I woke up this morning half-expecting to see a mountain view; however, I was back home in my own bed, far away from SnowShoe Mountain, West Virginia. We drove home yesterday, leaving the mountain behind us. We rented a house for a long weekend at SnowShoe Resort. It was very quiet, as this is the off- season. Soon, skiers will populate the mountain and it will be covered in snow and ice. This time of year, the deer were our only visitors to the house, and the birds and squirrels who were our frequent companions on the deck.
SnowShoe rises to an elevation of 4,848 feet. It felt as if the house were sitting in the clouds, the rolling fog, a sea of mist. It is captivating, to say the least. The great poet and author, Geoffrey Chaucer, said, “Time and tide wait for no man.” Indeed, this is true; even in the mountains, time does not stop…but it seems to pause!
The house where we stayed is called, ‘On Mountain Time’, and it is a fitting name. It is easy to lose track of time when you are sitting in the clouds! That mountain air gives you a brand-new perspective. It is as if you breathe in the intoxicating wonder of new ideas; you exhale the worries that deplete you. And then, there is the sense of magnitude that overwhelms you when you are at the top of the mountain; your cares seem small compared to the grandeur around you.
In life, we are blessed with mountain-top experiences. We also know how we feel when we are deep in the valleys of life, not sure what our next step will be. We certainly know about the fog, the times when we cannot seem to find our way at all, the path ahead, a great unknown.
But whether we are on top of the mountain, or in the valley, our attitude seems to make all the difference. If only we could bottle that mountain air and keep it handy for the hard times! Truthfully, the good attitude and the ability to focus on creative solutions is needed most when we are in trouble, when just catching our breath seems difficult.
The quote by Charles Swindoll is one to reflect upon: ” Life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% of how I react to it.” How often do we jump to conclusions about any given issue and assume that it is a liability before we even know the whole story? How often do we play the ‘what if?’ game, but only come up with negative solutions? What if it rains at an outdoor wedding we are planning? What if the tent for the wedding is not big enough? What if the bride slips and falls in the mud? One question leads to another, and then another…
As I return from the mountains, I hope to remember the lessons I learned there. These are lessons I have been taught before, but I always need reminders. My homework is to take these lessons to heart and live by them.
Mountain fog can block our vision; negative thinking can block our ability to dream big dreams. Even in the mountains with limited visibility, you must move forward inch by inch. In life, we must keep moving forward as well…especially when the steps are difficult, and the going gets rough.
Standing on top of a mountain is an awesome experience. It is worth the climb. It is worth the scraped knees, the tired feet, the blisters, the aches and pains of the journey. And so it is with our lives; we navigate through passages that seem impossible, trying times that test our will. We keep our focus on the mountain top, knowing that in the end, the climb itself was the gift, the ability to keep striving, no matter what.
The world is full of wonders. God has blessed us with so much. There are mountains, and rivers, and canyons, and beautiful lakes. There are oceans, and forests, and beaches that extend for miles and miles and miles. We do not have to travel far to experience beauty; it is there in sunrise and sunset each day; it is there in the moonlight as a moth flutters in the darkness. It is everywhere, and we must train our eyes to focus on it.
Deep in the night on the back deck of ‘On Mountain Time’, I watched the puffs of my breath in the cold air. I must remember always to exhale my fears into the night air, to release the pain of undone things, the clutter of all that I cannot control. There is much outside of my control. Pondering these things is useless. How much better to gaze up at the stars and be grateful for all the good in my life? How much better to breathe in the wonder of the night, and let it seep into my soul…the moonlight just between the Fir trees, the owl that hoots and seems to understand the mysteries of the universe, my own sigh, that all is well, because God is in control of everything.
Napolean Hill says it so well: ” Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.” The seasons change. Snow will come to the mountain. Ice will form on the Fir trees. Icicles will hang from the roof. And in the spring, everything will change once again. I must remember that I, too, change with the seasons. I, too, must weather the winters of my life. Most of all, I must remember that spring will come again; I must think of the mountain flowers that will grow in profusion, signs of hope to tuck deep within my soul.
Psalm 46: 1-3: “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way, and the mountains fall into the sea…”
Love the analogies you shared here! Such a beautiful message!
It was inspiring to be in the mountains! As you follow along those winding roads, everything seems to slow down.You remember that it is okay to simply ‘rest’ in the beauty of the natural world. God’s signature is everywhere in the mountains, from the first touch of morning light to the close of day. We saw so many deer up close; they were leaping about wherever we went.
this resonates deeply at this time when so many are feeling a flux of feelings, dreading the unknown … this offers hope and tools to manage those ‘winters’ Linda!
This might be your best post so far 🙂
Thank you Kate! 🙂 We will get through the winters! Spring will come around again…we must remember that the crocus will bloom, even in the snow.
great analogy … we are having a lovely warm spring and never see snow 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Those beautiful mountains prompted a beautifully uplifting meditation.
It was hard to leave those mountains! I felt such a deep peace. Perhaps, it is the quietude that is so soothing to the soul; we sat on the deck and listened to the birds…My little grandson entertained us as he is just starting to walk.
That sounds wonderful. There are places that do the same for me. It must have been delightful to watch your grandson’s tottering steps.
It is a thing of joy to watch a child take those first steps! Children grow up so quickly…childhood moments are fleeting and precious! 🙂
They certainly are.
Thank you, Linda for taking me there. I didn’t even need the photos. God’s grip – Alan
Thank you for stopping by for a visit! 🙂
That was just beautiful, Linda! I’m glad you got to have time in the house on the mountain, but even more grateful for the the way you wrote about it. You’re right, we need to remember the lessons of our mountain top experiences, and to be grateful for everything we have been given, even when it feels as if we’ll never get out of the valley.
It has been a difficult time for all of us. The mountain top experiences remind us to persevere…better times are coming.
I needed this today, as I look out of my writing window and see the snow fall and the wind blow the tree branches unmercifully. My front porch plants are still flowering, but not, alas, for long. But spring will come, and in the meantime, we hunker down and believe that each season has its reasons.
I am a summer person, but I like the changing seasons. Each season has its own beauty. In the part of Virginia where I live, we do not get a lot of snow. We get some…and it is always a big deal! I am not crazy about cold weather, but I am like a little kid with that first snowfall!
First snowfall is beautiful. By March, and the 15th NE snowfall, I. Am. DONE! :-0 VA is such a gorgeous stated. I went to college Freshman year at Univ of Mary Washington (Fredericksburg) and what I most liked about going there was the beauty all around me.
That is such a pretty campus! Virginia is a beautiful state, and I have lived here for over thirty years. I am originally from New York, which is also a great state; I like to think each place we live has something wonderful to offer. I went to school in Indiana, and then my husband and I lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when we first got married. Both of those places were special. I loved the Indiana Dunes, and of course, the ocean, in Myrtle Beach.
Your writing is beautiful! It’s been quite a while since I have been on top of a mountain but thanks for taking me there with your words.
Thank you! The mountains are incredible; there is such a great sense of peace. I used to love to ski, but is has been several years since I skied down a mountain. Once, we took a big family trip and all four of my children seemed to get the hang of skiing with ski lessons. I was never an expert skier, but it is a wonderful thing to be out there in nature, enjoying the slopes. Even on the bunny trails, the views are beautiful! 🙂
From what you ‘show and tell’, that was a perfect mountain top getaway! Sitting in the clouds certainly clears your mind and then fills it with blessings! Thanks for sharing!
It was wonderful…only a couple of days, but well worth the journey! Soon, there will be a lot of snow up there. But, for right now, the weather was lovely. We were not driving on icy roads, and the scenery was breathtaking.
Wow Linda this is a beautiful post. I love this quote, “Every adversity, every failure, and every heartache, carries with it the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.” I can’t believe I’ve never heard that one before x
It is a great quote! It is one we need to contemplate in these pandemic hours when so much in our lives has been turned upside down! 🙂
What a wonderful lesson in your post. I consider my life challenges as hills and valleys so your words resonate so deeply with me. And yes we must remember the lessons learned in all seasons of life.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for stopping by! 🙂 With God’s grace we move through the seasons of our lives. There are certainly high points, and low points! How blessed we are that our Heavenly Father is with us not only on the mountain top, but deep in the valley, as well.