Motivation On the Mountain

Oh friend. Is it just me, or does the sky seem bluer & the birds seem chirpier when you’ve got The Joy deep down in your soul? I’m telling ya. I could just breathe in this mountain air all day long. Well, I guess I have to in order so stay alive, but I could just intentionally breathe in this thin, clean, mountain air all day. *Ahhhh* As I was sitting out & enjoying Jesus & the weather, I saw a huge hawk circling in the sky. And this tiny, little, black bird was swooping all around it trying to give it subtle kidney jabs as warnings to stay away. Ok, it wasn’t subtle, this black bird had a mission. The hawk kept flying in circles, more annoyed than anything. But eventually Mr. Hawk got high enough that he wasn’t seen as a threat anymore and the little black bird went back to his own neighborhood. At one point, the hawk started circling fairly low, but directly above me. I could see all the colors and patterns of it’s feathers. The sun was shining straight down on him & the light was going through his feathers to reveal all the little details that I couldn’t have seen otherwise. I had a pretty neat view, to say the least. How graceful he was. I called my husband outside because I thought it was absolutely magnificent. Every time it would fly right over us, I let out a “Ohhhhh WOW!” or a “OHHH! Look at that!” He just gave me this little smile. I recognized it from previous times. It’s the smile I get when I start screaming for him to come kill a HUGE spider and it turns out to be sock fuzz. Or when I climb on the counter because I saw a mouse run across the kitchen...and it turns out to be a dust bunny. Oh how I wish I was exaggerating right now. Anyways, he pretended like he wasn’t as impressed with that hawk as I was, but deep down, I’m sure he was crying over the beauty and majesty of it all. I’m sure of it.

So that was the excitement of my day. My month in Colorado has been active and exciting as well! I’ve been hiking a few times. Let me tell you all about it. Last weekend, my uncle took my husband & I on a 4 mile hike. He's a seasoned hiker & has conquered five 14ers so far. I used to hike all the time and I’m falling back in love with it. It was intensely wonderful. I’m sure it was an easier hike for the avid hikers out there...but to me...it was...quite the workout. At times, we were trekking over huge rocks. A few minutes later, we were walking across fine sand. There were a few trails that were so narrow, I had to make myself focus on my feet, not the scenery. I tend to daydream a lot & sometimes, it’s not the right time to do so. I think I felt my guardian angle nudge me back on to the trail a few times as I started to wander off. Which wandering wasn’t a good thing at that point. Wandering off that trail meant rolling down the side of a mountain. It would have just made for a bad day, ya know? I mean sure, in theory, it seems like it’d be fun. Maybe I’d learn I’m a good extreme-cart wheeler. Or perhaps I’m really good at the “tuck & roll” position. I guess we’ll never know. Thanks common sense, for sucking all the enjoyment out of that thought. There were a few times when my husband would turn around and give me a thumbs up to see if I was doing ok. I learned really quick not to answer, “Yep. Doin' good. I didn’t almost fall off that cliff at all. Nope. And definitely not twice.” After that, I just gave a thumbs up. He seemed happier and less stressed when I answered that way.

There were times to focus on the trail. And there were times to look around at the scenery. This is where I feel like I’m at in life. Sometimes I want nothing else than to look around, enjoy the view & prematurely reap the benefits of my endurance & consistency on a grueling hike. But there are certain seasons that I’m noticing are more of “Stick to it, keep going, keep pushing forward even though you want to look up & enjoy the view. The time isn’t now” sort of seasons. And there are other seasons that are “Enjoy the scenery, take it in, be thankful & enjoy the results of your endurance.” I like those seasons. Actually, I LOVE those seasons. Those are nice. And pretty. But I’ll tell ya, I have more of the first kind than the second. I suppose one big hurdle for me right now is getting my last 1 1/2 years of schooling done. Like I've said before, I'm definitely the kind of person that takes the scenic route, not the direct route. As great as that is most of the time, I've got to admit, it makes staying motivated a lot harder since I have to keep working longer for one goal. I wish I could just snap my fingers & it’d be done. But that didn’t happen when I tried it just now. I just felt silly. In those seasons of keeping myself motivated, focused and determined, I learn the most. In times like that, God tends to show me things I say I know, but I don’t REALLY know. It’s easy to stick with something for a day or a week. But after months & months of the same routine and challenges, I get pretty sick of it. But thank You, Lord that we don’t have to rely on our own strength or feel-good emotions to accomplish our goals! When our strength is gone, it’s no big deal...He’s made perfect in our weakness. When we feel discouraged, that’s ok...we have a God who renews us daily and pours His encouragement on us. I’m so grateful that I serve a God that gives me what I’m lacking...which is everything. We’re right, we can’t do it. Not on our own anyways. So spend some time thanking Jesus for this season you’re in. Whether you’re taking in the beauty of the scenery from on top of your mountian, or you’re focused on the trail so you don’t fall off the mountain, give Jesus the glory for it all! We aren’t alone. We will never be alone. I declare my God as faithful!