God in the Mountains and Valleys

Isaiah 55:10-13 Luke 3:3-6

A Season of Creation is our theme for August. And what a wonderful place to live to celebrate the Creation of our Lord.  The flatirons just south and west of us are breathtaking every day. And the patches of snow that remain on our Rocky Mountain peaks remind us that the seasons are ever changing and that even though we are sweating in 90 degree heat now, we will be driving on winter roads before we know it.  And driving down any of our interstates or back roads will take you into magnificent canyons, plains and valleys.

So when we read the words of Isaiah 55, it's easy for us to see the world of which the prophet speaks. "For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth...so shall my word be...For you shall go out in joy... the mountains and the hills before you shall burs into song..."  We have all seen days when the mountains look as though they are singing.

And of course, that's not only the case here, it is the case all over God's world.  I grew looking at the mountains and valleys of East Tennessee, gazing into the distance at the Smoky Mountains.  Many of you have come from mountain and valley vistas far and wide as well, so you have our own visions of mountains shouting with joy, even as we all carry together our Rocky Mountain peaks in our minds.

It is important to stop and notice the amazing wonders that God has brought to us.  Genesis reminds us that all of creation is to be cared for by humankind, so we have a special responsibility to be careful and loving with the birds, the animals, the trees, the fish, the plants, all of life. That is one part of what we want to remember this Sunday and this month as we celebrate creation.

But another part of what we focus on as Christians is what we are called to do in the world.  Luke 3 reminds us in the words of John the Baptist that one is coming who will change everything. The mountains will be made low and the valley will be filled.  Nothing will be impossible and everything will have an equal voice.  Jesus, whom we are called to follow, changes our lives in ways that even creation tunes in to hear.  Jesus will come to give those who only reach up out of the valleys in despair an opportunity to stand on a mountaintop with him.

 Mark 16 says that we are to go into the world and proclaim the good news EVERYWHERE. Jesus is giving this as his final instructions before the ascension.  Suggesting that we are called to share our abundance everywhere. We are called to be kind to the earth everywhere. We are called to love our neighbor everywhere. We are called not to remain in our building, but to go into the world.

 As we know from the story of Jesus' earthly walk, this is not easy. It is extremely difficult. Jesus went to the cross because of the radical message he shared that the love of God is for all people, those in the valleys and on the mountaintops. Jesus told the rulers of his day that all people were significant and worthy of God's love.  Such a radical message, one that the world will not want to hear. It's easier keep people separated into camps of disgust and hate, rather than seeing that the world is designed to move from mountain to valley in one smooth landscape. And that we are designed to stay connected one to another.

Such is life, right?  We have mountain top highs where we know that God is right beside us and then we step out into a valley that is so low we reach up and pray God will see us and rescue us.  And the two do not seem to be connected at all, but rather very distinct and distant from one another.

How have you experienced mountains and valleys in your life?  Share a story of your own celebrations of nature. Email me at peverhart@niwotumc.org or comment below.  I would also welcome any .jpg photos sent to my email for a slide show of mountains and valleys on Sunday.

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Two weeks from now, at 5:30 in the evening, we will gather near the mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park for an evening vespers service,   We will be up close and in person with God in our creation.  Make plans to be with us. Sign up at the church if you want to join a carpool or contact the church office at office@niwotumc.org