Thoughts from Sabbatical - Note 10 from john (8/14)
I recently traveled to Zermatt, Switzerland which is home to four of the largest mountain peaks in Switzerland along with many other rugged and nasty looking mountains of the Alps. It is also home to the most famous mountain in Switzerland called the Matterhorn. When I arrived in Zermatt my one mission was to go as high as I could. This took a while to figure out because everything is in German and Italian in this part of Switzerland and I speak only English and that not so well. I finally found the gondola station which will take you up and all over these mountains. “To the top,” I said, and I bought my ticket and began my journey. Three rides later I exited out my gondola and through a tunnel in the mountain onto a winter wonderland. I was a little under-dressed to say the least in my shorts, Nikes, and Columbia rain jacket. I was standing at 12,100 feet on Mt. Gobba di Rollin in the middle of the five glacier fields. As far as the eye could see was snow, people with snow gear on (except me), and people snow skiing and hiking. I was amazed that on August 12 people were skiing in full winter gear. I learned later it is like this all year round up here because the glaciers. They act like an ice box and keep it cold and snowy all year. The day I was there it snowed at the top elevations. Needless to say, I did not stay here too long but I stayed long enough to take a view pictures and notice a couple of things.
First, I noticed that everyone wanted to go to the top. The “summit” was the ticket everyone was buying at the bottom. There were 10+ places you could go across these mountains on the gondola rides and just about everyone I saw was heading to the “summit”.
Second, there was a mountain just to the left as you exited the tunnel that many people were hiking to. It was a two hour walk to the 13,100 ft. summit of Mt. Breithorn and there was a caravan of people hiking through a couple of feet of snow across a glacier to get there. I will tell you I thought long and hard about joining the caravan in my shorts and Nikes before the better part of bravery or cowardice saved me from sure frost bit and stupid injury. Man was I ever disappointed that I was not properly dressed. It was amazing how many people were heading to the top of Breithorn. There were hundreds.
Third, it was beautiful beyond description at the “summit” on which I stood. I was amazed at how far I could see, what I could see, and the extreme conditions. I did not stay up there long. I wanted to but the conditions forced me down a level. I road a gondola down to the next stop and found myself in a rocky wasteland at 9,200 ft. Here is where my adventure became really fun. I saw people walking below me on trails and decided to take a hike. About twenty minutes into my hike, I saw a trail sign for Zermatt. Off in the distance WAYYYYY below me I could the village and so I decided to hike down. It was hard, a little dangerous, and a blast.
Fourth, there is not much life at 9,000 ft. There was no grass, flowers, trees, flies, bees, ants, or other creepy crawly things that I noticed. When I stopped to eat lunch and enjoy the surroundings I was all alone – literally all alone. It was awesome – no people and more importantly NO BUGS!
Fifth, I found it very easy to worship all day in this setting. I had an I-pod with great music on it but often I was singing or talking with God without the aid of a band or worship leader or pastor.
Sixth, I eventually found myself longing to get my feet on flat ground, get a drink, and find a bathroom. The “summit” is an awesome place but we were meant to live in the valleys.
Many of you know the meaning behind the name of our church – The Summit. For those who do - here is a reminder. For those who do not – here is a little history for you that God reminded me about as I was on the mountain today. The ancients often built there temples of worship on the “high places”. They believed this was the home of the gods for it was closer to the heavens and it was thought only they could live up at that height. I understand why. We named the church we started nearly ten years ago The Summit to remind the body of Christ of one thing. The church is about knowing the glory of God and making that glory known. And for us, the “Summit” is God. We are called as a body to pursue God as worshipers in Spirit and truth. As we climb the “summit” of knowing God, we long to reach the top. That will happen one day in heaven, but for now the goal is the journey to know Him more. Our journey does not end there. We were not called to be monks who live alone in high places declaring the greatness of God to no one but God. I know this firsthand. I have been somewhat “alone” for the last three weeks pursuing God. It has been a crazy and unbelievable journey but I know I – we were called to be about more. We were called to pursue the glory of God but we were also called to make this glory known among the people in the valley – where we live. As others are captured by God’s glory in Jesus Christ, we then become tour guides if you will helping others learn how to climb the summit of knowing God.
God’s people will always be drawn to Him and to the summit of knowing Him. It is beautiful and our perspective on life changes when we go the high places alone with Him. With Him in those places, it is easier to worship and recognize the greatness of our God. We must always continue to climb the summit of knowing God. However, we must also recognize that we are called to live in the valley and become tour guides who take others to the mountain of God. True the valley has bugs, ants, and all sorts of other nasty creatures that make life miserable at times. But, there is also warmth, flowers, food, people, - LIFE!
