NEUOFFENBARUNG← Gifts of Heaven · Volume 3 · Contents
Mountain hike
18th June 1847
[1] A friend of creation wandered through many valleys and often found there very beautiful areas and even some charming parts. The most beautiful for him, however, were those that were decorated with lakes or with quite respectable brooks or rivers, and which were also surrounded with high mountains. Very large lowlands did not please the wanderer, as well as those areas whose ground was covered with large cities.
[2] However, as much as our hiker often longed to climb one or the other high mountain and to enjoy a magnificent view from it's pinnacles, he could never find the courage to climb up to any significant height. For sometimes he believed his feet would deny him the service to do so, sometimes again he found no reliable guide according to his idea, sometimes again the inconsistency of the weather at such heights was a very precarious obstacle for him, sometimes steep, unpaved paths, sometimes the broad and dense forests that usually begin at the foot of such Alps and not infrequently rise above 5-6000 feet – and similar obstacles more.
[3] Once, however, when he came to a small but very charming village, which was located at the foot of a beautiful and very high alpine pasture, and the weather seemed to be very favorable to him, he got a powerful urge to climb this alp with selected and experienced guides, in order to finally reach on his many journeys once to that much praised, true high pleasure, which presents itself to the mountain climbers in an indescribable way in always exuberant abundance – which however naturally our wanderer knew only from so-called hearsay and from some reading about mountain travel descriptions.
[4] So the decision was firmly made – now, whatever it may cost, never should this undertaking be regarded as abandoned and unworkable by whatever calamity may occur! "So, briskly up," said the wanderer. "Soon, soon, you proud peak, you shall be humbled by my weak foot! A mortal will tower above you, those who will defy eternity and look out from you into the far distance and enjoy a sight that was denied you for many thousands of years of your proud existence and will remain denied to you forever!”
[5] The mountain guides were ready, equipped with everything necessary. The hiker submitted himself entirely to their guidance, and so the mountain journey was bravely begun. The first hour went well; for there was still a lot of variety, sometimes a mountain chaste, sometimes a herd with it's shepherd, and sometimes a meadow, with a little stream trickling through. But now the forest began, sparse at first; but the higher up an ever steeper and rougher path our society walked, the denser the forest became and the more it was crossed by often almost impenetrable undergrowth.
[6] The hikers had spent three hours just climbing the mountain through the forest, and it did seem to end. Then the hiker asked the guides how long the forest would still last. And they said: "A few more hours of walking!" Then the wanderer was unwilling and said: "That is horrible! Truly, if the exceedingly arduous forest should go on for another few hours, I would rather turn back and take a formal oath down in the valley that I have cooled down to the most perfect level from every future desire to climb the mountain with these highly tiring attempts for all my life!
[7] But the guides said: "Friend, do not do that! We are here now closer to the goal we are pursuing than you think! Therefore it would be very unmanly to turn back now because of this small stretch of forest. Let's be brave and set out again, and soon we will reach the free alpine peaks, where every step will be filled with new wonders!
[8] This speech pleased the hiker, and he courageously continued with his guides along the path through the remainder of the forest. Now the forest became thinner, the trees became small and crooked, and already here and there the vast pale green alpine stretches, glittering stone rubble and
rotten logs lying on top of each other, became visible. Finally also the last remainder of the forest was put behind the back, and the company reached the completely free Alpen tracks and took there rest and some strengthening for the still most arduous further ascent towards the highest point.
[9] They rested for half an hour, then rose and wanted to go further up; but behold, there suddenly came – which is nothing unusual at such heights – a violent wind, and the highest peak was surrounded by thick clouds. Then the guides made dubious faces, and the hiker cursed every thought that had led him to want to climb this mountain; for the already very beautiful view from the high, free Alpine peaks was by no means the reward for his great effort. But as the wind became stronger and stronger and the fog dropped lower and lower, the company decided to make the way back from the alp as fast as possible to safely avoid a thunderstorm.
[10] The descent was fast and the valley was reached in half the time it took the company to climb this alp. When they all – the guides and the hiker – arrived back in the village, behold, another wind came, and all the mountain tops stood crystal clear again before the eyes of the tired hikers.
[11] Then also our wanderer regretted that he had let himself be intimidated and discouraged by slight weather and decided to be wiser and more persistent on a similar occasion in the future.
[12] But an old man, who had heard the hiker proudly speak to the mountain before leaving, said to him: "If you want to climb a mountain again, you must first make yourself small, not so great; for behold, every height is pure and sacred! One should therefore ascend it in humility and never in arrogance. But woe to him who climbs it in arrogance; he will have a mighty fall and will be shattered, and his flesh will get caught on the rugged peaks of the towering rocks!
[13] But if you want to be a true hiker, then in the future do not let yourself be put off by the heights and climb them completely, then you will realize all the more how wonderful, great and mighty He must be, who found it easy to bring about such a great and wonderful earth merely through His 'let it be'. The valleys, of which you have already travelled through many, also sprouted from the same almighty 'let it be,' but there is still a great difference between them and the mountains. The view in the valley is limited and narrowed, but on the mountains it is free and often impossible to miss. The valley is like an ordinary man who knows no higher needs except the natural ones; but the mountains are like a wise man who, above all worldly needs, lifts up his heart and head high and directs his eyes only to where he sees the great holy monuments of Him whom his heart calls: "Dear, Holy Father!
[14] Behold, my dear friend, if you travel and climb the mountains like this, then your travels will bring you a great gain for your life temporally and – understand – thereby also eternally! For we are all wanderers, and from the cradle to the grave we walk many an arduous path. Sometimes it's steep, bumpy, sometimes as if on a black ice. Most life-hikers resemble you and prefer to stay in the valleys of their animal-nature rather than taking the trouble to climb a mountain to at least get the sight of a real human being. But so it should not be!
[15] We are to dwell in the valleys of humility; but in this we are not to forget that the mountains of free knowledge of God and man are to be climbed – which is prescribed by God Himself!"
[16] With this in mind, our wanderer continued on his way, found the words of the old village sage correct and worthy of imitation and – found life!
[17] If you want to find it, follow this example! Amen.