The Stillness Brought Me Closer to God By Rachel Nadon
On Thanksgiving Monday my partner Andrew and I went for a hike on the Grassi Lake Trail in Canmore, Alberta. It was a chilly afternoon with a light dusting of snow covering the ground from the morning snow. As the clouds were clearing, the sun started to shine brightly warming the air and melting the snow.
As we approached the trail, we saw many families around us. Some with dogs, others pushing strollers, children were running about excited to go on an adventure. One family informed us that Grassi Lake trail has two paths to the lake, one was easy, one was more difficult. They were taking the easy in both directions because of their children. We decided to take the more difficult up the hill, and the easy path down from the Lake.
The walk up was beautiful. It was quiet, surrounded by trees, brush, and wilderness. The path was uneven with rocks and branches to step over. In some portions of the path the ground was level with no incline, then in other portions, we would climb up the slope using the steps that had been created from roots and rocks with well-placed trees that doubled as handholds as we hiked.
We would stop to take pictures or examine interesting rock formations. Other people would pass us as we walked, some coming from the other direction, some walking at a faster pace than us, one person was even running up this path with their dog at their side.
We came across several trickling streams of water running down the rock face, through a clearing, and over the cliff into the forest below. We stopped at this small clearing to take in the view of the blue skies and the lake and trees. The view created awe, wonder and amazement of creation, and how God was able to make something so beautiful for us to enjoy.
A family had joined us while we took in the view by the trickling streams. The family had a puppy with them who was excited to see everything and sniffing about experiencing this new place. The puppy had stopped as the first stream of trickling water, sniffing at it, then pawing at it, and with the encouragement of her owners, she stepped into the water, wetting her paws and stepped across. The owners stepped over this little stream and praised the puppy for getting over the water. The puppy was excited to approach the next little stream that was a touch wider and after taking a drink, bravely stepped across to continue along the path.
We left this family as they enjoyed this lookout and climbed further up the path. As we walked, we could start to hear the calming sound of the waterfall up ahead. When we reached the next cliff we could see this amazing waterfall in front of us. The water falling 125 meters down, with trees and rock face on either side. The Sky was blue with a slight mist hitting our faces and cooling the air.
The beauty created by water falling down the side of the cliff into a lake below. The wonder of nature filling us with joy. Through the awe of what our senses were experiencing, we could see God at work, we could feel the Holy Spirit flowing through this place and refilling our soul.
As we stood there taking in the view and photographing our experience, we noticed an interesting shaped cloud coming over the top of the mountain. It was a dense looking cloud, full of moisture. We understood this as a message from God to continue up the path before that cloud reached us. We were headed for the lake at the top of this beautiful waterfall we were admiring, and we didn’t know what lay ahead on the “more difficult” path we had chosen to take. The weather was changing, and it was time to continue our journey.
We started to walk up to a very steep section of path. Thankfully someone had built a railing to the rock steps we now needed to climb to reach the top of the waterfalls. As we started up the uneven stairs, small round balls of snow started to fall as the dense looking cloud moved closer to us.
The family with the dog had rejoined us by this point and together we started the steep ascent up the side of the mountain. The puppy was struggling to get up the stairs on its own and needed to be carried up. When we paused at a clearing to catch our breath we noticed the family had a second dog with them.
We hadn’t noticed this second dog earlier because he was being carried by his owner. He was an older, smaller dog, who was now shivering from the snow and cold air. The owner put the small dog inside his coat, and the little dog settled down into the warmth.
We continued climbing up the accent to find the lake. When the ground leveled out we came to a small river. The riverbank was fenced off for public safety, and a small wooden bridge with a railing on one side provided safe passage across the river. As I crossed the bridge I looked out over the river through a small clearing into the clouds, thus realizing the small river was the top of the waterfalls.
As we walked the cool breeze stopped, the snow changed from small balls into light fluffy flakes which floated gracefully to the forest floor. Upon reaching Grassi Lake, we marveled at the emerald green lake with clear, still water. A peaceful feeling washed over us. It was so quiet. The people around us were whispering, not wanting to break the stillness of the air. The light fluffy snow was slowly falling onto the lake; melting just before it hit the water. The trees were dark green, almost black in colour as they framed this pristine lake, unmoving, perfectly still in the light fog that had formed around us.
Yet the air around us looked different than fog – it was slowly moving in one direction without the use of a breeze. At that moment I realized we were inside a snow cloud. We were walking through the dense, moisture-filled cloud we saw by the waterfall. The light snowflakes danced as they floated suspended in the air, slowly floating towards the ground. The scenery was surreal, peaceful, calm, a stillness, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.
The experience at the top of the hiking path was a stark contrast to the journey hiking up to this point. Climbing up the side of this mountain wasn’t easy and at different points, my legs were on fire. I had to stop to stretch to ease the muscles that were stiff and sore for weeks after this journey. I was out of breath, I had worked up a sweat. There were points on the journey that I debated turning around, giving up, and not continuing further up the path because I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it. Yet seeing this view, experiencing the snow in this new way, experiencing the stillness, brought me closer to God, it helped me understand the importance of being surrounded by God’s creations. The importance of having faith while on the journey.
Standing beside Grassi Lake, experiencing the moment, not wanting to ever forget the sights, smells, feelings of this place. Feeling fully grounded by the Spirit as God displayed everything in creation that grows and lives in this place. This spiritual experience in the wilderness renewed my faith. Reminded me of the importance of having God on my journey with me through life.
Jesus walked on many difficult paths throughout his life, teaching others, and performing miracles as he went. Climbing those stairs, getting to the top of this waterfall, seeing this lake, and standing inside a snow cloud. This experience brought wonder and appreciation of what can be brought to life through God’s creation. Perhaps Jesus was walking beside me as I hiked up the mountain because it felt like a miracle that my legs didn’t give out on me through this journey.
The Holy Spirit was alive and well in this place that we visited, in the world around us. No matter how hard life gets, we are never truly alone and that is the true beauty to be found throughout everything we have experienced in our lives. As we walked down the gradual slope of the “easy” path on the Grassi Lake Trail we enjoyed the company of the family with the dogs who we were still walking with. The small dog was fully enclosed in the zipped-up jacket of its owner, he could be heard snoring as it slept while being carried down the path. Shortly after leaving the lake the puppy was also tired and no longer had the strength to walk, thus the puppy was also carried by its owner safely down the path. The puppy’s eyelids were heavy and she was struggling to stay awake in the loving arms of her human.
Walking in the wilderness, in the forests, beside the lakes, and on the trails in the rocky mountains, being fully immersed in the natural world. These experiences bring wonder and fascination in many people’s lives. To be surrounded by God’s creations in nature. That my friend is one of the easiest ways to surround yourself in the embrace of the Holy Spirit.
As we journey together through life, may we always remember to take a moment, look at our surroundings, and marvel at the wonder of creation. Our journey may be difficult, it might hurt, be painful or we might feel like giving up. As Christians we will always have faith, God is always with us and if you ask with beautiful puppy eyes you may be carried down a mountain so you can rest before getting in the car for the next adventure.
