How Climbing a Mountain Can Help You Grow Spiritually

Now I know what you’re thinking: “How is me stepping vertically on dirt going to tune me into my spiritual life?”  

Honestly, I’d feel the same way if someone said that to me. I mean what even is growing spiritually? When it really comes down to it, in your daily life, how do you know when it happens? Is it hearing God speak audibly to you? I mean, being able to touch the earth, breathe in some air and say, “NOW I’ve grown spiritually” sounds a bit too far, but is that it?

I’m afraid I don’t really know what that answer could be for you. But I take spiritual growth to mean having a better relationship with God, the creator of the universe. I’m not talking about the kind of relationship I have with my computer, my favorite food (shoutout chicken and rice), or even my car; transient and attached maybe, but subservient. No, I’m talking about a real person-to-person relationship. 

 

Let me tell you a down-to-earth story about how I climbed a mountain and found God a little bit more in the process.

The Climb

It was July 5, 2019. My fellow camp dude counselors and I decided to go hiking. I’ll keep names confidential for obvious reasons and instead go with cute nicknames. 

We had me, Shortstack. Full of energy, yeah, but more than anything, I just wanted to lay down and go home. But I was desperate for some company and a challenge. Our buddy Full Send came along. He was as high energy as he was sharp. He recommended we turn off lights so our eyes could adjust to the night (clever). Cheerleader was the heart and engine of the group; he kept all of us positive and moving when we all wanted to quit. Big Guns was the pace setter (the pace wasn’t slow; I’ll tell you that). Snapback made sure our time was well spent getting to know each other and being extra sore from his quips and great sense of humor.  Finally, there was Monkey Man — he was the oldest of the group and brought all of us together.

But enough about us, let’s talk about the mountain. This sucker is no joke, folks: we’re talking brush, sticks, and feet of pine needles throughout most of the trail. As a reward you get to see a beautiful ridge to look out over Santa Fe National Forest, 40-60-foot-tall evergreen trees with luxurious shade, and bountiful flora and fauna.  

Is what I would say if we got to see any of it.

No, see, we STARTED the hike when the sun was setting. The only thing we got to experience was precarious footsteps, creepy twig snaps, rocks, thistles, barbs, needles, masticated trail, intense switchbacks that burned the hair off your calves then regrew it, and somewhat of an idea where we were going.  

Sounds creepy and unfun, I know. But it’s honestly in my top five of experiences I’ve ever had. 

As the sun set, our eyes slowly and naturally adjusted to the night, so we saw the nighttime forest for what it was. It was treacherous. It was serene. It was mysterious, exciting, and scary all at the same time. We’d come prepared with snacks and water, but it didn’t erase the feeling that it was just us in those mountains that night. But that was actually the best part!

Whenever one of us was struggling, Cheerleader would make his way over to encourage, uplift, and inspire! Snapback took time over the next three hours to have a real and authentic talk with everyone. He never wanted to waste a chance to know someone for who they were. Full Send and Big Guns led us from the front and showed the path to go at all times, hanging back and guiding us across the trail. 

I brought up the rear for the entirety of the hike with my buddy Monkey Man. This was a bit bizarre for a number of reasons. It wasn’t odd that I was in the back of the line (I’m only 5’5”, and these legs ain’t fast), but it was odd that he was! I mean, Monkey Man is to this what most people would call an adonis. Dude is the full package: full hair, killer smile, contagious laughter … you get the picture. We’d follow him to take on the Soviet Union in 1980 a la “Miracle On Ice”. But no, there he was with me in the proverbial last place (it wasn’t a race, but it did hurt my ego). 

The truth was that he wasn’t doing so well back then. He’d had a medical emergency three weeks before and had to leave camp suddenly. It was severe enough that he wasn’t able to drive, go for runs, and do anything too strenuous for several months afterwards. When he surprised us all by getting back early, we thought nothing of it really. We were just glad to have him.  

After three long hours of hiking (two and a half of which I thought I wasn’t going to make it), we’d arrived! The rest of our staff were there with a fire and everything. I went and found Monkey Man later that night and told him thanks for sticking it out with me in the back. He chuckled.

He chuckled? 

Yes, he chuckled! Then he said, “No. Thank you, man. There were a couple of times there I thought I was going to pass out and be alone. It was honestly horrifying, but it felt like a real moment of brotherhood to me. It kept me going knowing you were there.” 

I was floored. I mean, this guy was HIM. He was THE GUY. I was just hoping to survive a dark hike in the mountains, forget being there for someone. But God really wanted to show me some things.  

You see, I thought the mountain was just something to conquer. “Look at me! Look at me! I beat the mountain!” I thought I would say. After all, at that time in my life that’s all I wanted to do. See, I wanted to win at life. I wanted to feel like I was the big deal on earth. 

But as soon as the climb started, I realized that I was AWFUL at life! I had insecurities I didn’t know how to confront, just like trying to navigate a new trail. I had a lot of proverbial darkness in my heart about the world, similarly to the night shade that I was traversing. But most of all I’d never felt lonelier in my life, much like the isolation we had in those back six miles of woods.  

After Monkey Man told me that, I realized that I wasn’t alone in my feelings. I had people with me to traverse every challenge that came our way; and they even had me to help them in turn. I felt lonely and God provided people who were just like me. I was scared and He provided a path. I’d scarce ever felt as seen by One unseeable before then.

The Descent

That next morning when we descended, I got to see ALL of the challenges I had faced in a literal and metaphorical new light. It was beautiful. The trees were swaying hello, the mountain grass was lush and alive, and the air was wild and free. After experiencing such beauty on earth and also a deep sense of humanity in your fellow man, I mean what are you supposed to do?

Well, I really wanted to talk to The Guy who made it all. The scary part was that I’d prayed plenty of times before with no “real” response. 

“What if He doesn’t hear…No. No, I have to try.” I thought to myself. 

And so I opened my heart a little and just, well, prayed. Did the clouds part with a resonating voice prevailing over them? Well, no. Did I feel I could reach out and touch Heaven? Nope, still sitting at a measly 10,000 feet above sea-level. Then what happened?

I felt like I could speak to God and He’d hear. I felt that He would listen. Most importantly, I felt that He was there. 

He didn’t tell me what to do with my life, though. But I wasn’t upset. I was just glad He made the world and me at the same time so I could see it. You know, I was actually more glad that I got to know Him through His creation. 

I think back fondly on that trip very often even years later. It’s given me a lot of time to think about it. Here’s what I’ve gotten from it:

In life you will have mountains to climb and conquer. What’s not often told is that in today’s modern world those mountains are less and less physical. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t conquer them any less than a real mountain. Just like a mountain has trails, so too does life. Some trails are easier than others, some are harder. Sometimes you take the correct trail, sometimes you take the wrong one. Sometimes there’s a guide and sometimes you’re better off being told no instructions at all.

Now ask yourself this: how much different are real mountains to the proverbial mountains in my life? Isn’t it just about getting down to it and figuring out a way?

Now that’s speaking symbolically, but there is also a very practical element to connecting spiritualism with climbing a mountain.

Now What?

When you’re climbing the mountain it’s just you, maybe some friends/family, and the mountain. There is no better chance to calm your mind than walking in God’s creation! If you let it be, it’s like walking into a therapist’s office; curated solely to converse with you. You’re in God’s original house — TALK TO THE GUY! He’s not mean. He’s not quiet, snarky, loud, hateful, angry, or any other expletive either. He’s real, He made you, and He made the earth you tread on. After I climbed His mountain and wasn’t thrown off it I certainly felt like I should at least say a “thank you” for letting me visit.  

One last thing in conjunction with that: if you don’t know what kind of god God is, I promise you’ll find it in His creation. On our hike, we found out God is very creative. He’s also mysterious yet easily knowable! His creations, both human and planetary, are both beautiful and the pinnacle of welcoming. He let us walk through His woods and talk about our burdens with each other. No, even more than that, He provided us with each other to do so. 

I implore you to go out and explore God’s creation. You will not only learn more about His character, you will have a unique opportunity to speak with its curator.

One last last thing. Please read Luke 19. Pay attention to verse 40. Jesus tells us that even if his disciples didn’t talk about him, the stones would cry out! Sounds far-fetched, maybe. But if you try talking to God in the mountains, I think you’d be surprised to see He’s far more conversational than a rock.