The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

Nestled among the “whences” and ‘comeths’ of Psalm 121 (KJV) lies a calmness and certainty that draws us when times are difficult and trying. The archaic lingual forms embedded in scripture bring a sense of comfort and permanence, familiarity that transcends even the narrowest constructions of faith, and shaping our relation to the Divine. It is beloved scripture, an attempt to quantify the unquantifiable.

What better images to employ than those of mountains rising from the pedestrian plains of everyday life, seemingly unchanging in form from one moment to the next? Seasonal change is window dressing, mere enhancement of that foundational core that we are called to consider. Yet, the knowledge base of modern culture and the mystery of the unknown drive us to accept the impermanence accompanying even the most imposing geological presence.

We know, for instance, that changes invisible to us most days are nonetheless present, slowly exerting their impact and informing us of a more complex world than authors of scripture could have conceived. Advancing technology, including AI, allows for innovative and precise analysis of all kinds. Metaphorically, movement has been detected in previously immovable understandings, confirming that creation continues parallel to our lives.

The height of the tallest mountains can now be determined in incrementally small units. Some have increased in height over the course of humankind while others have decreased slightly, victims of erosion and plate tectonics. Bio climates and amazing varieties of animals and flora have been discovered, even on the barest of slopes. All manner of stone in all manner of places has added to the diversity that underlies everything. While diversity has sometimes been sold as a suspect cultural ideal, we could not flourish without it, mountains and people alike.

What if the refuge we seek is different than what we imagined? What if it misleads or disappoints? Will we be able to recognize its most worthwhile properties without abandoning the rest? The view at the summit is much different than the view on the trail. Often, one wonders if they have taken the correct path to get to the top. Generally, we have many choices of the routes we take to reach the same place. Some are more difficult than others. A few might require a more technical approach.

That is no easy leap for some of us to make. We desire a solid foundation beneath us, but neither will we be dissuaded in our beliefs. When faith is challenged, our natural tendency is to seek refuge in the shadow of mountains symbolized in Psalm 121. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help (121:1),” declares the Psalmist. Elements of refuge and strength mentally step to the forefront, reassuring signs that God is present.

What we are beginning to recognize, however, is that we also impact the mountain. The smallest of things, collectively, have been shown to alter what we previously believed unchangeable. That should be a theological revelation for Christendom; community has a vital role to play in the continuing creative process. We are much more than passive recipients of grace. We are active participants in ongoing creation. Are we up for the challenge? No pressure.