When The Smoke Cleared

It’s been several weeks that the view of the mountains has been obscured. In fact, we had family come to town to help us as Mary continues to recover from her accident, and the best we could offer in the way of views, were a few masked silhouettes.

The cause was a curtain of haze and smoke that had blown into the front range from the raging wild fires in California and Washington. The wind currents pressed the smoke against the Rockies with an unrelenting grip. But then today happened. New fresh and unconstrained glimpses of the beautiful mountains filled our views – the mountains are still there!

Actually, I never wondered if they were there – I simply had to patiently wait until the view changed. Unfortunately for our family, they were gone before the weather cleared.

I’ve come to realize that throughout life there are times that the view of the things that delight and encourage and inspire us can become clouded or confined or completely obscured. This is when perseverance and focus and discipline have to make up for sight.

The smoke of unrealized expectations, or broken relationships, or unforeseen cycling accidents, or a diagnosis we never planned for, or…

All of this can hide the majestic views that once filled our horizon.

The haze and the smoke don’t move the mountains.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  (Hebrews 11:1ESV)

The mountains don’t move. Faith assures us that although the smoke rolls in, although the clouds hover and obscure… the mountains, real mountains, our mountains don’t move.

As you press into every day life, and as the smoke and fog and pain and uncertainty roll in, rest assured, the mountain doesn’t move. Jesus doesn’t change. He doesn’t give up on us, or our families, or our mission. When His mission is our mission… the mountain doesn’t move.

Today the smoke and haze cleared… and the mountains are more beautiful than ever. Today I was reminded of Jesus in powerful and panoramic ways. He never changes. Rest assured.

In the smoke and out… The Mountains remain.