Somehow, I didn't come to appreciate Alaska as much as I should have until I went away for a year. I had failed to appreciate all the wide open spaces and beauty the state held. Coming home, I embraced these aspects even more and felt so at ease coming back to "my mountains."

Alaskan mountains are unparalleled. These snow capped peaks cover the state, interspersed with glaciers, green valleys, or lakes. They are utterly breathtaking, yet they are the place I now go when I cannot breathe. The moments where life, school, and daily demands overwhelm me, something pulls me back to these towering mountains.

Nothing compares to climbing, climbing, climbing. All of a sudden, you can look back and take in the rich views that overlook a city or body of water. Before you know it, the world is quiet again. The only sounds are the shuffling of rocks underneath your feet, wind rustling the nearby vegetation, or the rushing water in the distance.

What exhilarates and terrifies me at the same time is overlooking the steep drop from the top of a peak and seeing a beautiful turquoise lake. In the mountains, I feel small, as I should. The world isn't all about me and the worries of my life, it's about the majesty of the God who created the mountains.

Exploring teaches me something new each time. Exploring, hiking, and enjoying the mountains gives my brain the time to slow down. There is time to zoom out and enjoy a different pace, one that looks up and out at possibilities, not down and centered on selfish gain.

And for every mountain I climb, I am reminded of the spiritual mountains Christ helps me summit. Some are a quick and even enjoyable climb with a beautiful view. Others are steeper and have to be faced in rough weather. Even others are a rough, long journey, with a beautiful destination. But even as I press on, I am reminded that the journey itself is my destination. I have my Faithful Guide and Companion.

"My mountains" never fail to teach me beautiful lessons and encourage me to look outward. I guess you could say I have a mountain addiction, so I will keep climbing.