Dad's Dream

“Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere….” As the famous song verse indicates, mountains are places of authority, points of proclamation, and as Dad would frequently express-amazing acts of God.

Dad always dreamed of mountains. Every since I can remember he spoke of how it would be everything to him to live in peace among the mountains. As a child, he would describe his dream with vivid words and expression. He wanted to move to Colorado. As he aged and I suppose realized that Colorado was looking less and less likely, he proclaimed his love for the mountains of Arkansas. He just knew he would eventually make it happen. Sadly it never happened.

I always thought the mountains were pretty and even spectacular. But I never fully understood his dream and for that matter why he couldn’t ever live it out. But now I do.

See when someone you love dearly leaves us behind, we tend to go back and examine all of the memories again and again. It’s an effort to ensure we never forget and as I learned this past January, it’s an effort to continue to show our love through expressions of understanding.

So what’s behind Dad’s dream? What was so special about the mountains?

The mountains were a place Dad could escape all of his troubles. They were a place where he could reassure himself of God’s presence in his life.

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photos from my first trip to Colorado in May 2008; just 4 months after my father’s death.

http://paragon.pnn.com/7255-reason-s-rhythm