“For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.” – Psalm 27:5
One of my most favorite places in all of God’s glorious creation is the Colorado mountains. Whether driving through or hiking up a mountain, the views from on high are simply breathtaking and provoke me to express utter gratitude to the Lord for such a gift. The stunning views, however, are a just reward for the hard work it takes to climb to the top. In Oklahoma altitude, I can breeze through a three mile walk in 45 minutes and not be out of breath. But when I embarked on my first day-long hike in Snowmass, Colorado, I had a rude awakening of the effects of high altitude: shortness of breath which made me feel like I had never exercised in my life. One also trades in nicely paved sidewalks for the more rugged, natural terrain. But once you reach a destination and take in the valleys and villages below, the labor of the journey is justified.
Life is also like climbing a mountain. We face struggles and rough terrain along our daily paths. On a mountain hike, one must be cautious of natural challenges like insect bites, bears, and falling or loose rocks. In life, we get bitten and stung by the harsh words and actions of others. Illness, unemployment, relationship issues, and the recent struggles of the pandemic loom before us like an endless mountain that seems impossible to climb or even navigate. While I enjoy relaxing on a nice deck or terrace at the base of a mountain and take in the majestic views of all the surrounding mountains, if I don’t make the climb, I miss out on the serenity and spirituality of being “closer” to the heavenly skies. Yes, life will throw a lot of hard curves at us, but if we all take hold of the rope which is God’s Word and God’s Love, then together we make the journey which leads us to an amazing mountaintop experience.
– Robert Fasol, Organist/Choirmaster
