He Gives Us The Mountains
We love everything about Nebraska, with its family friendly atmosphere & down to earth, unassuming people. You could be standing next to a millionaire in the Runza line and not even know it. They would probably offer to hold the door or acknowledge you with a one finger wave (the cordial kind, not the road rage kind) as you pass by with your bag of frings.
Honestly, we’ve spent a good number of years wishing for the opportunity leave our hometown. To go somewhere, anywhere a little less….well, flat. Nebraska has its own beauty for sure, but there was a time when our hearts were set on moving to Colorado. The fresh air, the endless trails to explore and the artistic personalities would guarantee that life would almost never be boring. At least, that’s how we would dream it to be. Driving home from one of our many extended weekends there, I looked at my rear view mirror as I watched the mountains fade behind us. I asked, “Lord, would it ever be possible that we could live here someday? Is that too big of an ask?” and I sensed Him replying, “I will give you the mountains.” There was a hope instilled in me that day that it might come to pass in due time.
Fast forward a couple years and a few life transitions later. I was gradually becoming very aware of an escalating restlessness within myself. I longed to be with people and not behind a desk all day. People with different beliefs than my own who had no problem engaging in lively discussions about life & spirituality; those who wouldn’t dare step foot in a church. Behind each one of those imaginary people in my head was a beautiful, unique story waiting to interconnect with my own. I told my husband, “too bad I can’t get paid to sit and hear people’s stories all day. That would be my dream job.”
It was my first week as a caregiver for the elderly. After a few days of picking up some fill in shifts, I began to seriously wonder what I had gotten myself into & why I answered an ad for home health care & companionship. I’m not a naturally patient person. I am domestically challenged & can’t cook or clean to save my life. My pulse raced & I would break out into hives every time I entered a hospital. There were a million and one reasons why this was an awful career choice for me. Yet, here I was on *Ella’s doorstep. I rang the doorbell. “Come on in!” she shouted from inside. I opened the door and at the top of the stairs stood a sweet woman in her 90’s who waved me in. “Welcome, welcome!” she said with a big smile, “so glad you’re here!” She welcomed me in as if I was a long lost friend. I went upstairs into the living area and noticed that practically every inch of her walls was covered in framed paintings. I stepped closer to one to get a better look.
Mountains. I looked at the one next to it. Mountains. And the one after that, and the one after that… all mountains – every single one.
“I will give you the mountains.” God’s words from years ago echoed through my head.
Huh.
“What do you think of those, my dear?” Ella asked as she handed me a cup of coffee & sat down. “I think they are beautiful. Did you paint all of these?” She nodded then proceeded to tell me all about her life. How her and her husband loved Colorado and the many adventures they had there and eventually moved there. It was the only place worth painting in her humble opinion.
We sat there the majority of the afternoon and I listened to her beliefs about auras and chakras. She informed me that she was trained in reading them. Apparently, my aura gave off such an intense blue that she had no doubt that I was deeply connected to ‘the other side.’ “Interesting!” I said. “Well, as a matter of fact, I do sense a deep connection from the other side quite often.” Her definition of ‘other side’ was different than mine, but that didn’t matter now. “Is it ok if I pray for you?”
“Oh, yes dear! Please do!” We sat there and prayed and Jesus met us there in that moment, surrounded by not only painted mountains, but the Creator of all mountains. Tears rolled down her wrinkled cheeks as the Father spoke specific words to her, gently holding the longings of her heart & enveloping her in His love like only He can do.
Such incredible, immense, far reaching love.
The kind of love that fiercely breaks through my expectations while holding them sacred at the same time. The love that goes beyond my thinking of how things should be and reaches into the present, revealing His reality for me.
The kind of love that chooses to give me the mountains.
(*name changed )