No ordinary mountain top experience.
As most
of you know I’m currently in Spain at the G42 Leadership Academy on the
southern coast. I’m designated to be here for 6 months, and I’ve just finished
my 5th week here. God has been working on my character; growing me
more as the man He’s designed me to be.
In addition I’ve been working on a ministry/business that I will be
launching as soon as I’m finished here mid June. I’m really excited about what
God is doing, and for this season of my life.
Recently
God has called me closer to Him in a way I have never experienced before. When
I read the bible and hear stories of Moses, Jesus and some others climbing some
sort of mountain to escape the crowds, be close to God, and pray I never fully
understood it until I took a similar journey myself. On Friday I woke up and
started my trek up the mountain here in Mijas, Spain. It was 5am, cold, the
wind was blowing and it was very dark. I packed layers of clothes, water, a
headlamp and some determination to get to the top. When I originally started
this journey I anticipated using trails to get to the peak of this mountaintop,
but it did not turn out that way.
After
about 20 minutes on the trail I saw a sign that had 3 different arrows,
pointing in 3 different directions with Spanish phrases on each of them. Since
I’m not fluent in Spanish, and did not want to miss the sunrise I decided to
climb up the face of the mountain. This was no easy task; I encountered steep
climbs, and thorn bushes sticking my legs and hands as I searched for solid
foundation to continue my ascent to the top. After about an hour and forty-five
minutes I had finally reached the top, completely drenched with sweat,
dehydrated, but with a feeling of accomplishment.
Shortly
after reviewing what just happened, I sat down on the rock, drank some water
and looked down on the city and the Mediterranean Sea, it all seemed so
small. The silence that I found at
the top of this mountain was almost piercing. I began to interact with God,
asking Him some questions and then just looking at the stars eager for His
response. I started to understand why Jesus went to a mountaintop to be with
God, pray, and listen. It may be one of the only places I’ve ever found in my
life where there was no noise, not a single one. I also took into account that Jesus must have been in great
shape to be able to take this journey so often.
As the
sun began to rise and pierce the darkness of the night, God began to speak to
me. I realized I had carried some things with me up to that mountain and I
didn’t pack them in my bag, they were in my heart. I spoke out, “You can have
it all God” after that it was the most amazing feeling I’ve encountered. It was
as if His love was like a blanket that just wrapped around me and I just began
praising him, singing worship songs, jumping around like a crazy man. A crazy
man who had so much love for His heavenly father he couldn’t help but react and
scream from the peak “I’m so in love with you Jesus”!!! I’m pretty sure the
fish in the ocean heard this call of love to my Father in heaven. I love that we are sons and daughters of a God who longs to meet with us no matter where we are.
As I
descended down, I began reviewing how I even got up that mountain. I’m no rock climber, I didn’t know
where to go but I knew up was the right direction. I remembered praying over
and over “Lord guide my path” and He did. I remember hearing strange noises
that made me question if going up at 5am in the dark by myself was the right
move, but after a while all that mattered was that I reached the top, to spend
time with my God. It was an amazing journey; one that I think I’m still
unpacking as I type this out, but I know in the end it was no ordinary
mountaintop experience.
