On this past weekend I had an opportunity to watch my nephew walk across the stage as he graduated from King University in Tennessee. The school was right on the border of Tennessee/Virginia so we stayed in Virginia. Let me tell you something, I worked until 8 p.m. on Friday night only to hit the highway and arrive in Virginia a little after 3 a.m. I would be lying to say I wasn't tired because look here a sista was tired. We had to get up by 8 a.m. just so we could leave the hotel on time and find seats because it was first come first seated event. I drove too far to miss it, so your girl was up like I hadn't just fell asleep. I must say I enjoyed the graduation until my eyelids became heavy and the fresh outdoors wrapped the wind around me as I drifted into a not so deep sleep. The spirit of sleep was transferred from my brother Mike who eyelids fell a little sooner than mine. I looked to my left and saw he was fake reading and taking a nap which is something he has done since we were kids. We celebrated my nephew after with dinner at Cheddar's and lobby conversations to catch up as a family. We had an amazing time but what was even more amazing was what we saw while heading back home.
I was a passenger this entire trip thanks to my hubby, so I was able to take in all the things around us. We were coming through the mountains, and I barely had my eyes open, but I saw something that made me sit up in my seat. I wasn't expecting to come across a church called "Faith" sitting right in the mountains. In that moment, my mind began to go to another place because I was intrigued. I thought about the mountains not only I've faced but those around me as well. I must say while facing those mountains faith was far from my mind because I couldn't see past the mountain that was standing in front of me. If man saw fit for a church to be placed in a mountain called "Faith", why is it we can let faith reside in us while going through the mountains of life. I guarantee there are people who chose not to go to that location because how it was positioned in the mountain, however, think about the ones who do. The faith they have is enough to believe that they will make it up and down that mountain safely every single week no matter what the conditions are. If we could have just a little bit of that type of faith when curves come, we wouldn't look at our mountains the same.
If you are a person who has driven or rode in the mountains you will notice you go up, down, have some tight curves, storms, and moments where your soul may temporarily leave your body. The warnings are posted on the side of the rode however if you are skilled driver, you don't always listen to the warnings because you think "I Got This". I always get nauseated while traveling through the mountains, so I look to the left of me and often keep a bag in close proximity. I know you may be wondering why? I do it because I'm preparing myself because I know the impact the mountains have on me so why not be prepared for the journey. I've been on enough trips to know when we are close to the mountains. I get a feeling every time and if I'm the person who start driving I always pull over and let the other person take over which is part of my preparation. I must say as must as you can be prepared for the mountains it doesn't always align the way you would like it to. In all honesty, we tried to prepare to leave earlier today so we could get out the mountains before the storm started but we didn't make it in time. I didn't know that the covers were going to hold me hostage for an hour longer and the pillow was going to be whispering sweet nothings in my ear, so it caused us to be delayed. I thought to myself if you would have just got up early you wouldn't have to face the storms in the mountains. I had slight fear and the what ifs were running through my mind. I had to have faith in my husband who was driving the vehicle who drives like a bat out of hell lol. I knew he had the necessary skills to navigate us but yes, I lacked a little faith in him and I'm just keeping it real.
My prayers got a little more detailed before we headed out and I know Jesus was probably like sis pipe down I got ya'll. I can get a little extra when I'm in emotional distress, so I was like Jesus can put a pause on the rain. I guess he thought I was funny because I felt like he was crying laughing that's why it was raining like it was. The rain was a start and stop situation so I was mentally on a rollercoaster and was ready to get off without finishing the ride. We made it through the storm and on the other side of the mountain was sunshine. I was absolutely amazed of how on one side of the mountains it was so ugly but once we got through it, I saw the beauty. I know if we gave up and pulled over, we would've have never made it to the other side. In life you have to go through the mountains to get to the other side because if you don't know you won't experience the beauty waiting to greet you. We have to develop the mindset that faith will carry you before, during, and after you go through the mountains of life.
What does your faith look like as you face your mountains?