The original plan to hike almost 20 km from the trailhead leading to a recommended trail around the mountain lake becomes forgotten, lost to her adventurous streak, in unexpected, last-minute distractions looming on the left and right. Heads back and forth, considering options in bear and mountain sheep country. Backpack, water, lunch, and desire, increased by seeing a waterfall on the ascending route, overrule any doubts after a brief discussion of which mountain and choosing the right. It does not look too bad at all. Open line of sight and they judge the climb to be a gentle, sloping climb to the jagged peak.
Step by careful step, she feels for hand-gripping security while keeping eyes on her foot’s path. If one foot fails, the other must secure her struggling movements. Safety during precarity, her immediate goal, requires hands, feet, body, and mind together, in harmony. Treacherous outcomes await an unwise choice. Self-assuredness and the ability to bear her weight provides needed determination as she slowly proceeds to conquer crumbling, loose, red shale. Hand, foot, what rock will come loose in her cautious her grip, threatening an unpleasant dilemma? Gingerly reaching, then carefully testing each surrounding piece of shale, scree, and talus slows her down, sometimes slipping downward like sinking sand. Focusing on each immediate moment, not the past or future, takes considerable energy. Pushing the increasing fatigue to the back of her mind, she doggedly hearkens to the encouraging voice of her companion, who relishes the excitement and challenging conditions. Mother, daughter, and dog press forward, occasionally stopping to watch the mountain sheep climbing below them. How do they feel about these mountain visitors? Time lengthens like their shadows as the sun shifts its watchful position overhead.
Taking a quick look behind to admire her accomplishment thus far, she sighs with an appreciative voice then gazes ahead to scope out the route. Spying a small patch of welcome relief approximately 20 meters northwest, she points with bated breath. Could it be that close? A mirage? A hopeful vision for the exhausted? Not unexpected in this altitude and left by the cold weather of two days previous, now barely a hint of nature’s whiteness remains. A more difficult climb than expected when beginning this adventure on a whim with little information, and assuming ease of terrain, they stare ahead for relief in 30-degree temperature, under blasting rays of sunshine. Sheer stubbornness to prove herself capable evidences itself. She steers her course, summoning an internal alertness exhibiting eager steps.
After a cold, refreshing flop onto a small patch of snow-covered grass to share with the dog, she revives. Proceeding with renewed excitement and coming closer to the object of their ascent, they face a surprising truth. The summit lies further above and beyond the jagged outcropping, the supposed peak from the view below, within a plateau section created during the mountain’s evolving formation. Their limited knowledge now begs a question as they look upward. It does not seem too far away, especially when they already came this far. Things are not always what they seem, and a better vantage point takes effort. Now what? Of course, they take a lunch break on a ridge overlooking an expansive valley, enjoy the view, and think. A decision made, they continue their physically exhausting and emotionally exhilarating ascent into mountain freshness, while the mountain sheep linger on the slope far below.
What is the correlation of my experience above to the scripture below and a Monarch butterfly touched by the unexpected weight from a dripping paintbrush?
I find likenesses to eternal truths in my life’s happenings.
Mountains, majestic monuments in space and time, beckon me to rest in their rugged gloriousness.
Are they obstacles to sight, a dare, beauty to explore, challenges to overcome, or a place of solitude, peace, and a place to commune with Deity?
Jesus went into the mountains on several occasions for specific purposes.
I feel the nearness of God, especially when I am outdoors. Testing my endurance in unknown terrain, I inhale the awe of my mountainous treks as I hike, struggle, doubt, think about turning back, increase my stamina, rest, and contemplate, feeling a swelling of gratitude and love in my breast. I can do what is requisite to become the best version of myself, an honourable woman, that I can become for others and me. It is through the hard mountainous treks, both small and great, near and far, short and long, that I see myself, who I want to be, and am. I like me. Watched and taught continually by the hand of the Creator, I eagerly partake of His offerings.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
King James Bible. Matthew 11: 28-30
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The above three verses touch my heart and mind like tears and music from heaven. Soothing, elevating, and comforting rhythms play each meditational note. Donning specially designed intracardiac headphones and syncing myself to the non-verbal language of my heart beating poetry in motion, compositions, while communing with God to the exclusion of distractions, my soul pulses in time and space beyond the tangible. A stillness sublime flows through my veins, closing my eyes, and floating me on a chorus of peaceful transition, soaring, lost to external influences. I feel inside myself, in a place of warmth, kindness, and instruction. I listen intently, immersing myself with every note, visually climbing over stumbling blocks to my understanding, replaying the pleasing tune that wakes me from ignorance and stubbornness as I sincerely search, seeking an understanding heart. I want to climb, dance, soar, and rest peacefully at the summit of the mountains Jesus shows me and helps me ascend, far above my limited view. I must follow his lead and timing. Necessary course corrections prove my desires, though difficult at times because doubt and fear along the way tempts the weakening body. He knows me, seeing into my heart. The way up may appear more treacherous to the untrained rebel, but this woman accepts the training I receive by yoking myself to him. Determination, encouragement, water breaks, a well-stocked backpack, and an able, experienced guide will take me where I long to go, and further than I expect, anticipate, or imagine. I know!
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.“
I note that Jesus does not say he will remove or lessen those afflictions plaguing my mind, heart, or body. He offers rest.
What does ‘rest’ look like?
I visit the memory of my experiences, a calmness of the sea that transcends turmoil washing over me like gentle refreshing waves of peace. I breathe the smell of ocean air as I break the surface to lay on my back, floating. I feel a renewing of my energy, strength, and comforting embrace of the intangible, a healing of my heart, mind, and soul in harmony. Sometimes, it takes time for me to humble myself but I hold on to his word, example, and promises (the yoke he offers to share with me). He never fails me. I consider those he heals, how, in some cases a process, and why, that I may understand how to access His rest.
I take courage in the observation by Ralph Waldo Emerson as I know that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, his yoke consists of an enabling, edifying, healing, and purifying power.
“That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased.”
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.“
What is the yoke of Christ?
When tired and exhausted, struggling to stand or crawl with my burdens, how do I take His yoke upon me?
I think I must be yoked prior, but if I have not done so, all is not lost. He silently lowers himself as I earnestly pray. With the warmth of a loving arm around my shoulders, He clasps my stiff-necked weaknesses, takes me where I am (feel), and gently moves me forward. He kneels where I kneel. He reaches where I reach. He guides where I righteously desire to ascend and see the beauties of my life.
What does it mean to come unto Jesus?
How do we learn of Jesus?
What is the significance of the words He uses to describe himself — meek and lowly of heart?
When does the yoking occur?
What does this mean?
How does it look in my life, my day-to-day choices?
Each morning I am blessed with the breath of life is the time to make sure my heart, might, mind, and soul feel the yoking during my prayers and meditations. Sometimes I must check more frequently throughout the day. When I lay me down to sleep in His watchful keep, my heart draws in all those I love, always and forever, with gratitude, as I seek to ease their burdens. The Shepherd guards my mountainous treks, together and alone, to give me of His rest.
In my pondering, I remember, with a sense of intrigue and awe, a Monarch butterfly wearing white drops of paint. How did this happen? Watching with a touch of sadness for his predicament, I sat as close as possible for a long time as people passed, none to stop. I spoke softly to him. My desire to help him could only be in the form of a prayer, as he slowly struggled with each tiny movement, inching his way to the shelter of flowers. My heartbeat quickening with his dragging wings until we both find rest, he shelter, me relief at the mountainous trek he undertook.
Mountainous treks come in all degrees of difficulty, depending on many variables and terrains. I find them petitioning my heartfelt desires to action and experience self-discovery when walking, crawling, stumbling, and sitting in the stillness of mountain views. From my smallest hope to my greatest dreams, I have mountains to climb.
When Christ is who I yoke myself to and trust that rest comes even when I labour and am heavily laden with all of life’s happenings, I find peace and a pace I can keep to reach the summit overlooking all my obstacles. He will not drag me but patiently await my submission to walk alongside Him, showing my faith and works. I can testify this is an eternal truth that takes effort on my part and a willingness to lay aside worries, fears, disappointments, grief and allow His healing balm to coat my sores, soothe my scars, and bless my path with His gentle course corrections. His yoke keeps me steady. I do not understand the lightness of His burden. I remember, with gratitude, His groaning, aching, bloody Gethsemane experience on my behalf.
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.“
=>How is His burden light even as I take upon myself His yoke?
His invitation to learn from His experiences provides opportunities to examine my life through His summits’ perspective with an incredible view across valleys, rivers, and other mountain ranges.
=> What does it mean to find rest unto my soul?
I feel at peace and oneness with Him that I cannot explain, and the assuring knowledge that I am loved. My mind finds rest from worry, doubt, fear. My heart finds rest from sorrow and grief in the exquisite joy of love.
Life happens . . . so do Mountainous Treks (large and small, steep, rugged, gently sloping, grassy and beautiful in their majesty).
=> What have the terrains of your mountainous treks imprinted in your heart?
=> What do you carry in your backpack?
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***NOTE: (SM) = posts written under the sub-category Scriptural Musings comprising of my thoughts, reflections, and personal opinions based on my study of the King James Bible. ***
