Rocky Mountain High

Trees push up through dirt

And yellow faces of flowers turn to the sun

From bounty to barren the mountain side morphs

Until rock is all that remains

We climb

Climb to the place where wind dances unrestrained and clouds kiss peaks of earth

Until there is no more up

There's only feeling
Success and satisfaction wrapped in rays of sunlight

But here, on top of the mountain, nothing grows

Nothing

And we can't stay

Because feeling doesn't sustain
Feeling
Doesn't
Sustain

Life fully lived is sometimes in the absence of feeling, or in the middle of feeling tired
Life fully lived is sometimes an elated high, or the insecurity of the unknown,
Life fully lived is sometimes in the challenge, other times it's in the stretching of success

Where trees and yellow faces of flowers push up through dirt
We climb
We grow
We live

Live in the climb; in the pushing through, the falling down and the getting back up

Live in the pain, and the mis-steps, through mental insecurities,
Live in the wisdom of guidance and solid encouragement,

Live in the descent; in the steps of unsure, with fingers gripping tight
Live in the letting go, the following through,
Live in the dark of faith - unable to see but still believing,
Live in the next step taken with hope
Live in dependence on someone greater than self
Trusting
He is

Swallowing pride and questions
Covering this climb, this growth, with dependence, prayer
And
Exhaling thanks
Thanksgiving for questions, for trust, for youth group trips, for yellow faces of flowers, and little faces that look like mine
Thanksgiving for dirty dishes, for clean laundry piled in baskets, for serving in the ever day, and for fingers that intertwine.
Thanksgiving for rocks, for family and friendships, for homeschool books, for time alone, and second chances that never wear out.
Thanksgiving for the climb, this climb of dependence, full life lived in reliance
And the chance to keep climbing