Just Above Timberline, originally uploaded by papalars.
My sons and I have been training to climb Mt. Rainier [to the right of the frame] with a group since January. I mentioned this in my last post just below. Notice the slight change in the picture. This time, I got on top of the rock. Maybe this indicates my growing confidence and sense of preparation for the big climb! Last Monday, two of us loaded up about 50 lbs. into our packs and made a quick assent to the top of Mt. Si in about 2 hours. That is a 4 mile ascent [8 miles round trip] in about 3200 ft. and is one of the training grounds for prospective Rainier climbers. I am tired from the climb, needless to say. It was worth it and now I feel ready to climb Rainier next week. We are beginning to lay out our gear and do an inventory on all the pieces and equipment that need to come together to make a successful attempt at the summit.
I don't want to over analyze this or make too many analogies to the spiritual life but what is a former pastor to do? The entire experience of training for and then attempting to reach the summit of Mt. Rainier is really pregnant with so many connections. I guess the most obvious to me currently is the distinction that is often made between "training" and "trying" for the spiritual walk with God. It really is true that orienting one's life around God takes a little more than just a whim or fancy that hits one day as easily as it evaporates the next.
This has nothing to do with God's grace and his love which is unconditional. It has more to do with our own awareness of God's active presence in our lives, which is sometimes very quiet, subtle and most importantly rarely overwhelming. Again, don't get me wrong, God sometimes overwhelms me with a sense of his great goodness but it usually does not come in the form of a lightening bolt, but rather as a still small voice that speaks to the depths of my heart and consciousness. Which reminds me of an excellent quote from Frederick Buechner on this aspect of how God reveals himself and the role of our doubt–"Without somehow destroying me in the process, how could God reveal himself in a way that would leave no room for doubt? If there were no room for doubt, there would no room for me."
Sometimes my "radar" for this God awareness gets dirty and the receptors lose their capacity to hear and know God's love. This is where the training comes in. I need to cultivate a listening ear with regular spiritual exercise. If I fail to do this my capacity to take in what is available from God diminishes. The bottom line is this. Effort and training are good. Though God is also spontaneous we will recognize more of God's work around us if we train to hear, know and see his presence. I have to get above the timberline of my own struggles sometimes to see God's view of things. This has nothing to do with earning God's love. That would be warping the idea of God's generous and unconditional offer to all who believe.
I like breaking above timberline when hiking. The vistas are really incredible when you get to this altitude.
Rainier looks a little small in the photo above, but I know we will feel all of 14,410 ft through our bodies in about 5 days. I would love it if you'd join our team in prayer for safety and a great experience on Rainier, August 10th-13th. Drop me a note when you have time.
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words." Psalm 19:1-3
