Many people, when confronted with challenges to their beliefs and faith, see a huge mountain and are faced with a choice. They can become overwhelmed and walk away, they can be so challenged that they neither retreat nor move forward, or they can simply meet the challenge of the mountain. Then there are two choices, climb the mountain or take the long way around it. Those who climb will have a “mountain top experience” as they face challenges and many times ridicule, but they can find affirmation and blessing.
A merchant took a long journey in his wagon, and the bumpy ride caused him to doze off. As he slept, the wagon slowly climbed a mountain. After some time, the merchant suddenly woke up.
“Where are we?” the confused merchant asked his driver.
“We are presently at the peak of a very high mountain,” the wagon driver answered.
“At the peak of a mountain?” asked the merchant in surprise. “You must be mistaken, for we were traveling on a level plane!”
When the merchant realized that the wagon had begun to go down the slope, he understood that they had indeed been traveling on top of a mountain.
When a person is not mindful of the path they are treading in life, they may believe that they are both humble and modest. In reality, however, they are scaling the mountain of pride and arrogance without even realizing it. When the person “awakens,” however, and examines his deeds, he discovers — much to his shock — that he was actually on a “mountain peak.” His journey is far from over, as he must travel down the mountain to reach his destination.
Once one summits the mountain and receives a message, they must come down off the mountain and share their experience. Sadly today, too many people are asleep and can not experience the wonder, beauty, and holiness of the mountains.
If one is open, they can bring the holiness from the mountaintop to the base, and they are truly touched. For when “Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with G-d. (Exodus 34:29)
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
