Everyday Mountaintop Moments

How often does God protect us when we aren’t even aware?

My family recently hiked to a waterfall. It was a fairly long hike, but the waterfall was totally worth it. It was one of those thin places where you feel especially close to God, one of those places where you feel a deep sense of awe of Creation. We took a selfie together, but then we all went separate ways for a little bit. I sat on a huge boulder at the base just trying to soak it in.

I think I may have felt a little bit like Peter after the Transfiguration, not wanting to ever leave that mountain top. The crash of the water falling surrounded by huge old trees gave me a definite sense of peace that I was in no hurry to leave behind.

We almost didn’t take that hike. I really wanted to go kayaking,  but when we inquired, we learned that the river was moving very fast and that it wasn’t safe for inexperienced kayakers. We had kayaked before, but we were certainly not experienced and so we chose to hike.

I felt so grateful for that choice and felt reminded of the fact that when some doors close, others of equal value tend to open.

After we all took our photos, or explored a bit, or in my case, gave thanks, we started the climb back down. My hubby and son took the lead. My daughter and I chatted about how we were so glad we picked this hike and how different it would probably look with no leaves on the trees.

And then a snake crossing in front of my hubby and son caught my eye. My son and I yelled “snake” at almost the same time as my hubby almost put his foot down on top of a rattlesnake. We all jumped way back as the snake coiled into a strike position. We froze as it rattled.

My hubby couldn’t believe that he hadn’t seen it. I couldn’t believe that we had just walked through there on the way up. Had it been in the bushes then too? We stood there frozen, for what seemed like an eternity, although I’m sure it was only a few minutes. It finally uncoiled and finished crossing and disappeared into the bush.

We were a little quieter for the rest of the way, keeping our eyes peeled for more snakes. Thankfully, we didn’t see any.

I thought of that rattlesnake long after we were safely in the car. I thought about God’s everyday provision and protection for us that we so often miss. I thought about how we were celebrating my hubby’s birthday, a huge milestone that we weren’t sure he would make, due to family health history, but that God knew twenty years ago, when he gave us our son, not only would we get to celebrate that birthday, but that my son would save his daddy’s life that day.

I realized that although I was no longer on that mountaintop, I experienced a mountaintop moment. God was clearly very close.

A chance encounter with a rattlesnake reminded me that God is so much closer that we think, intervening and protecting in ways we can’t comprehend and that knowledge gave me a new sense of peace. Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂