Lesson from the Mountain

"The mountain beckons me to come

to greet the morning sky alone

what I thought was the top of the world

turned out to be the foot of His throne"

~Daddy

     

 

 

 Mt. Meru is a volcanic, sister mountain of Mt. Kilimanjaro found in the northeastern corner of Tanzania in a place now named Arusha National Park. This mountain rises above the clouds at an altitude of 14,977 ft, making it the 5th highest mountain in Africa. I was allowed the grand adventure of trekking this piece of God's country.

 

My group consisted of a young couple from Denmark and two guides - Deo (who has climbed Mt. Everest) and Steven (a Masai). However due to the potential danger of wild animals in the lower region my group was joined by several other groups accompanied by a ranger loaded with a simple shot gun. Up we walked through magnificent rain forest terrain -seeing fig trees, moss and monkeys. The air was fresh, crisp and cool with sunlight peaking through the dense vegetation.

 

On the second day of the trek, due to the energy received through mountain air and youth, Masai and I walked ahead of everyone else and climbed the mountain. Each turn in the trail shot an element of wonder through my bones. Never have I seen such beauty. I said, "Wow" so many times that Masai began imitating me, "wow". I told him once we summitted I won't be able to say anything due to awe. He just laughed.

Our climb lead through the clouds, then above in an almost alpine terrain... where I had my first glimpses of Mt. Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds. Some moments cannot be described in words only song. The song in my heart that whole climb was, "Heaven is a beautiful place. It brings a smile to my face to know someday Heaven will be my resting place."

 

For summitting generally a group will climb in the dark and then watch the morning's sunrise. Masai knew that I enjoy nature without many people so we summitted that afternoon. The last 1.5 miles had a 3,000 ft elevation gain and was like climbing stairs for a long time. Now my 13 hour bus ride and African hospitality which requires its guest to sit and eat were catching up with me. Masai would not let me stop to rest knowing we had to beat the approaching darkness. Remembering he was my guide and had been up this mountain numerous times, I knew I had to trust his judgement despite my legs tiring, the clouds below us and a narrow path which steeply was 'up' in one direction and 'down' (a long ways) in the other. 

 

This is when the words to another song crept into my mind, "I don't need to have a plan at hand. I don't need to have the end in sight. All I need to do is follow You wherever you lead and do what you ask me to." At this moment I realized that following Masai up that mountain could be likened to following God. In the same way in which Masai knew my tiredness was worth the view, God knows our present struggles are worth the glory to come. In the same way, I had to trustingly follow Masai on that rocky and narrow path, we are required to follow God step-by-step. The same way Masai gently encouraged me along, God is so very gracious with us.

 

The summit was breathtaking and left me speechless. There we were looking across a sea of clouds in the view of world famous Kilimanjaro and the horizon as a mystery of possibilities. The horizon not as the end of the world but the beginning of beginnings. That first beginning being right within. I was reminded of Saint Augustine's observation, "Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."Looking at the wonder about how magnificently gracious God is with this little, single person. This might be a much of a mystery as a mountain top or as awe-ing as those giant fig trees.