On two separate occasions, I have ventured to the summit of Mount Snowdon in North Wales. The first time we went as a family sometime around 2001 and the second time about five years later when just two of us made our way up the mountain. I hasten to add before you get the wrong idea, we didn’t actually climb the mountain on either occasion, but caught the amazing Snowdon Mountain railway. On both occasions, the sun shone brightly as we climbed on board in Llanberis and began our ascent. I anticipated on both occasions standing at the top of the mountain, camera in hand and capturing the wonderful panorama, yet each time, the higher we climbed the more it became apparent that the mountain would be shrouded in cloud, and sure enough, it felt like a winters day as we looked out at a foggy view and were robbed of the wonderful vista’s we had anticipated. The best photograph I gave is one of my two young daughters huddled together almost lost in the clod, standing at the summit.
I’m not particularly good with heights and don’t like sheer drops, but I do enjoy being high up. I love walking on the Dales fells and being away from the crowds. In a few weeks’ time we are planning to have a family holiday in the Yorkshire Dales and I look forward to climbing up and walking alone, first thing on a morning, enjoying the solitude. There is something special about being in places like this, and, ridiculous as it might sound, I somehow feel closer to God in those morning moments, lost in my thoughts and enjoying the countryside and the wonders of nature. Even standing, enveloped in cloud at the summit of Snowdon, there was that special feeling of being elevated and in a special place. What made both experiences of Snowdon more galling was that as we drove back through Snowdonia, we pulled in and through the zoom lens of my camera, I could see the station with people milling around as clear as day. Maybe I’m just not patient enough?
Mountains feature throughout the Bible. Moses meets with God on the mountain, the law is given to Moses on the mountain and there is the idea that God is “up there” somewhere, the voice of God booms from a cloud and so people believed that if you wanted to be closer to God, then you had to climb a mountain. Today is the last Sunday before we begin our journey through Lent, and we have another mountain top experience to reflect on. Jesus leads Peter, James, and John, his inner circle up a mountain, and there on the top of the mountain they witness his transfiguration. I always like this story, you can read it in Matthew 17: 1-9, Peter is so enthralled with what is happening that he wants to stay on the mountain top.
I have three questions for you to ponder:
- What are the mountain top experiences in your life? The moments you would love to go back and re live time and time again.
- Jesus sought strength in his hour of need from the great men of old and from God himself on the mountain top. Where do you turn when the going gets tough, who do you need by your side when faced with difficult choices?
- What are your experiences of God revealing his glory to you? Where have you seen the majesty and wonder of God?