On The Mountain

Dear reader, 

I recently experienced Colorado for the first time. 

It was astounding. My senses were overwhelmed from the first view of the mountains, and just the sheer sense of awe at God’s creation. 

I do not snowboard. I used a kiddie-sized one back as a kid, but I never experienced the monstrosity that is the Colorado mountains. 

God made a way for me to experience it. He provided a lift ticket, a snowboard, and a patient guide. 

On Saturday we hiked over, obtained the remaining gear I was missing, and got on the lift to head up. 

“You’re going to fall a lot,” Phillip said to me. 

I nodded my head, but deep down I thought to myself, “There’s no way I’m going to fall that much, how hard could it be?”

It took me about 10 minutes to get my feet into the stinking board. 

I fell about 15 times in the first 15 minutes. 

I proceeded to propel and fall down the mountain for the next 2 hours.

I wish I kept track of the exact number, but know this, my body is still aching from the amount of faceplants. 

We took a break for lunch part way down the hill, and Phillip asked how I was feeling. 

I was tired. 

I was discouraged. 

I was fired up to continue going. 

A million and one emotions were going through my head and heart, and yet I knew what I was learning about God on the mountain was growing more clear. 

Every time I gained speed I would panic and throw myself down. 

When I could finally understand braking that panic diminished. 

The thrill of grasping balance was unlike anything else. 

Feeling heard, seen, known, and loved by Phillip as he patiently waited and taught me as I stumbled time and time again was so powerful.

Feeling weaker and weaker every time I got back up on the board meant that I was relying on God’s strength continuously, I had nothing to bring in myself. 

All in all, I learned so many things. The last lesson I learned was near the bottom. I got my balance, I was gaining speed, and I felt so positive as I neared the end of the hill. 

A skier came out of nowhere and knocked me straight off my feet. My head crashed onto the snow, and my strength diminished once again. 

(You can say ouch.)

It’s an amazing feeling when you get some momentum in life, yet when you ever reach a point of thinking you can do it apart from God it’s the most loving thing He can do is to knock you off your feet to remind you how desperate we are of Him. 

That’s what I have learned from the mountain. 

Sincerely 

Your Fellow Bum Bumping Snowboarder

-Mitchell