"I Look up onto the Mountain, from hence comes my strength"
by A Member of the Community on 11/27/12
God is present in the sacred nature that he created.
Coming from Fahan with its beautiful beach, its views of hills and distant mountains, its understandable why nature appeals to me.
Fahan means the sheltered place because it is surrounded by beautiful hills. I call one of these hills the holy mountain where we erected a large Celtic cross in 1979. It is in honour of Pope John Paul IIs visit to Ireland and it calls for Christs peace on all the people of our land.
It is a great symbol of reconciliation facing Derry City just 12 miles away and also to be seen from the north part of Lough Swilly.
Just a few weeks ago my neighbour climbed those hills and walked along in silence as he viewed the entire Lough Swilly and the distant hills of Donegal.
He spoke to me about the quietness up there, the wonder, the peace undisturbed that brings one close to God.
He wondered why we seldom, if ever, spoke about that sense of the Sacred in church. The quiet is outlined by the sound of ones own breath and by his footsteps and the occasional snipe or call of a bird soaring overhead as he walked along at a fixed comfortable pace through the light heather that covered the top of the hills.
I reflected on the psalmists phrase I look up to the mountains. From hence comes my strength
It seems God speaks to man on the holy mountain, be it here, Mount Sinai, Mount Carmel or Mount Tabor.
Jesus also gave his central teaching - his charter for Christian living - on the Mount of the Beatitudes.
He offered his life for us on a Mount Calvary and ascended from a mountain also.
Mountains and hills are sacred places where we can find God.
Come to think of it, we live on a hillside here at St. Anthonys.
This retreat centre was founded in 1985 a week after an all-night vigil when we prayed for Gods guidance for our next peaceful step as a Columba Community.
In places like this our ancestors, the Celtic saints found unity with God in prayer relatively easy. Columba would find the grace to say:
Sometimes in a lonely cell in the presence of my God, I stand alone and listen. In the silence of my heart I can hear his will when I listen. Despairing people come to me; they seem to think that I will know the answers. They tell me I am wise. I answer that nothing can deceive me if I stand alone and silently listen, for I am but a servant in the presence of my king when I listen. Sometimes in a lonely cell in the presence of my God, I stand alone and listen.
Listening in the quiet place is basic to maturity and discernment of spirits.
You may be fit to climb the sacred mountain and pray. Your holy ground can be your own room. Your sacred place may be your own room or chair. May you find there the joy of communion with Christ in silence and also in intercession for others needs.
Be one with Him in thanksgiving. Be one with Him in gradual transfiguration. One day may you say with Paul I live now,not I, but Christ lives within me.
May his sacred wounds, gained on lifes journey encourage you to walk in his footsteps even when you called to do so by being still. In stillness reflect on the spiritual peaks and blessings on your life that have made the walking through the valleys possible.
If faith is the window thru which we gaze and see life differently. We see life as worthwhile when we have this faith in the living Jesus as our constant companion.
This conclusion reminds me of a beautiful song sung originally by Louis Armstrong. I see skies so blue, red roses too. I see them bloom for me and for you. And I say to myself WHAT A wonderful world. The colours of the rainbow so pretty in the sky, and also on the faces of the people going by. I see children laughing, saying How do you do? Theyre really saying I love you etc.
Enjoy Amen.
Signed - Neal Carlin
(a few lines composed on a November night in 2012!)
