In the summer of 2018, I spent four days with my son walking the coastal path from Exmouth to Chesil Beach. It was a worthwhile experience for several reasons, but most striking was how my relationship with the coast underwent a complete re-evaluation!
I have never lived anywhere near the sea, but I realised that in half a century of visits, I had only ever really thought of the coast as being flat! All my life I had approached the sea in a car down a flat narrow valley then stayed a few hours on a flat beach before heading back inland. Walking around the coast gave me a completely new perspective. For the most part, it seems, the topography of the coast actually involves a whole lot of up & down!
Obviously climbing up is a lot more effort, though the hard work is often rewarded with an inspiring view - except when the hilltops are covered in cloud (as they sadly were for us on the day we climbed the Golden Cap!) The journey down is less hard work, although you still have to watch your step, but in the valley, you usually get the chance for a cup of tea - before setting off again to climb the next hill!!
Reflecting on this journey recently, it struck me that this experience was not just a big walk, but actually a metaphor for life! The mountain top experiences are usually worth the effort, but the path up and down has its challenges and can seem relentless. Sometimes, when the weather is bad, it's hard to even see where you're supposed to be going and you wonder if it's worth it at all!
I was reminded about the 'Songs of Ascent' - a collection of 15 psalms with a shared theme of pilgrimage, worship, and trust in God, sung by Ancient Israelites as they travelled up to "Mount Zion" as they called Jerusalem. In the bible, mountains are places of significant meetings between God and his people, so this journey represented not just physical travel but also a spiritual drawing nearer to God.
Psalms 120-134 form a powerful worship liturgy of preparation for those coming to encounter God. In one of the best known, God's people begin by intentionally lift their eyes to heaven;
The collection continues with a range of themes including joy, trust, mercy, blessing and unity, and an assurance that the Lord is watching over his people.
It ends with a simple invitation to worship & receive;
Whatever the geography of our lives, we're not usually far from an uphill journey, or a potential encounter with God. As in ancient times, the Psalms of Ascent can form a meaningful soundtrack for anyone who finds themselves climbing.