John Muir observed that:
Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity.
I couldn't agree more. I have an insatiable love for the mountains because they save me from myself, they humble me, they push my comfort zone, and they paint Glory like I have never experienced before. They remind me I am alive.
And today, I was especially alive. James and I have the privilege of traveling together during my sabbatical. Right now we are in the French Alps as part of an 8-day layover to France before heading to Kenya. This morning, I woke up to a winter wonderland and felt a sense of awe catch my own breath.
I generally like to calculate risk before stepping into the world, but this time, I am glad I chose otherwise. Without a plan, we rented a toy-looking car, drove past Geneva and found ourselves in this Eden of Winter. James even convinced me to go skiing - a sport that definitely pushes my comfort zone. But as you can hopefully tell from the picture above, I had a blast!
Do you find yourself tired, nerve-shaken or a little over-civilized? I would never have planned a day like today - it's not practical, it's not convenient, it's not cheap, and it's not even comfortable. But dear friend, days like these are a necessity.