I realize now that there hasn’t been a single day in the last three months that I haven’t seen a mountain. I know that’s strange for some people because they have lived on or near the mountains their entire lives, but I grew up in a west Michigan suburb so, in short, there ain’t no mountains there (I realize that’s a double negative, but you get the point).
When we touched down in Lezhë three months ago, there they were rising dark in the background. They watched over the squad as we learned to become Racers, as we played card games, as we worshipped. They escorted us on the long walks into town and we marched up them to visit castles and to see views.
I hiked them in Montenegro, and while there were some close calls with a wild boar, the view over Tivat made my spirit soar. I had to go all the way Athens, Greece to begin to understand their true nature.
You see, Athens is an old soul; the monuments to man and gods were there before Jesus walked this earth, and some are beginning to crumble but the mountains still stand like they always have; all around and towering over anything these men could have ever created.
I think what it comes down to, in the end, is that when my life revolved around marching band practice and cross country and the next grade and the next weekend and the flat mountain less town where I lived it was easy and preferred to think of my God as a small God.
When I was home I was in my comfort zone and it was easy to depend on myself, it was so simple to throw a prayer out before a test or a race. Now that I’m here, on the other side of the world, I can’t do that anymore because now there are no more comfort zones, I can’t run from what the Lord has for me anymore, I can’t think of Him as a small God.
My God is the God of endless oceans and of all the stars in the universe and the sparrows and the wildflowers in the field. And He’s the God of mountains. And all that I am trying to say is that in the last three months i have realized that my God is more.
However beautiful I believe He is- He’s more. How grand? more. How detailed and expansive and subtle? more. How powerful? more. However much He loves me? more than I will ever know or understand.
And like the ancient Greeks- I have built monuments around and within me to prove to others and to God that I am worthy of their love and respect and have value. I rely on my own strength to build temples to my own pride and vanity. But- just like the monuments in Athens -they will fall. They will turn to dust. and the mountains will still be there: unmoved. Just like God will be when I look to him, when I look to the mountains.
So I’m actually posting this from the Philippines where I am…wait for it… FULLY FUNDED!! Thank you so much for all your support!
