Huffing & Puffing Up Stone Mountain
Recently I attended an interfaith worship service on top of Stone Mountain. It almost killed me to climb to the peak, but I did it! I tried to get some of my fellow church members to go with me, but they countered that it would be too cold, or the journey up the mountain was too arduous, etc. Well, I somehow convinced my 17-year-old daughter, Krystal, to go with me. I remembered climbing Stone Mountain about 10 years ago, and recalled it was fairly easy. However, this journey was a different story! The mountain is less than 2,000 feet high, and the trail appears to be a gentle ascent. However, it did not take long to find me out of breath and needing to rest. Krystal just laughed, and waited. After about a half-dozen rest stops, I was wavering about continuing. I had just about decided to worship my Lord while leaning against a pine tree, 1/3 of the way up the mountain. But, I was inspired to keep going. This angel of inspiration I remember very well. She was large, very large, and she lumbered deliberately up the trail. Several times I passed her, and thought she was never going to make it. She was breathing heavily, puffing somewhat like the “little engine that could”. She was perspiring, and I truly felt compassion for her. Every time I stopped to rest and consider quitting, she would pass around me. We did not speak- she was too busy just surviving. But she did not quit. She kept her eyes up ahead, and just kept going. When I finally got to the top, she was there- I recall she was leaned against a boulder, eyes glazy, motionless- but I am pretty sure she was breathing. She made it; and, she was my inspiration!
I do not remember much about the actual worship service at the top of the mountain. By that time I was hyperventilating – well, almost. I didn’t want to sit down, because I knew I would have difficulty arising. And, the wind was blowing; I think the wind always blows up there. It was cold. And, it was raining. The preacher was a lady, and I think her message was interesting, but what I truly remember is that she wore a neon-blue suit. It was really shiny, almost mesmerizing. And, she spoke of the resurrection of Christ. I went back down the mountain, drenched and tired and the object of good-natured jesting by my daughter. We stopped for breakfast. It was fun. And, climbing a mountain for a daybreak worship service will probably be a once-in-a-lifetime event for me.
I wonder if that nameless lady, my source of inspiration, is still sitting up there- leaned against a boulder, commemorating her victorious march up Stone Mountain?
10.31.05 (3:51 pm) [
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posted by:
CrazyBeautiful3 (
reply)
post date:
10.31.05 (3:47 pm)
Good post. Not all that much into that kind of stuff, but I will say that it is a good post. It sorta makes you think and that's a good thing.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.31.05 (4:03 pm)
Thanks CB. Try climbing Stone Mtn sometime, and maybe we will meet. I'll be the guy sitting on a rock, catching his breath.
posted by:
ScubaDiva (
reply)
post date:
11.01.05 (5:37 am)
Done it a bunch of times but I am not really a fan of the place anymore since the new mgmt company has taken over it.
Remember a few years ago when a plane crashed into the mountain? And there hasn't been a jumper in a few years either... Oh, the good ole days. (Kidding)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.05 (10:22 am)
Reply to: ScubaDiva
Interesting source of entertainment! I do remember the plane crash. I also understand that Stone Mountain used to be a gathering place for KKK rallies, complete with a giant cross burning. Too bad the plane crash could not have ocurred in the midst of one of those gatherings.
By the way, I'm not a native Atlantan like you, but I am from the South.
posted by:
ScubaDiva (
reply)
post date:
11.01.05 (11:06 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
"I'm not a native Atlantan like you, but I am from the South."
Sorry hear that - no one's perfect. LOL
posted by:
graceshaker (
reply)
post date:
11.01.05 (11:54 am)
disheartening to hear that no one in your congregation would go but it sounds like you were blessed and inspired - if somewhat beleaguered.
i live in texas and we have a similar (tho much smaller) oddity near austion called enchanted rock. ive climbed it numerous times and even watched the sun go down from its summit which was a great experience - so peaceful.
anyway - i pray you recover. Ü
posted by:
mmmkay (
reply)
post date:
11.01.05 (1:10 pm)
I've been there before! I am originally from Georgia myself :)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.05 (3:41 pm)
Reply to: mmmkay
I moved here from Alabama. They say I raised the IQ of both states with the move.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
11.01.05 (3:50 pm)
Reply to: graceshaker
Church folks are most often surprising with when they will commit, and when they will not.
I've always liked mountains. As a kid I spent countless hours with my trusty dog, Blackie, exploring the hills and mountains around my hometown in northeast Alabama. The peak of a summit is a wonderful place to consider God's magnificence.
posted by:
mmmkay (
reply)
post date:
11.01.05 (5:41 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
lol could be true.
