We Are Not AloneSample

On mountains

My son Gareth is a landscape photographer whose body of work features mountains. Not only does he shoot his photos from ground level, but he’s the kind who climbs mountains to take photos of other mountains from thousands of feet into the atmosphere.

The result of going the extra mile is stunning. The majesty and symmetry of God are undeniable in his photos. You are struck by earth’s beauty on the one hand, and its grandeur on the other. Using his camera’s timing device, sometimes Gareth includes himself in a photo. His hands are lifted as he is swept up by the Spirit of God high above the earth below.

Jesus spent time on mountains, sometimes with crowds of people where the mountain formed a natural amphitheatre. There he introduced them to parables of the Kingdom of God that they could apply to their lives and circumstances (Matthew chapters 5-7). The mountain also became a place of miracles where people brought to Jesus loved ones and friends who experienced the Spirit of God flowing through Jesus and healing them (Matthew 15:29-31).

Sometimes Jesus went to the mountain by himself, seeking renewal of the spiritual and physical energy he had spent reaching out to others. At these times, the mountains were a natural place for Jesus, a place of solitude, quietness and refuge where he could pray and experience afresh the love of his Father in Heaven and the replenishment of the Spirit of God with all the resources he needed (Matthew 14:22-33).

We too need to go to the mountain, whether it’s a literal mountain close to home or one that we can see and go to in our heart. ‘I will lift up my eyes to the mountains,’ said the Psalmist. ‘Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth’ (Psalm 121:1-2).

For reflection: Spend some time reflecting on Psalm 121. What does it mean for you when the writer says: ‘I will lift up my eyes.’