Hiking above Brewer Creek in Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California
To continue from last week… just because we are in a “desert” or on a “mountaintop” in our spiritual journey doesn’t mean that one or the other is easier or that one is less of an adventure. Everything we do with God is an adventure of one sort or another, even if it’s just Adventures In Resting.
Stream crossing on the Heliotrope Divide Trail, Mt. Baker Wilderness, Washington
In the desert, we faced heat. In the mountains, we have faced cold. Both heat and cold are silent killers – either will take your life if you are not prepared to meet them and deal with them.
A little flower among the moqui marbles, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah
It’s the same with walking with Christ – there are spiritual killers in both the “mountaintop experiences” and in the “dry wastelands”. They’re different. They require different equipment to beat the odds, and different skill sets for dealing with the problems and difficulties that arise in different places.
Mist settles over Spray Park, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington
In Revelation, Jesus speaks to seven churches, and to most of them He gives an encouraging “well done!” and a rebuke. These churches were facing spiritual problems that we still face today: lukewarm Christianity, spiritual hierarchies, immorality, etc. Some of the Believers were commended for dealing with one set of issues, yet rebuked for other issues where they were not up to par. For example, the church in Ephesus was doing a terrific job at working hard for God, refusing unsound doctrine, and persevering under hardships. But somehow they had neglected their love for God in the process of all the work and keeping their doctrine sound.
Views from above the Grapevine Hills Trail, Big Bend National Park, Texas
They had managed to ford the streams and climb the snowfields of the mountains while beating off hypothermia – hypothetically – but when it came to walking a path not in the mountains, they failed. (This is all hypothetical – love for God does not equal walking through the desert!)
Snowfields atop Table Mountain, Mt. Baker Wilderness, WA
While resting, it’s easy to become lethargic. While persevering, it can be easy to fall into “Martha syndrome” and forget the best (Luke 10:42). In times of intense dryness, our search for water can cause us to forget the lessons learned in more fruitful times. In times of great abundance, there is always the temptation for pride.
Views from a peak above Saratoga Springs, Death Valley National Park, California
Or more to the point, there is always a temptation for pride – in weakness and dryness, because we are pressing through and succeeding against the odds, in abundance because there is temptation to think it is by our own doing or that we can just continue to coast on today’s plenty.
Hiking the Medicine Bow Mountains, Wyoming
It’s not whether we feel we are in the “desert” or on a “mountaintop” or “green pasture” that makes us immune to disaster, spiritually. There are spiritual killers in every season of life. The goal is to walk the path and learn the lessons needed to stay spiritually vibrant and faithful in every terrain – mountain, desert, valley, and so on.
Tiny waterfall near Bridalveil Falls, South Dakota
And if that lesson is just remembering to bring along lunch, it’s a good lesson to learn.
