The tabletop
The banqueting table of God
The Mountain
Around which, life happens
Above which, streets bustle
Against which, all vistas are set
In relation to which, directions are given.
Wherever you are in Cape Town
You can look up
To see it towering above.
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In many cultures and countries
Mountains are sacred
A meeting place with God.
Directing our sight upwards
Above the everyday hum-drum
And hassle of the streets
Above our concerns and cares
Upwards to see
An awe-inspiring constant
As life and death, joy and suffering
Shift as shadows
Around it.
–
Even when covered with cloud
We are aware that it’s there
Can sense it without seeing it
–
The Mountain
Proceeding and more permanent than humanity
Rising above the man made structures
Keeping us from over-estimating our race.
–
A silent but strong prompt
To lift your eyes
To know where your help comes from
To remember the greatness of the Creator.
His constancy
Majesty
Faithfulness
Centrality.
And yet
Unlike the mountain
He isn’t cold, removed
He steps down
Gets involved in everyday life.
–
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
–
We often need something
To lift our sights
To raise our hope
Wherever we live
Mountain or none.
What prompts you to look up?
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“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” – Psalm 61:2
“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?” – Psalm 121:1
— All poems and original writing on this blog are Copyright © Hilary Murdoch 2013
