“When I look to the mountains, I can see you there……”

  Being outdoors has always been a passion of mine.  I can remember as a little kid, every night after dinner, I would go to the window and gaze out at our backyard.  Now there wasn’t anything that exciting in our backyard, and especially after years of living in the same house, our backyard pretty much had the same things to look at:  A gentle slope, a flower garden, a vegetable garden, a swingset, and a fence that enclosed the whole thing.  It wasn’t so much the particulars of our backyard that drew me to the window every night but rather the simple opportunity to reconnect with the outside world. 

Being outdoors, has always been about connecting me to something beyond, something greater than me, something I can’t fully grasp.  I don’t get that indoors.  Inside I am surrounded by things that are disposable, temporary, man made.  Outside I see things that are natural, untainted, full of life.  As I write this I am reminded of the scripture:

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”–Ecclesiastes 3:11.

Eternity!  God has planted eternity in my heart!  Nature brings me face to face with that longing.  In nature I am reminded that there is something greater than me, that is in control of all that is going on around me.  In God’s creation, I meet Him in a new and powerful way.

Several years ago, not too long after I became a Christian I heard a song that captured for me this longing of my heart to pursue God outdoors in nature.  Here are the words to that song:

“When I look to the mountains, I can see you there.  In the wild churning ocean I can feel you there.  In the warm summer breeze your voice is in the air, Oh, my lord.” 

“You reflect your perfection in the smallest leaf.  In your vastness you render time a captured thief.  I stand naked before you in amazed belief, oh, my lord.”

“Oh my lord, my creator, you have captured my heart, with a love I can never repay, and I fall to my knees to try to tell you what words could never say”

“Though you hold all creation in your holy hands, though the world is as weightless as a grain of sand, still you told me my name and gave me strength to stand, oh my lord.” 

–”When I look to the mountains”,  By Randy Stonehill

At Wellspring we invite you to join us by connecting with God through nature.    This can be done in many ways, such as relaxing on the shore of a serene lake, taking a walk through a quiet forest, or sitting on your front porch watching the sun go down.  Here in Colorado we have the opportunity to hike in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and we would love to have you join us.  If you are able to, come with us on one of our summer hiking journeys.  Our hikes are specifically designed to help you experience God in a new and powerful way,……. outside…..in nature.  

We would love to hear from you especially in how you have connected with God in special ways through nature and the created world.  How has God moved you, spoken to you, or expressed His love to you.  Feel free to add your comments.

Dave for Wellspring © Copyright 2007

The Crossings in the Book of Numbers – Bob Morford

(Bob Morford is a friend and has been a great support to me and now to Wellspring.  I have also enjoyed some 14′er climbs with him and other hikes over the years.   This writing of his seemed especially thougt-provoking and appropriate to move here as a post all its own.  We would like to include writings from all of those interested in sharing this journey with us as special posts on this website. scott)

The book of Numbers describes a 40 year “bridge crossing” by God’s people. God gives detailed instructions through Moses for how the nation of Israel is to proceed through the wilderness, including a cloud by day and a fire by night for them to follow, having just delivered them from their slavery in Egypt. Many times in my life I wished for this clarity of direction from God.

Starting in chapter 11, and interspersed throughout much of the rest of the book, the people complain and lose faith in both God and Moses. They seem to be looking ahead to the bridge not crossed, fearing the worst. God has made provisions for them, and is leading them to the promised land, yet they complain, grumble and seem to fear that they will never make it. They complain that they want meat when God has provided them with manna. So God delivers quail.

Moses sends the 12 explorers into Canaan which God has promised to them. Upon return, all but Caleb and Joshua report that the people living there are stronger, of great size, and raise doubt about God’s promise. The people follow along with this reasoning, fearing what will happen when they “ford this stream”. God promises a bridge and they focus on the stream.

God exclaims to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?” (Nu 14:11, NIV)

This pattern is repeated again and again. It’s also instructive that God punishes the people for their faithlessness. As I reflect on how this fits my life, I see a change from God’s structured consequences to the nation of Israel to the natural consequences that come to me when I look to the future and fear. I suffer needlessly by focusing on these bridge crossings too soon. If only, I would turn to God and trust in him faithfully, I wouldn’t experience the same discouragement that I share with the people of Israel on their journey to the promised land.

The good news is that, like the nation of Israel, I’m on the journey to the promised land. Even though I have dark days behind me, I have new opportunities each day to consider God’s miracles and the ways that He is leading me. I can trust in Him and the eternal life that he has promised to us.

Crossing Bridges

 

 

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” – Unknown 

 

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms states that this old proverb means to “deal with a situation when, and not before, it occurs”.  The origin of this proverb has apparently been lost but it sounds a lot like something one of my grandfathers or dad would say (as a father now for some 12 years, I have found myself saying things a lot like this for no apparent reason).  This saying speaks of living in the present and not fretting over things before their time.  I, on the other hand find myself frequently crossing bridges before I get to them, completely disregarding the sound advice of this proverb.  I can easily start thinking about the bridges and the dangerous waters they span well before I even see them or know of their actual existence.  What is worse I can work out my crossings of imaginary bridges and place a great deal of energy into it.  Is this another way of worrying about the things of tomorrow when there is plenty of worry in today?

 

 

I could tell you any number of stories from this week alone where I spent time crossing bridges well before they came to pass.  However, I’ll go back in time to a journey to 4 14,000 foot peaks with a friend that involved the decision to cross a bridge or not.   My friend Jerry and I planned a four-day trip to climb Oxford, Belford, Missouri and Huron in the Collegiate Peak Range of Colorado.  These 4 peaks were not anything real extreme by the standard routes however mountains can drastically change when the weather worsens or you find yourself a little off the beaten path.

 

 

For most parties in decent shape Oxford and Belford can be climbed together in one day.  It starts with a crossing of Clear Creek (on a nice bridge) on up to Belford, then descending to the saddle between Belford and Oxford, climbing up to Oxford and then following the same way back hiking up and over the top of Belford again.  The ups and downs can wear on one a little so there was another option that called out to us for consideration.  One could descend straight down the gulch from Oxford and bypass the summit of Belford again, but as my handy guidebook noted: “From Oxford, a tempting glissade may be had northwest into Belford Gulch for the descent; however, the pleasure of upper  Belford Gulch gives way to the cold task of crossing Clear Creek minus a bridge.  In high water, a rope is a necessity.” – A Climbing Guide to Colorado’s Fourteeners by Walter R. Borneman and Lyndon J. Lampert.  The guidebook also noted this route was not advisable for children or beginners.  Well, Jerry and I certainly were not beginners or children so this decision to chance the crossing minus a bridge was something we would entertain.

 

 

As we climbed up Belford that first day in constant rain we felt ourselves weighed down by the added pounds of all the water we seemed to be soaking into our gear.  The thought of carrying our sorry selves and all the water we had absorbed back over the top of Belford again was not real appealing but we dreaded the Clear Creek crossing.  We had created for ourselves bridges (or lack thereof) of concern on either side of the journey.

 

 

The moment of truth occurred after we finished munching a little lunch on the top of Oxford.  Did we have the gumption to climb up and over Belford again or were we going to chance the Clear Creek crossing?  Fatigue won out and we headed for the short cut straight down Belford Gulch. 

 

 

Needless to say after all these years I don’t remember all my thoughts on the descent but from my journal entry of that climb I did reflect the mounting concern for the crossing.  Matter of fact I can look back at my climbing journal and find many an entry discussing the warnings identified in the guidebooks and the way these played on my mind as I climbed peaks.  I could tell you a great deal about the concern I carried for negotiating the knife-edge ridge on Capitol Peak for weeks before the actual climb (but that is another story).   

 

 

Well the moment of truth arrived as we were at the bottom of the peak and we saw Clear Creek.  It was as fast and deep as advertised.  It was also colder than expected.  I don’t know how we decided this, but Jerry attempted the crossing first.  Perhaps I suggested it?  That way if he washed away and drowned I could be available to notify his next of kin…Well, he stepped in and was instantly in to his knees, then suddenly he dropped in to his waist and had trouble fighting the current.  Finally he righted himself and fought against the current.   After a great deal of work he was across.  Now it was my turn.  I guess Jerry could now notify my next of kin.  After much the same kind of struggle I was across.  Victory was ours and we were happily on our way to our wet tent and sleeping bags.

 

 

I share this story as an example of what many of us do with our own bridges and crossings.  We hear some news or rumors of a situation or trial that could be coming our way or perhaps we are sure that it is at our doorstep and we begin our fretting.  The crossing could be the loss of a loved one or a serious disease or maybe something difficult and troubling at work. The list can go on to the inconsequential and minor inconveniences of life.  Undoubtedly crossings will occur for us but the key is not letting these dominate our hearts and minds on our daily journey.   For how often have we faced crossings that are years away or never even come at all?  Why do we spend the emotional energy with these crossings that often never happen?  Perhaps it is a lack of trust in the One who walks with us on this journey.    We feel we need to take this journey into our own hands and that includes worrying and fretting about the future crossings.

 

 

Jesus said “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 NRSV.   I confess I have been gifted in this crossing bridges deal well before the bridges arrive and have found many of the crossings truly never were needed.  But I am learning more each day to enjoy the journey with the One who goes with me. In fact, He is the One who carries me across the swift waters.  He is my bridge.

 

 

Blessings as you cross your bridges. 

 

 

Scott Toillion for Wellspring,© Copyright 2007

 

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1992.