Searching for Breathtaking Views
Breathtaking views, and a hand to hold...
A couple of weeks ago, my family and I went on a weekend hike here in Alaska. We were in search of a great view, so we headed up to Angel Rocks- a hillside full of granite peaks that tower over the trees like angels looking down from above. The views truly are breathtaking, so we braved the moderately challenging path full of roots and rocks with our four young children and our poorly-trained golden doodle puppy, determined to show them this spectacular landscape. When we got to the base of the Angel Rocks, the kids were eager to scale the side in order to get to the prime viewing spot- a big ledge from which you could see for miles.
Their dad went up first, and then, one at a time, he offered them his hand, along with some instructions about which hand and footholds they would need to use in order to make their way up. As I stood at the bottom on dog duty, I heard my husband repeat the same three words, over and over again: "Hold my hand." I looked up and watched as each child attempted to pull her hand away from her dad's and find her own way up the rock. Each of them did this, in spite of the instructions given, in spite of the element of danger in the situation, in spite of watching their siblings go through the same process. Their dad just stood there steadily, saying it again- "Hold my hand."
After the kids came back down and took over puppy duty, I took my own turn climbing up to the viewpoint. My husband held out his hand for me, too, and soon I found myself pulling my own hand from his in search of a more preferable route. But he knew which way to go, and it was the only way that worked, despite what it looked like from below. It seems that what we could see from the vantage point of the climber was not as full a picture as what someone could see from above.
Isn't it the same with life? It's natural for us to attempt to navigate life in the ways that seem best to us, but wouldn't it be wiser to trust the guidance of the One who can see more from His vantage point than what we can see? Besides, isn't it just better to have hand to hold, the strong arm of the One who loves us and is able to lift us up to higher places, places with incredible views?
Just for fun, here is the same view a couple weeks later...
(We get a brief, early autumn here, and by early October, it'll all be covered with snow until May!)
If you happened to see my Instagram reel earlier this month, these were the clouds you were looking up at! If you missed it and you would like to take a moment to calm your hurried heart, you can find it here.
On the Blog
This month's blog post is a guest post for Marnie Hammar's Hear Him Louder series, which I am so happy to be a part of. The heart behind the series is the very same reason I began blogging over a decade ago: to offer a humble glimpse into what it can look like to experience God in our everyday lives.
What kinds of things does God whisper to the hearts of his children? Read the latest blog post to find out what God said to me while I was standing in the middle of a river surrounded by strangers and fish!
Over on Instagram
Currently Reading...
Are you feeling more anxious these days? Recent studies show that a whopping 90% of the upcoming generation is experiencing consuming anxiety, and my own dentist recently told me that while she used to see an occasional case of jaw clenching or teeth grinding, she now sees it in just about every single patient- a result of stress and anxiety. The point? You're not alone in your anxiety.
Taylor Joy Murphy finally realized she was not alone after spending years hiding behind a facade of smiles and "I'm fine." After wrestling with her pain, her fears, her God, and herself, and coming out on the other side of a residential treatment program, Taylor discovered some important truths about the inner workings of the human mind and heart, and she vulnerably shares a treasure trove of wisdom with us in this book. As a mental health professional, I was blown away by the insights in this book that I have not heard anywhere else, and they're applicable to everyone, whether we experience severe anxiety or not. This book is important, and definitely worth the read.
What are you reading? I'd love it if you'd share in the comments about a book that has been encouraging you, inspiring you, making you think, or deepening your faith.
Other thoughts worth sharing from around the internet...
“People have stories, and to love them is to ask them to share." -Mary DeMuth
“You have nothing, and God wants all of it." -Glenna Marshall
May you walk forward today with eyes to eternity and a heart full of hope.
