“Few places in this world are more dangerous than home. Fear not, therefore, to try the mountain passes. They will kill care, save you from deadly apathy, set you free…” John Muir
I made myself go to the mountain this weekend.
Let me explain: I am not an outdoorsy person. While I appreciate a sweeping view, the golden sky in the morning, the green trees dotting the foothills behind our home, I don’t always enjoy being one with the elements.
I relate more easily to Melman the giraffe’s cry of, “Nature! It’s all over me!” then I do John Muir. Nature is cold and often damp and rainy, and frankly, home to bugs. My natural inclination is to stay indoors, where the temperature is controlled, and I can cozy up on my couch with a blanket and book. Looking out the window to enjoy the view, rather than a full immersion experience, if you will.
But my boys.
These precious boys of mine have started an annual camping tradition, inviting their papas and cousins and family friends to spend a few nights in the mountains, and it is quite possibly their most favorite weekend of the year.
Credit: iStock | Stephanie Frey
And this year, in this particular season of life, when it suddenly feels as if time is moving very quickly (how are they already 7 and 9? Where did my squishy toddlers go?) I didn’t want to miss it. I didn’t want to miss them scurrying up and down cliff sides, skipping rocks in the river, building the fire. I didn’t want to miss being there while they climbed up and over and across fallen trees, as they fully engaged a “show” regarding banana slugs (what? And why?), as they threw footballs across camp.
So I put on my big girl pants and my “fun mom” hat; I dug out my just-for-show Patagonia and packed the littlest one up for a day trip to join them in the mountains. I know some moms camp in the woods. Some moms take their babies and their toddlers camping. These moms even tell me that they enjoy such a thing, and while I think these moms are lying, that is between them and God.
I am not this mom. I am an indoorsy mom. When I tell you that we went for the day, that might seem inconsequential and obvious, it wasn’t. I had to fight many battles in my head regarding car time and snacks and also, where would we stop to go potty because some of us are potty training and others of us don’t pee in the woods. I am quick to pick apart a good plan, a fun plan, in the name of logistics, in the name of reasonableness.
Credit: iStock | Irina88w
But sometimes reasonableness needs to be set aside in the name of adventure. So, we set out; we stopped for the good coffee. And we by the time we reached our campsite, I was weepy with overwhelm.
You see, this particular route into Mount Rainier National Park has the most spectacular view of the mountain. We are lucky enough to see the mountain from our home, but there’s something very different about climbing, climbing, climbing, to then suddenly emerge and see the top of the mountain just right there. So huge and so large and so ridiculously beautiful.
I started laughing and crying and my littlest asked, “Mommy, we fall off?” because there was a very steep edge and very little guard rail. And I said, through my happy tears, “No, but look how good and creative our God is that he would make this giant, gorgeous mountain for us to enjoy!”
We arrived safely and happily at camp, and we spent the day outside with our papas and boys and some of our oldest friends. We sat by the fire, we walked to the river, we ate too many snacks. We were quiet and peaceful and calm. Because all there is to do in the woods is to be there and enjoy the company.
Another great thing about the mountains? Not one single person has reception. There is no googling a random fact, no show, no text, not even music to turn on. You are all forced to turn to each other, to ask questions, play the game, go for the walk. The communal quiet causes relationships to return to their equilibrium, without the threat of looming notifications; there is no urge even to grab a phone because you know it will do nothing other than tell time or snap a photo. And the freedom this allows us all, the freedom that comes from stepping away, lets a peace settle in that’s harder to find at home.
This is why we went to the mountains. This is why it matters. If even for the day. It is good for us to be fully immersed, pulled from our safe cocoon of the indoors and predictability, out into God’s glorious creation, if for no other reason than to laugh at the scale of his grandeur. We are so quickly put back in our place as created, not Creator, when we are in nature; so quickly reminded of his handiwork. It will not be ignored.
Credit: iStock | chinaface
I went to the mountains to be with my sweet boys—to not miss them in their element. I went to be part of camping memories. Even if just a tiny bit. But in going to the mountains, God graciously reminded me of his glory and his goodness in the gifts of mountain views, quiet rivers, and campfires. And this is why we must remember to set aside reasonableness and predictability, clean toilets even, in the name of adventure.
About Anna: Anna Sutherland lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she is stay-at-home mom to Owen, Henry, and Hadley. She and her husband Nathan run the non-profit Flint & Iron, through which they develop resources to equip families to love God and use tech.
