MOUNT RAINIER

At yesterday's service, the last song was I Stand in Awe of You. It's one I like, but I had no idea it was going to overwhelm me. As soon as the lyrics showed on the screen, so did Mount Rainier.-- [An especially wonderful treat to swarm my heart and eyes here in Omaha.] -- A beautiful picture. My favorite sight ... period. Even though I've been blessed to see wonderful, breath-takingly
beautiful scenery in other places in the world ... this one is "it" for me. A couple of my sisters who live in the Northwest have told me before that when they see the Mountain in all its glory they think of me and how much I would enjoy that particular sight at that particular moment in time.

I have lots of photos of the Mountain, but even the best of them lacks the true reality of the view.

Back in March, 2003, while I was visiting in Tacoma, a time when seeing the Mountain is not so frequent because of the cloudy spring days, I was seldom able to have the blessing of seeing it. However, there were a couple of times... and I wrote some less than wonderful prose/poetry about it. But decided that I would pop it your direction and you can laugh/roll your eyes and wonder about my addictive personality -- well not "wonder" about it, but have it proven once again.

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MOUNTAIN GROUPIE

I’ve pleaded with The Creator for just one more look –

Climbed atop my car in parking lots to take a photo

sans poles and power lines.

I’ve begged for a seat on the Mountain side of a plane

so I could gaze

– just one more time –

When exiting the area.

I’m not sure why any of this is true.

Maybe I have a hole in my faith that needs visual reminders

that no matter the problems

or the challenges

The God Who made the mountain –

Can handle my molehills.

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MOUNTAIN GROUPIE – PART 2

I’ve never thought of myself as a “groupie”

I’m not easily OVERimpressed.

But, today,

on a plane –

rubbernecking and photographing –

I realized

I am an unabashed,

uncontrolled, uninhibited, overawed

Mount Rainier groupie.

I don’t, like some, worship the Mountain,

I worship the Maker of the Mountain –

He who made the rain –

Made Mount Rainier.

I’m so glad He did.

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FROM THE FERRY

Seattle to Bremerton

I despaired of seeing

“my” Mountain –

Too many gray days,

overcast, clouds plumping

around the sky edges...

BUT – on the ferry – out on Puget Sound –

we broke ‘round an island

and

in majesty

SHE rose off the horizon

– Center stage –

Robed in Light.

[I was ready to jump up and down and scream with delight!]

If you’ve never seen The Mountain –

You can’t possibly understand

the rush of awe, of joy,

I find with every encounter.