The Mountains Called

The mountains called and I answered. I was whisked to the top with 12 others making a team of 13. Two of the team were two of my boys and mountain mates -- Clayton and Aaron (l - r in the picture). The mountains were beautiful beyond words. They were glorious beyond imagination. It was good to be there on the mountains.

It was the annual "youth group" ski trip. We planned. We packed. We prepared. We traveled. We shopped. We unpacked. We made food for each other. We cleaned up after each other. We all had chores. We laughed. We talked. We played games. We listened. We read scripture. We prayed. We composed a worship service with God and each other in mind. We worshipped. We were all a little different, and yet we were together for some very similar purposes. Oh, did I say we also skied?" It was awesome beyond words.

I skied a fair amount in my youth. I used to think I was "somebody." But what could be better than seeing each of these young people pass me by? When my own boys left me in the dust I was happy to say, "You boys go ahead; I'll be o.k." The mountain belonged to them. The mantle was passed. They were now the "ski dog" I used to be. Like someone stepping out of the light, it is time for me to retire and let the young ones enjoy what rightfully belongs to them. I have had my turn on the mountain.

Isn't it great to see someone learn something new, master something hard, bond together, and try new things? Isn't it grand to see one of them fall and see someone else pull them to their feet? What is better than to hear one of them say, "Would you help me?" Or, hear another say, "You can do it"? Affirmation is just another word for Absolution: You are forgiven. You are graced. You belong.

Skiing is not easy. Neither is being united. You have to work a bit at each.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 90, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or your brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God."

We love the mountains. But our dwelling place is God. More beautiful and more glorious than the creation is the Creator Himself. And the One who made the mountains? He made you and me, too. Before the mountains were born, before you and I were born, there was God molding and shaping us to be as He would have "us" to be.

We sometimes hear people speak of a "personal and intimate" relationship with God. There might be something to that. But what about the corporate relationship? What about the Body arranged and molded together just as God would have us to be? What about the people of God bound together int he mercies and graces of Jesus, His blood making us "one" in spite of lesser differences? It would not be much fun skiing by yourself. It wouldn't be much fun being a church by oneself, either.

What was most impressive about the mountain we skied is that it was set in a mountain range: It was not one mountain, but many. On top of the chair lift you could see mountain after mountain after mountain each molded and shaped by God. From the same chair lift you could also see people -- as far as the eye could see. Were they also "molded" together by God? In spite of their differences? In spite of what they do not hold in common each is held in common in the palm of God's hand. That is beautiful beyond words. That is glorious beyond imagination.

Isaiah 64:8 says, "But you, O Lord, are the potter and we are the clay; we are the handiwork of your hands." What strikes you here?

God does not mold us individually. God does not so much make me as He makes "us." "We" are His workmanship. God molds "us" together. He shapes 13 and 30; 300 and 3,000; and so on. He makes us in His image, the Triune God: Three distinct persons in one glorious Deity. What is better than to hear "us" say: "Will you help me?" and "May I help you?" To hear each other say, "Let's do this together." "I love you." "Thank you." And "I'm sorry." What is better than stepping out of the light so someone else can see and allowing the "young ones" to have their turn?

Here is a mountain man challenge: Let's go ski together, or do something together. Let's pack and prepare; let's work and play; let's listen, love and laugh; let's each have our chores. Let's read some Scripture together and pray together. Let's each take our turn, and give a turn to the next. However different we may sometimes be we are molded together for a very common purpose: God's beauty and God's glory.

The mountains called and so I answered.....God is calling, too.....Jeff