Coming down from the mountain
This past week I was blessed to be at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference near Black Mountain, North Carolina. When one considers the beautiful setting, in addition to the outstanding classes, it’s easy to see why BRMCWC is so well-known and attended. But at the end of the amazing experience, those attending often deal with the let-down of coming down the mountain.
Coming down from the mountain
There are many occasions in our lives that we can label mountain top experiences. These might include:
- Marriage
- The birth of a baby
- Graduation
- Landing a dream jbo
- An amazing vacation
- A retreat or learning experience that changes our lives
I expect you’ve experienced these and other life changing moments. We often receive joy and happiness from these mountain top experiences. From Blue Ridge, those who come, gain much knowledge and joy.
- The conference gifts us with a plethora of wonderful experiences.
- We meet new people who understand writers (we can be a little strange).
- Attendees acquire new knowledge that we want to immediately apply.
- Amazing classes and workshops fill our notebooks with ideas and set our minds in a whirl.
- We often develop a long list of tasks we need or want to implement when we return.
The result of being on a mountain top is that we eventually come back to reality. We experience the let-down of coming down the mountain.
Sigh . . .
We come back to the real world. While we treasure our new friendships, and acknowledge the gift of learning we received from experts, we realize our “to-do” list is overwhelming. (This doesn’t just happen to authors–don’t we all have to-do lists that seem, at times, impossible to accomplish?)
I wish I had the solution to the sinking feeling we experience when we come down the mountain into the valley of reality. But I don’t have all the answers–however, I have some suggestions:
Seek our Lord’s guidance into organizing our list of goals to accomplish.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
Don’t try to accomplish every task immediately. Prayerfully ask where to begin, then go one step at a time. Wait, as needed between tasks, for God’s continued guidance.
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:25-26).
Encourage your family, friends, loved ones, and colleagues along the way. They too, may be struggling with a long to-do list. In sharing encouragement, we spread love, and we receive the same.
Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Our life experiences involve mountains, valleys, and plateaus, but we can always count on our Lord to be with us every step of our journey. But we choose the connection. Have we chosen to walk with Him on the journey? Are we in step with Him?
I welcome your suggestions and ideas. How do you get it all done?
Wishing you joy on the mountain and peace in the valley.
One of the valleys we sometimes experience is concern about our health. Do you want to change some lifestyle habits to help you feel better, have more energy, and improved quality of life? This book can help you on that journey–and it’s on sale on Amazon!
Honoring God with My Body: Journey to Wellness and a Healthy Lifestyle
Those mountain top experiences do exhilarate us, but unfortunately we do have to come back down. If we didn’t the mountain wouldn’t mean as much. But Jesus is there with us in every valley and on top of every mountain. The valleys can be rich and fertile as well. Thanks for sharing with us.
Thank you for adding your thoughts, Barbara. I know you’ve been there–mountain tops and valleys. I hope your week is going well. Peace and blessings
So true. Thanks for your timely advice.
Your are welcome, Sarah. I’m so glad you stopped by my blog. Wishing you a happy and joyful week.
From the valleys we look up to the Creator of all.
I love that, Diana–what a comforting thought. Blessings!
Thank you for this inspirational message. Have a glorious day! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by with your encouraging comment and smile. Wishing you joy and blessings!
I don’t get it all done, but I do remind myself that slow progress is still progress.
Thank you for sharing that important point, Priscilla. One step at a time–we just keep stepping in His grace and love. Peace and blessings!
I know the post-BRMCWC experience all too well! Glad you were able to attend again 🙂
Blue Ridge is a special place, Mary. Hope you’ll still come back some. Wishing you much joy in your new home.
Reality always sets in eventually. For me, it’s important to realize I can’t do it all. Sometimes, the mountaintop is simply a time to connect or re-connect, and a boost of encouragement to keep going.
I struggle with the “I need to do it all” syndrome, too, Terri. Thanks for sharing your encouraging thoughts. Wishing you joy and sunshine!
Excellent suggestions! Something that has helped me: Awareness (and acceptance) that it’s impossible to implement every suggestion and intention. I pick two to three to focus on immediately and get to work. It helps me move past the paralysis of “where do I start?”
Great advice, Candyce. Thanks for sharing your suggestions. I’m at that stage now–what do I do first, second third, etc.? I’m grateful for your encouragement. I hope you’re having a great week.
Great post, Katherine. Thank you for your words and for sharing these encouraging verses. When my to-do list is long, I’m reminded of Ps. 142:3 “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path.” So thankful He is with us every step! Blessings!
Thank you for sharing that verse, Kim. We’re so blessed that God has our path planned out for us–all we must do is trust Him.
Wishing you joy and blessings!
Those to-do lists are so long sometimes, but you’ve given some good advice for taming them! Thanks Katherine. I’m glad you had such a great time at the conference!
It was a great conference Kathy. I love the way authors encourage each other. It’s such a supportive and encouraging community. Thank you being so kind and encouraging. Blessings!
Coming down the mountain can be very sad as we focus on the end of something. But often God is equipping and sending us out. I look forward to the next chapter and the next mountain top. Great to see you Katherine and thanks for sharing the encouragement
You are right, Yvonne–we’re still in the beginning stages of serving our Lord through our writing and other work. Each day is a new start in service to Him. Thank you for being such a wonderful role model for loving God and His children. Blessings!
It was so good to see you at the conference! I’m thankful for those breaks and times of inspiration.
It was great to see you, Debbie! I pray you found inspiration at Blue Ridge and that God continues to bless your ministry of service to Him.
How I enjoyed sharing in that mountaintop experience atop Black Mountain with you last year, drear friend. And while I would have loved to return this year, it just wasn’t going to happen. When God has other work for you to do, you do it. Reading your lovely post, I thought about a poem I shared on my blog a few years back. When I find it again, I’ll email you. It’s called, “In the Valleys, I Grow”, and was penned by a dear lady in Virginia, Ms. Jane Eggleston.
PS: I peeked, it was on 12-02-2020. LOL
Thank you, dear friend. I loved the poem. It reminds us to put life’s trials into perspective and “let go and let God.” He has the plan. I missed you at Blue Ridge, but I know you have a lot on your plate this year. There will be another time. May God bless you and your Cross-Dubya family.