So this last weekend, my brother Josh and I decided to attempt to climb a couple 13ers in Colorado Sawatch Range. I was excited about hiking with my brother since it had been over a year since the last time we had climbed a mountain together.
We both knew that although November means fall at lower elevation, but above timberline November means winter and wind. We drove a couple hours in the predawn light until we reached the trailhead 4 miles up a 4WD road.
As we were putting on our gear for the hike snow began to fall around us. Josh and I reflected about how these conditions would have turned us around when we were more novice climber, but now we look at weather as more of a challenge to overcome.
After we began hiking, the snow gave way to an amazing stream of layers and layers of clouds.
After a few hours of climbing through the rapidly moving clouds, we gained the summit and sat for a quick and cold snack. Soon after summiting the mountain, the clouds cleared for a while leaving Josh and I sitting in the sun.
Here comes the metaphor…. As we were on the summit I noticed the next wall of clouds rushing toward us in the 40MPH wind. I noticed my body tensing as the clouds neared, and I could feel a sense of panic wash over me as it seemed like these clouds would sweep us right off the top of Grizzly Peak. As the bank of clouds hit us, my instinct was to brace myself as if the cloud had the physical ability to knock me down.
Of course the clouds hit and the sky darkened, but the clouds simply blew around us. We weren’t knocked over. Sitting in the cloud, I reflected upon how these clouds remind me a lot of the intense emotions I have been facing recently. I sense the emotions coming and these emotions seem ominous and onerous. Then just as these emotions seem like they are going to knock me over, they begin simply passing by. They may obscure the light somewhat, but they pass through.
As we was sitting on the top of this mountain the clouds moved past as quickly as they arrived, and we were left sitting in the sun again. Emotions like these clouds are not permanent. They come. They go.