I am a mountain person. Sure, the beach is beautiful, the ebb and flow of the tide can be mesmerizing, but if I had my druthers, I would look to the mountains. There’s just something about the tall reaches and peaks that reminds me of the magnificence and power of God. It’s almost as if the mountains are stretching on tippy-toe to meet the Kingdom of Heaven.
I am privileged to live at the foot of this mountain . North Mountain. Specifically, just to the south of Boyd’s Gap and just to the north of Roundtop. Both ridges are decent sizes for this area, about 1,480 and 1,673 feet, respectively, give or take. That’s a lot of reaching Heavenward. We’re situated half way in the middle of two peaks of North Mountain, which is part of the Appalachian Mountains.
O beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
Oops, where was I? I get positively gooey when I look at my mountain. For sure it isn’t the biggest mountain in the US, Mt. McKinley, Mt. Rainier, the Rockies, White Mountains, and the Great Smokies are all much, much larger than North Mountain, but the Appalachian Mountain Range is the oldest mountain range in this Country. For real, check it out.
I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth!
Psalm 121:1-2
I often recite this Psalm as I walk Haddy Girl in the mornings. It brings me such peace. But, as we walked one day last week (between rains and before the oppressive heat), I noticed something new about my Beautiful Mountain, it had a utility path on which a power line traveled. Of course, it was not new, and of course, I had seen it before, but for some reason this particular day it really stood out to me. And I thought to myself, although it does interrupt the beautiful flow of the mountain, it really was quite a wonderful path.
It made me ask – What path am I on? We’re all journeying through life, we’re all following some kind of path. We’re all following someone or something? What path are you on? I pondered that for a bit.
My second thought was the Sound of Music. Climb Every Mountain, Search High and Low. Just looking up at that path makes us feel the burn, doesn’t it? As we follow our life path it can sometimes feel like this steep rocky path.
But the thing that jumped out to me most, and I realize it’s a little hard to see (if you’re on your cell blow it up), between the cell towers on either side of the path, at the very top is a powerline. Let’s think about that for a minute. A powerline. What is powering my path as I’m climbing every mountain, searching high and low? And although I know it’s a little difficult to see, note that the power line is not just at the top of the mountain. The powerline comes up from the bottom of the mountain, right where our journey starts.
Note how tidy this path seems to be. In order to make way for the utility line, vegetation had to be cleaned up. Much brush and overgrowth had to be eliminated to set the powerlines. But some good vegetation also had to be removed. We know in our lives brush definitely has to go in order to make way for the powerlines, but sometimes even good things, or things that are not necessarily bad, need to go in order to make way for the powerlines.
And as I looked at the top, it dawned on me, the powerlines don’t stop at the top, there would be no purpose in that. The powerlines lead over the mountain into the valley. The peaceful valley.
Like cattle going down to the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. You led Your people this way to make for Yourself a glorious name. Isaiah 63:14
Just as the cattle no doubt felt the burn on their mountain path up and over, they descend to the valley floor and receive rest from the Spirit. Isaiah tells us the Spirit of the Lord will do the same for us. He will power His people on the path up and over the mountain.
O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
“Your God is coming!”
Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
Isaiah 40:9-11
What a beautiful picture of rest after the climb. With trembling, burning legs we walk the mountain path of life. On the way we must get rid of all things in life that encroach on the path of our powerline, good and bad, that pull us from the power source that takes us safely over the mountain and to the restful valley.
He makes me lie down in green meadows;
He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
Bringing honor to his name.
Psalm 23
What a beautiful portrait of the God of the Mountain, our powerline, from where our help comes from!