Some Quotes
From William Blake, “Great things are done when men and mountains meet; this is not done by jostling in the street.”
From Anatoli Boukreev, “Mountains are not stadiums where I satisfy my ambition to achieve; they are cathedrals where I practice my religion.”
From Julie Andrews, “Climb Every Mountain”
From John Muir, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.”
John Muir was a Scottish/American engineer, environmentalist, and author. He wrote 300 articles and 14 books about enjoying and protecting the great outdoors. His writing was instrumental in Yosemite and Sequoia becoming national parks. He founded the Sierra Club serving as its president until he died. The primary purpose was to preserve Yosemite National Park for future generations.
And Me?
Well, I’m somewhere between John Muir and Julie Andrews. Not quite a bonafide mountain man, but a mountain lover to be sure. What is there to love?
- The clean, purified air
- Trees: Blue Spruce, Bristlecone Pines, Ponderosa Pines, and Aspens
- Rivers, streams, and waterfalls
- The majesty, grandeur, and beauty
- God’s magnificence abundantly displayed.

Sometimes I dream of living among them, in a simple cabin next to a trout-filled stream. Its simplicity wouldn’t preclude running water, electricity, indoor plumbing, central heating, and a towering fieldstone fireplace. I’m willing to surrender some of society’s comforts and conveniences but come on, I am not an animal.
I’ll definitely require a toaster oven, espresso maker, and an excellent juicer.
The Spiritual Part
Some Biblical References
- Israel made their covenant with God at Mt Sinai.
- It’s where Moses received the tablets.
- At Mt Nebo, Moses saw the Promise Land that he would never enter.
- David wrote that God’s power formed the mountains.
- Psalm 121:1 says to lift our eyes to the mountains for help.
- The prophets mention mountains more than seventy times.
- Jesus climbed the mountains to pray, teach, and be transformed.
- Psalm 98:8 mentions that the mountains sing together for joy.
The poetry of the Psalms has such imagery, the mountains singing for joy. I have heard their joyful song and their calling.
I cherish sitting on a fallen log, or a rock in a mountain stream, to listen for the music. It’s a beautiful and peaceful melody, soul-soothing, and heart-healing. The soft breeze will flow with the river, and I’ll sense the presence of God’s spirit coming to fill me with joyful peace. The Spirit will see my troubles and struggles and take them before the Father to express the words I cannot find.
The mountains aren’t a bad place to get deeply personal with God.
To Close
For me, a gentle mountain stream is a nearly sacred thing. Whatever amount of time I get to spend is never enough. But whatever I get is time spent with my creator. It’s like reaching up and touching the face of God.
Mr. Muir was right; the mountains are calling.
To God Be The Glory