Written by I have just returned from a magnificent overnight backpack trip to Rachel Lake in the Wenatchee National Forest wilderness. As always, being out in the supreme beauty of nature raises my vibrational level.
As soon as I stepped onto the trail and connected with the Divine Source of the beauty around me I felt wonderful. Breathing in the crisp fresh air, the glory of the color of the fall foliage, and the fragrance of the forest still damp from the morning dew lightened the load of the heavy pack I was carrying. Every once in a while I had to pause and breathe it all in again. (Sometimes saving a small piece of the area with an iPhone photo!)
About 3 miles in we encountered what the reviewers of the trek refer to as the mile from hell. It was one mile almost straight up with 1,300 feet elevation gain, on a “trail” (if you can call it that) over boulders, multitudes of tangled tree roots, a number of small streams, and an occasional fallen evergreen tree. Needless to say it was a challenge.
There were times that my mind would say, “I can’t do this!” I would pause for a moment, focus on my surroundings and intentionally feel great appreciation for the beauty of the forest, and then for the strength in my legs and knees and the stamina in my body. I was amazed at how everything shifted. I didn’t sprint up the steep climb, but step by step there was renewed strength. Appreciation and love for the creator of the magnificent mountain and for the strength of my physical body were One. Breathing it all in, renewing my strength, one breath and one step up at a time, was meditative joy.
When we finally crested the ridge and beheld the lake it was exhilarating!!! I must admit my knees and thigh muscles spoke a message of appreciation at not having to climb further!!
There is a lesson here. When the “climb” of life seems daunting, we are able to change the focus to a higher frequency of Appreciation and receive renewed strength for the task. Even though we may not be in the midst of a beautiful mountain forest, there is always something of beauty around us for the focus of our appreciation. The smile on a loved ones face, the touch of a caring hand, the pattern of the clouds on the blue sky, the laughter of a passing child, the song if a bird just outside the open window, the love of family……… You have your own, find them, hold them, keep them as a focus of your own Appreciation. Remember we have a choice of the frequency to which our life is tuned! When we find that we do not, at that moment, like what we are tuned to we can change it. Appreciating that which brings us great joy changes the frequency to a higher one and lifts us up with it.
Could I have made it up the mountain with out this knowing? Well, perhaps, but certainly not with such joy and peace.
We all have mountains to climb from time to time. When faced with our mountains we can choose to breathe in loving grateful Appreciation for all that we are and all that we have, and for the remembrance that we are One. Breathing as One with the Divine Source of all creation, One with each other, and One with the fullness of Love!
In Grateful Appreciation of Us as we climb the mountains of life together.
Don
“God is delighted to watch your soul enlarge.” Meister Eckhart (1260-1329)
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