Thursday, July 29, 2010

Down from the mountain top

Down from the Mountain top of Presbyterian Youth Triennium...

I imagine that Peter, James and John had a pretty clear idea of what they wanted to do with their lives when they were on the mountian top with Jesus, Moses and Elijah. (What a fellowship of believers!!) they wanted to build an alter of worship, stay up there all the time, remain "high" in the Lord.

I can totally relate! Having just come home from PYT, a gathering of 5-6K Presbyterian youth and adult leaders at Purdue University. In that setting of high energy, higher education and intense worship, it was so easy for me to imagine myself enrolling fulltime at a seminary, becoming a youth minister and just staying "high" in the Lord.

But... (there is that word)

Just as it was for Peter, James and John, Jesus has not created me to remain in that high and lofty place of imagination. The disciples were led down off the mountain to "multitudes" of hungry people. Hungry for food? Yes. Hungry for direction? Hope? Healing? Yes, yes, yes! The God they were called to serve lead them down from the mountain and into the place where the would live out their calling. And He gifted them, prepared them, filled them for that work.

And am I any different? No. God invites me to join Him on the mountain top, to worship with other believers, to bask in His Glory, to fill my eyes with the wonder of all God has made and I know God has a plan for me in all of it. It is the times of intense worship that I recognize I am being prepared for His calling...down off the mountain top.