Mountains

What do mountains make you think of? Some think of desolation, despair, loneliness, and being trapped. To others, it brings happiness, joy, and freedom. So what's the difference? What makes people see them that way?

I haven't grown up around mountains, and yet they don't represent, in particular, any of the two areas up above. They represent hope, in one aspect, and yet climbing and difficulty in the other. When one talks about one's spiritual life, it's common to say that "I'm in a desert right now", or "that was a mountain top experience!" And the former is what I think of when I see a mountain... like the one below.

(Yes, taken while in Jasper.)

They're filled with the pristine, white, snowy beauty that makes them so breathtaking. And yet so very obvious are the jagged rocks and deep gullies that pit their sides.

All the above leads to this: I have my slumps.. but I have my mountains, too. So often... in fact, too often... in fact, almost always... really?... always... I praise in one, but not the other. Any guesses? Yeah. When I'm up on the top, surrounded by an elixir of joy and happiness and praise, the world seems right and perfect. When I'm down at ground level... everything seems uphill. One thing the weekend in Jasper taught me was that He is the Lord of my Mountains, no matter what kind they are. Whether they are physical or emotional barriers that I need to overcome, or if they are spiritual "highs" that make memories and bring truth to reality. I'm thankful that I don't have to wonder if this plain will stretch on forever... because He's the Lord... the Lord of my Mountains.