Eight Mountains

Rachel Longton was a first year Mountain Guide this past summer and wrote this reflection.

Eight Mountains
As the Radio Room “duty” of scheduled rest and reflection week 8 provides moments to remember Beyond, there were eight mountains that stood in view. At Beyond there are eight physical routes and in my personal adventure from the summer there have been eight mountains as well.
The first mountain was WAFA (Wilderness Advanced First Aid) where my knowledge of both the human body and God were challenged; words I thought I knew, such as "vasoconstriction" and "the body of Christ" were suddenly questioned, and my personal textbook of both the world and Christian intellect seemed to have errors and imperfections. Maybe this meant it was time to edit. Though WAFA was hard, the seeds of community for our first year guide class were planted that week and our roots are still growing deep.
Down from this mountain and on to the next, we had a moment in base camp, or shall I say “glimpse of heaven”, before the ten day trial: a turn towards truth and testing. This second mountain began with joyful suffering, rain rehearsal, and long trail talk. Before long my pride was broken through a sprained ankle, or so I thought. I thought I was physically fit, but realized God wants real fitness: dependence on Him. Although I slowed everyone down, the laughter ceased to fade and asking for help was one thing I couldn't do without. The attention was drawn to my brokenness. By the time we reached basecamp I was faced with the fear of sharing my life story. Through facing this fear I came to realize the many ways God has blessed my life with joy, tears, and laughter; and the chance to now have experienced them all at once.
The third mountain was hidden in the fog around the corner and didn't seem to be anything but a flat road. As I walked, the rain let loose and the truth of brokenness poured for four weeks. In base camp I came to face the pain of an injury and the impatience that blisters up in the boots of disappointment. Probing to find purpose in work projects and coveting the mountain goats, my positive position began to perish. When I thought I was strong again, I broke even more and was forced to let go of my idolized mountain guide position. My sin stood out and not much was left...for I was a guilty woman whose own strength was my god. When I couldn't see the top and was forced to keep walking my foot became braced by Christ alone. With some rest and the support of Christ and community embracing me, a mountain of hope began to shine in the near distance.
With some disappointment left inside, I walked on towards this smaller mountain number four that was filled with the freedom of God's honest children journeying from Capernaum. On this mountain my burdens were lightened and the life of Christ came through a larger glimpse of clear skies. Servant hood became a theme and helped detach my soul from selfish thoughts, idolatry, and greed. Still struggling, but with new hope, I marched to train for the next mountain ahead. Up the express route and into God's Word my new strength is found, may the Sabbath abound.
Frolicking up Frank, mountain number five, my Jesus was found- a lover who seeks, sings, and sweats even with the bugs. Sickness was the challenge to greet, but with dependence on God our group was never defeated. My opinions and pride hindered my service and speechless with tears I walked to the summit.
Mountain six was a new day of throwing away our sin stones off the top and being baptized in Crystal Ball Lake. Baptism through bathing set a pattern of dipping our hearts into God's endless streams of life, the refreshing streams of water that to our group became God's voice.
Arriving back in the valley of clouded reality, I began to make out mountain number seven while running to welcome my family at the dock. From guide to daughter I learned to pray “Lord, humble me” and soon the tears of truth were released. With my brother Carl on Pearkes, and the rest of us on a canoeing “Combo” to Chatterbox, we all climbed closer to God and walked away with re-fueled engines.
Goodbye to the family and hello to a group from Spokane, lead by Jamie Mann. The longest mountain was covered by the guiding cloud of God and his good Spirit of detail and determination. A glacier rappel and midnight hike brought fellowship further and God’s promised provision for life. And praise God for we were surprised by a new hope for home while hiking down mountain number eight.