Monday, August 3

Mighty mountains


Today I'm heading to the mountains.  I can't wait to reach their rugged beauty, their splendor, and especially their cool temperatures!

We took this photo in the Alps several years ago.
I began my mountain love affair when I was a little girl.  I'll never forget the first time I saw The Sound of Music.  I was absolutely riveted by the scene in which Maria talks with the Reverend Mother of the Abbey and the Reverend Mother says to her, "Remember: 'I will up mine eyes unto the hills; from whence cometh my help."

At the time, I thought the Reverend Mother was telling Maria that help would be coming from the mountains.  Of course, the Reverend Mother would have known better.  She would have known the next verse.

"My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."  (Psalm 121)

Although I love the poetry of the old King James Version, I like the straight talk of The Message for these verses:

I lift up my eyes to the hills
  From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
  who made heaven and earth.

All too often I'm prone to think that my help will come from different scenery, cooler weather, or the beauty of my surroundings.  But of course then I'm following the age-old tendency to worship the creation rather than the Creator.



This trip, I'm hoping to keep my mind on the One who made the majestic mountains--the One who is the real source of my help.

How about you?  Is there a part of God's creation that especially reminds you of His loving care?