Mount St. Helens - 9/21/13

I had the privilege of spending the whole day with a very good friend of mine on a striking beginning of fall day in one of the most breathtaking places I have ever been: up at Mount St. Helens. It was a gorgeous day, raining off and on, sure, and the clouds never really let us see the whole mountain, but it was sunny enough during our 6 mile hike along the ridge line, and the colors of the valley below us, so devastated 33 years ago by that eruption, were absolutely stunning.

I wasn't even born when the mountain erupted. My parents both remember where they were. I had thought that maybe 33 years would make it so that we wouldn't be able to see exactly what had happened, or to truly understand the aftermath of such a violent eruption. I was wrong.

 Spirit Lake still bears thousands of trees, floating, after they were put there three decades ago by the landslide that lifted them clean out of the ground at times to dump them unceremoniously into the lake. Apparently, this isn't even very many of them as the log flow covers over a third of the lake.

 

The Mountain itself has vein like rivers running down it from where water has carved away at the mud slides. And the valley itself is hundreds of pockets of wetlands from where the mud wiped away all of the existing river beds and created new lakes, new rivers and new ponds. And there are still hardly any trees. Just bushes, grasses, wildflowers, and moss.

 

It was one of those moments. Where you just look across the landscape and stand in awe of the creator of the universe. Who not only made the mountain to begin with, but knew how and when it would erupt, and then in his majesty, made the aftermath just as dangerously beautiful.

Fall 2013

I love this season. There is something about the air, the colors, the rain, curling up with a mug of hot liquid and a sweatshirt to read your favorite book. I love the way its dark and cozy in the evenings and the windstorms that batter the side of the house. I love the rain in the morning, the sun in the afternoon, and the rain again in the evening. I love the way that the mid-morning sunshine contrasts with the black clouds above, shedding a warm light that illuminates the world with a jewel-tone like glow.

I love the chill in the air. I love the way that when you breath in, it cools your whole body, and leaves you feeling refreshed. I love that I can go on my walks at lunch and not come back drenched in sweat. I love wearing sweaters and turning the heat up at work. I love making a fire and watching the flames flicker and dance against the glass front of the fireplace.

I love the holidays, the chance to spend time with family, and eat really good food. I love the traditions and the little tidbits that make each month special. I love decorating and baking, and carving pumpkins. I love writing my brains out in November and attempting to ignore the rest of the world. I love hot chocolate. I love Carmel Apple Cider. I love this season.

This fall, I have to remember that I love this season. I have to remember to be joyful and content even in this season of my life that seems like it will never end. I have to remember the simple pleasure of a mug of hot chocolate even as I sip it in my parents basement. I have to enjoy the fire for its beauty and warmth even though I have to displace myself upstairs to do so. I have to watch all of the Seahawks games in stereo as my Dad watches upstairs and we watch it downstairs.

Sometimes life can be frustrating and I feel like I have been stuck in this waiting season for a very long time. But it is fall again. And I love this season. And I just have to relax and enjoy these things that I love so much about life, and trust God that he will turn this long stagnant season into the next. And just maybe... it will happen this fall.

Thursdays

I am extremely blessed to have some of the most awesome Thursday nights ever. Thursday nights are worship team practice and for me, it means a chance to spend an evening in fellowship with some of the most amazing Christian people in my life, and spend it worshipping God. There is no better way to spend time. Also, it gives me something to look forward to other than just the coming of the weekend during those sometimes long hours at work. It is no secret that spending time with the creator of the universe and our savior is the best way to live, but it is also rejuvenating and humbling. It is a chance for me to ground out my week, sing my heart out, and play with abandon. There is no audience other than God. And even if I was tone deaf and couldn't play a note, it would be a sweet sound to his ears. Thank you Lord for Thursdays.