“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.” (Isaiah 54:10 New Living Translation)
Growing up in Saginaw as I did, mountains were a part of creation I did not comprehend until adulthood when opportunities to travel to other states became part of vacationing. As if mountains are not enough to tantalize my spirit, put me near a body of water whether it be a lake or an ocean, and I’m a very happy person, one who feels the depth and awe of this world God created from the work of His hands inspired by an imagination beyond my comprehension.
Last week, while many of you were living under brown skies due to wildfires–for which I truly was saddened and drove me to prayer–my husband and I were aboard a cruise ship to enjoy the inside passage of Alaska from Vancouver’s port up to Juneau and back. In the week leading up to our departure, our weather app was showing a week of rain and cool temperatures for almost every day of our trip. Warm clothes and rain gear were packed. But God! As it turns out we had one windy misty day while on board, every other day was in the high 70s with sunshine, especially in Juneau when we enjoyed our whale watching tour. Even our wilderness expert commented about the unusual sunshine, further explaining that Juneau had enjoyed a mere five days of sunshine thus far in the year. Clear skies and calm waters allowed us to see about six whales, sea lions, and bald eagles. In the distance as we returned to the harbor our pilot took us to an area to view Mendenhall Glacier. Although this 13.6 mile long glacier is 12 miles from downtown Juneau, I could still soak in its beauty, snow and ice against the backdrop of blue skies, its caps covered in snow. This was quite the contrast when comparing how mountains on the shores of the passage were often hidden by fog in the morning hours, magically appearing when the mists left, revealing their true appearance.
The Bible has numerous scriptures about mountains which also have great significance in their purpose. Abraham was invited up a mountain to offer his son Issac as a sacrifice. King David established a city on a tall hill. Moses met God on Mount Horeb and also Mount Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments. Elijah fled to Mount Horeb. Jesus ascended Mount Tabor for the Transfiguration. Mountains emphasize liminal space where the divine and the human realms intersect.
I don’t know what secrets or creatures inhabit all the beautiful mountains I saw from Vancouver to Juneau. Trees and rocks covered their terrain. Fog and snow adorned their peaks. Much was left to my imagination last week as I realized there remains acres and miles of terrain untouched or unseen by humans. These majestic creations are home to a tree cover that looks like a blanket, hiding birds and wild animals under perfect protection.
No matter the mysteries our passage’s mountains may be holding, I’m very grateful for the scenery and powerful reminders that God created a world for all of us to enjoy, exposing beauty with a lack of words to describe, ability to take in the height and depth of these magnificent rock formations peeking out under fog or shining brightly under sunshine.
“The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.” (Nahum 1:5)
Mendenhall Glacier courtesy online source.
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