Lectionary readings for today:

Morning Psalms: 119:73-80 and 145

First Reading Jeremiah 7:1-15

Second Reading Romans 4:1-12

Gospel John 7:14-36

Evening Psalms: 121 and 6

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills –

from where will my help come?

2 My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

–Psalm 121

When I was in college as an Outdoor Education major I was required to go on
a 21-day wilderness trip called Discovery, which closely follows the Outward
Bound model. We were a group of 11 young women and men living in close
community as we backpacked/mountain biked/canoed/rock-climbed our way around
the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina.

Towards the end of this trip there is a 3-day solo where we are alone and
fasting. Nothing but a small tarp to sleep under and our sleeping bag. We
were under the watchful eyes of our leaders, but for the most part we were
alone. At the end of the trip there were stories recounted where everybody
in the group was packed up, sitting on their gear waiting for our leaders to
come get them. I, however, was still under my tarp hungry but quite
comfortable. I was the only one in the group who wasn’t counting the days
until it was over. I felt safe and content by the creek in the valley of
those mountains: grateful for my group and the experiences we shared so far,
but the time I spent alone and fasting for three days was the best part of
the trip. It was during that time I felt closer to God and at peace.
Trusting that God had my back and I didn’t have to worry about a thing.

God, thank you for your creation – for mountains and hills that remind us that we can rest in your care. Amen.

——

Joel Becker