John Tyler - Old Rag

A few summers ago, I climbed up a mountain in the Shenandoah National Forest named Old Rag.  Leading up to the hike, I had been carrying a lot of spiritual and emotional baggage.  When asked by my sister to join her, I was very hesitant, however, she kept on asking and eventually I agreed to go with her.  Since the hike is only supposed to take a few hours, we packed some food and water into small daypacks and started our ascent at the foot of the mountain.  What I didn’t realize at the time was that this hike was going to be what we described in class as, a purgation, illumination and union.  This holy process began about 15 minutes into the hike, when I was sweating and so angry with God.  After being humbled and broken down physically, I was left in a vulnerable place.  It was then that God began to purge my heart from all the mess that I knew about.  As I pressed on and up the mountain, I could feel all of those burdens falling to the ground.  By the time I reached the top, I was a new man with a clear conscience and hopeful heart.  Illumination happened at the top of the mountain, where I could see from an entirely new and fresh perspective.  My mind was clear and my heart was free.  Although I thought it couldn’t possibly get any better, it did.  As we began to hike down the mountain (on a different trail), I could hear the Father beckoning me closer.  On the descent, I had a full and uninterrupted conversation with God.  Union was happening as I willfully clung to God.  By the time my sister and I reached the car, I had undergone a transformative process that was both mysterious and so life giving.