Amazed by God … Running with the Deer

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:19

“When I first caught sight of Mount Shasta over the braided folds of the Sacramento Valley, my blood turned to wine, and I have not been weary since.”—John Muir 1874

Our first view of 14179 foot Mount Shasta, around a bend in the road through the trees, was just that exhilarating, especially as we were maybe one hundred miles from its base. As we wound our way north toward the Cascades, we kept our eyes on watchful lookout for that colossal snowy cone. Although it appeared and reappeared from differing vantage points, the first glimpse was headier than all the rest. Mount Baker in the northern Cascades at 10781 feet, the same.

Man has tried his best to conquer mountain peaks for all time. We have done a little hiking, more down than up these days I must say. We marveled at the hundred or so young runners joining the “steeplechase” at Park City UT, a sixteen mile loop up 3400 feet to the top of Mount Jupiter (10000 feet) and back down. And the winner came in at 1 hour, 45 minutes. Impressive!

My friend in elementary school was nicknamed “pony” by the neighbors. She was always running to school, always late. I’d rather be known to “run with the deer”, for their ability to go on the heights. God impressed the prophet Habakkuk to rise above all his troubles, having gained strength from his Lord. God does just that doesn’t He? At all times, in all circumstances, we are enabled to “go on the heights”.

And we are offered the opportunity to drink deeply from the waters of God, as were the momma deer and her new little spotted fawns when we came upon them beside the waters of a nearby creek: A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God (Psalm 42:1 MSG).

Oh God, I do want to drink deep draughts of You. I want to see You in the snow-capped mountains. I want to run on Your heights with the deer. I want to be struck with the wonder of You, as it happens rather than in retrospect.       

Nancy P