and the view was breathtaking, and the climb was well worth the efforts.  For a view from the top gives you a glorious perception of a whole panoramic picture, that you only see pieces of from the valley. 

We so often talk about a mountaintop experience and how hard it is to come down, but I want to spin it just a bit and talk about the climb up.  We have all been in valleys, a low place in the midst of high challenges, high expectations, overwhelming defeats and overwrought emotional charges. They are brought  on by fear, inconsistency, heartbreak, health, financial stress, relationship changes,  responsibility overload, just to name a few.  And many times when we look up towards the sky and imagine the mountain, the challenge to climb up is so out of reach and out of touch that we settle in and accept

our valley view.  

My group talked of the mountain the night before and it generated within me a sense of wonder and a  challenge for the adventure. And as we stood in the kitchen the next morning drinking coffee, the desire to climb that mountain was brewing within me and I knew  I had to try. I am not so sure Mel was all game, he was quite content with a good walk around the property, but we got on the four wheeler and drove to the base and the journey began.  The beginning was rather easy, just some high brush, and cacti, and dodging of trees, but the higher we got the more difficult it got. For it became steeper and the lava rocks were hard to negotiate, so we had to move slowly and deliberately and find solid footing in the midst of slippery ground.  There was no trail, only the remnants of animal tracks and we figured if the animals found this to be their way then they probably were much more experienced at trail blazing.  

To climb God’s mountain, we do have to take small steps of faith and plant them carefully into truths and promises that are the foundation below our feet.  We have to take our time and stop and take breaths and regroup. The thing too about stopping, is it is not only to take a breathe but also to look around and see how far you have come and how even at the level you are at, the view has gained a wider perspective. The higher we climb God’s mountain, the closer we get to him and the more able we are to see things that he sees. The trails may not be clearly designated but at times there are others who have preceded us and have left trails of experience and hope for us to track, while other times God has given us the gift to trail blaze in other directions.  

We did make it to the top and met the challenge.  The view was spectacular, and as we stood among the brush, Mel suggested that we walk further along the table top, and sure enough just a few yards deeper into the forest, a clearing

emerged.  It was a flat top mountain top with a blanket of small, short  uniformed bushes all in perfected height and rows.  It was amazing to see the contrast as to what we had just trudged through.  I know this might be stretching an analogy, but when we finally make our way to the top of God’s mountain and we give in and give up to God all that is really his in the first place, he does provide for us a blanket of his perfect peace.  

Mark 3:13

[ Jesus Appoints the Twelve ] Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.

Times will be hard, and the challenges many as we journey through life.  But as long as we climb upward, taking small steps of faith and making sure our footing is firmly planted on the truth and promises of God, everyday we can make it to God’s mountaintop. And it is there that we will find His woven of blanket of peace, love and joy that covers all the insecurities, the heartbreaks, the sins, the malfunctions, the defeats, the failures, and the broken dreams. Our perspective changes only when we stand at the base of the mountain and are willing to make the climb up God’s mountain.  Sure there will be slippery rocks, and unchartered territory on all of our journeys. But God uses our one little step of faith upward to change our valley perspective to one of His mountaintop view. 

            

Dear Lord, Thank you for the beauty that surrounds us, and the chance to experience your mountaintop views. May we learn to let the view of valley perspectives be transformed by your blanket of love that we can only find when we climb up into your ways and allow you to show us the glory, grace and power of your works.  Amen  

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!