A calling comes like a whisper with gravitational strength, a subtle undercurrent springing up a longing to enter a sacred place. I boldly lace up my tattered hiking shoes, with anticipation and trepidation. Knowingly I embark on a traveled hiking path, entering a sacred space, only to exit changed, renewed. Instantly, the pangs of humanity strike as my lungs battle the altitude and my muscles groan; yet I press on. Renewal awaits. The spires of granite tenderly meet the clouds and I am transformed into a space of dichotomy: so small, yet significant, so exhausted but energized, so active but quiet. Only The Mountain in all it’s grandeur can a place for balance to be restored.
Reba belts through the cranked speaker “I’m gonna take that mountain, ain’t nothin gonna hold me down.” Conley and I signing along as we make out way to school each morning, knowing what ever Mountain we faced for the day, we would take it on in stride. The construct of a mountain whether cognitive or emotional plays a significant role in our motivations and daily interactions. We learn a lot about ourselves and our peers during conflict. We get to choose how we take on the mountain, either like a bulldozer or a steady river. Both have lasting results and either can be appropriate for the given challenge. Likewise we overcome emotional trials either with grace or scored earth. The Mountain construct teaches us our character, meeting us in our vulnerability and growing us into our stronger selves.
The physical mountain gives abundantly and also takes life, which continually demands our reverence. Some of the purest water babbles up from the spring protected by massive boulders. The forest evergreens produce our life source oxygen and embody the concept of shelter. The snow stores away like a hedge fund that continually fuels the filling of our rivers and oceans. The Mountain houses the wildlife that sustains my family. Yet, my heart races when my shoe slips and pebbles show me the potential fall over the steep cliff. Here in this space I linger between creation and death.
The Mountain holds significant spiritual reference. Moses received the law on a mountain. Jesus revealed himself to John and Peter on a mountain as they prayed. I heard a sermon when I was a child to be like Jesus, go up on my Mountain and pray. Now when I am alone, in the quiet, I close my eyes and am transformed to the metaphysical Mountain, where I can speak to my life source. This intimacy and place connect my frayed thoughts and I am grounded in my faith once again. For fun, open your bible app and search "mountain". I'd love to hear what you experience.
It is on the Mountain in the depths of the alpine lake that I leave my burdens, my pain, and bitterness. On the descent I am filled with gratitude, and forgiveness and I know healing in my soul ensued. Whatever Mountain you experience, know you are not alone. Plenty have traveled ahead of you and plenty will travel behind you. It's how we experience our Mountain that connects us deeply with others.
Sawtooth lake, Polaris, MT.
"I look up to the mountains...does my help come from there?" -Psalms 121:1
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