Standing at the Mountain

Posted on June 8, 2007
Filed Under Life, Provision, Fear, Trusting God, Goals, Resilience, Faith |

I recently read a story about a tribe of people who live in the mountain area of Nepal. They are called Sherpa and many of them are experts at mountaineering. They are famous for assisting people as guides on Himalayan expeditions. Not only are they well versed with the mountain; they also have very good physical endurance and resilience in high altitudes. As I read this article I thought, “what a magnificent metaphor for life.” When life presents us with a mountain it also offers a Sherpa who possesses wisdom, skill and the tools to master the mountain. It also occurred to me that the mountain is a gift offered to enhance and expand our awareness of who God has created us to be. It was not given to discourage or beat us, but to allow us to realize the power of God within us.

Less than a year ago I found myself standing at “the mountain.” At the time it seemed more like a cliff, but looking back it was a mountain. I was filled with doom and disappointment and I didn’t see any possibilities for hope or joy as I stood looking out at what seemed like huge peaks, steep cliffs, dense forest and deep valleys. Terrible thoughts consumed me – my life will never be the same, I will never be the same, God what will I do.

When life offers new directions, opportunities, and possibilities, we can choose to perceive them as new, great adventures to embark on if we believe everything in life is designed for us and never against us. The whole of life is created to enhance our awareness and experience of God’s love. Life is designed to awaken us to the nature of Christ within us. If we look to Jesus and how he lived, we stand witness to courage in the face barriers, power over death, compassion and understanding for others and knowledge of His oneness with God. Jesus’ uncompromised self awareness allowed him to perform miracles that marveled the masses and angered the leaders of the time.

If we live believing life is designed to awaken the spirit of Christ within us so we may be the light that shines on every man, woman and child, when people see us they will know by our very presence the love of God and the power of his love. Like Christ, our lives are the evidence of miracles and goodness available through our connection with the creator of all things.

Back to the mountain: You have stood at the base of a mountain, I’m sure. It may have shown up like financial challenge. You had to make choices regarding your very survival. Or maybe it was a health challenge, and you had to dig deep in your soul to find strength and the courage to live and to change your lifestyle. Whatever mountain you faced it changed your idea of who you are. It made you see you are capable of more than you thought. You discovered a faith filled with fire and determination. You realized you possess the strength and the will to scale a mountain and when you opened your eyes you saw the arms of God holding you steady and strong.

Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah
When we face our mountain we are never alone. Our Sherpas show up like gangbusters. They lead the way, because they have already walked the path. The hold us up when we are weak. They are our friends, our mothers, our neighbors, our God chosen family who love us in our time of need. All we need do is be willing to receive nurturing and care for the journey and the Sherpa will provide. The comfort we find when loved ones show up saying “I am with you, I understand and I care” can break your heart wide open with humility and love – it has mine.

I am awed by life, and its ability to build us, fortify us, love us into who we are here to be. I have often thought “why me?” and the answer comes fast - because you need this to expand, to be more compassionate, less self absorbed and more loving. So as you face your mountain, prepare for a great adventure. Be willing and excited about the who you will become and what you will discover about yourself that you never imagined.