67-The Nameless River of Gnarliness
The distant, dull roar of a mountain stream sends your mind in several directions. “Are we crossing this thing? Will my feet stay dry in my boots? Does this mean we are still on track or are we seriously lost? This is how I always imagined being lost would feel!” Dropping packs for the first time in several miserable hours was a huge relief as the swift wind from the mountain creek rapidly cooled the sweat on the back of your soaked shirt. It’s amazing how you can go from craving to jump in the inlet’s ocean temperatures to cozying up in a down jacket. ‘Comfortable’ is not a good word to describe a week of mountaineering; far from it and staring at this rushing ice water between your dry feet and the trail on the far side confirmed it.
The water raged as large volumes cascaded from rock to rock, pool to pool, jagged and broken trees wedged and woven together by the hand of God to create an intense and beautiful display of His magnificence. Looking downstream the view quickly vanished over a smooth edge, leaving no room for error for anyone desiring to get too close. Seeing the hand-line being set up calms your fear of falling during the traverse, so now you can focus on the more immediate discomfort—feet. Your feet to be precise. “How in the world am I going to keep these things dry?” The short answer came quick as your body from the waste down becomes numb from freshly melted glacier water pounding on your legs as you make your way across this nameless perfection of power. It didn’t need a name to etch a permanent image in your mind—it’s sheer strength and beautiful perfection of ruggedness was enough all on its own. It’s a source of refreshing and necessary water but at the same time stood as a final obstacle to completing your mountaineering adventure. No camera necessary.
Mountain streams are chalked full of power and majestic beauty, every drop joining together to flow in unison toward a common goal…the great sea that lies at the finish line of every river. Sometimes I think that everything can become an analogy for God. Perhaps it can, especially in nature. God gave us creation to point everything back to the Creator. It reminds me of Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”… God’s words, not mine. What analogies do you see in creation? Get out there and let me know what you find!
-Matt
