I am staring out at the snow capped Cascades while the world around me is cloaked in green and sunshine. There is a warm wind blowing from the East and the weather is somewhere in the high 70's. I can't recall more perfect weather in Washington, or a more perfect place to experience it. We're still in Duvall on a piece of land that I swear God graced with His own good hands. It is so breathtakingly beautiful here. We are surrounded by forests and there is an orchard sprawled out below me on a downward slope that leads you deep into the heart of the woods. I haven't had much time to explore down in there, but yesterday we did a really cool photo-shoot. My friends and I made shirts and crowns out of willow branches, leaves, and flowers and then we frolicked through the trees with my bow and acted like we were some fay that dwelt there. I think I had myself half convinced that we were. The only downside of the experience were the stinging nettles which found their way into my foot. But really when I think about the fun we've had, that barely counts at all. So, back to right now. I am lying on a trampoline, wearing shorts and a tank top and wishing desperately to be in the Cascades. I have always loved mountains, and I know one day I want to live in some, but there was a period of time in my life when I forgot how much I loved them. I feel like someone is waking me up from a deep sleep. There is something mysterious about a mountain. Perhaps it is because they are so big, so vast, and so unexplored. You could climb the face of the same mountain for your entire life and never step foot in the exact same place twice. Mountains are some of the world's last uncharted territories- places preserved by their cruelty. A mountain can not afford to be kind. They continue to test the will and strength of men, because only the most worthy can climb them and walk away with something more than accomplishment.
In my books I always write about mountains. They always serve as the setting for some sort of epic battle or dangerous feat. And they are always where the main character goes to discover themselves. I am quite convinced that God has a deep love for the mountains as well (aside from the fact that He loves everything He created). Think about it. How many times do mountains appear in the bible? God always seems to be meeting people on top of mountains. He gave Moses the ten commandments on top of Mount Sinai, he tested Abraham on top of a mountain, the prophet Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal atop Mt. Carmel, Jesus taught His disciples at the Mount of Olives, after the great flood, the ark came to rest atop a mountain, and finally, Jesus Himself was crucified atop Golgotha- not exactly a mountain, but it was indeed a high place. Why does God choose to reveal Himself so often at the top of a mountain? I think this idea can hold a lot of symbolism too. God will meet us on top of our physical mountains, but also our spiritual and emotional ones. The biggest struggles in our lives can seem like mountains compared to everything else around us. We trudge on and on with our burdensome packs, weighing us down with the guilt, doubt, and sorrows that are unique to each person. Just when you think you've reached the peak, just when you think the burn in your legs will subside, you pass another corner and the slope stretched onwards, or perhaps a giant crevasse opens up at your feet. Sometimes there seems to be no way around, or the exhaustion in your spirit halts you and you think to yourself, "there is no way I can go on." That's where God meets us. In our moments of giving up, when we feel the least likely to succeed. When God gave Moses the ten commandments, it wasn't just a little hike Moses was going on for fun. He, and the entire Israelite population were wandering the deserts, afraid and feeling alone, having just escaped from Egypt. God met him in his fear. When God met Abraham atop his mountain, Abraham was about to do the unthinkable: sacrifice his son, Isaac. Why? Because God asked Him to. This was no minor test, no little trial, this was life or death, and Abraham passed because God met him there. Likewise, God met Elijah when he was terribly outnumbered and being mocked by those false prophets of Baal. Jesus met with His disciples at the Mount of Olives in their confusion and uncertainty, and God met His only son on the hill of Golgotha, where He had to turn a blind eye and let innocent blood run. Why? Because He knew one day He would need to meet us up on our individual mountains, in the midst of our tragedies, our heartaches, our sicknesses, and our fears. Not only did God form the mountains of the earth, but He can also move them, which means He can easily move the mountains in our lives. God gave me a vision several years ago of me standing on top of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and the continent of Africa spread out below me like a map. I wasn't alone though. God was there, standing right next to me, and I know He was awakening me to my calling. I have a date with God on top of Kilimanjaro. I'm not sure when, but I know that He is waiting to meet me there. It is promises like these that keep me hoping, keep me climbing and striving to reach the destiny God has laid out before me. Like any mountain climb, training is a must so that when we reach our mountains we can conquer them. Next year I am planning on conquering Mt. Rainier, and this summer I'll be giving Mt. Shasta a go as preparation. I am so excited to get the chance to explore some of God's most magnificent creations and in the process gain insight into my own struggles against the mountains in my life, so that I can divide and conquer.
No comments:
Post a Comment