Outdoorleaders.com is the official blog for Wilderness Ministry Institute. It is a pleasure to have WMI staff contribute to my blog as they are training outdoor leaders and practicing wilderness ministry around the globe. In this post, Andrew Underwood sheds some perspective on humility in the wilderness context. Enjoy!
HUMILITY AND THE WILD
James Ullman, in his book High Conquest (1941), captures the intense journey of Edward Whymper’s second attempt at the summit of the Matterhorn in the 1860’s. He writes:
“In spite of the strong party and elaborate plans Whymper’s second try was doomed to quick and complete defeat. A nasty fall by one of the guides delayed them while crossing the Glacier du Lion and dampened the spirits of the others. Then, no sooner had they reached the Col du Lion and made camp than a strong wind blew up, freezing their hands and feet and causing them to spend a sleepless night holding their wildly flapping tent. By morning a hurricane was howling at them from the great snowfields of the Monte Rosa, to the east. Taking advantage of a brief lull they made a start up the southwest ridge, only to have the gales whip back up at them with renewed frenzy. ‘Advance or return’, wrote Whymper, ‘were alike impossible; the ridge was denuded of its debris, and we saw stones as big as a man’s fist blown away horizontally into space. We dared not attempt to stand upright and remained stationary on all fours, glued, as it were to the rocks.’”
BRAVERY REQUIRES HUMILITY
The raw power found in these wild places is unbelievable at times and this story paints such a vivid picture of how even the strongest, bravest, most experienced individuals can be utterly humbled in the mountains.
The Matterhorn
The wilderness is a place, where we and those we lead, can truly experience humility in a raw and beautiful way. Everyone is subject to the same weather, the same topography and the same demands of isolation. We see the same beautiful sunset and thirst for the same water. This posture is a ripe condition for the LORD to display His glory to us; from the lowly places we can truly be in awe of our creator.
HUMILITY SHOWS HOW STRONG AND FULL OF KNOWLEDGE GOD IS
Just as the psalmist connects for us so poetically, as he likely reflects on a powerful storm over the land of Israel in Psalm 29; the power of the LORD is so beautifully displayed in the wild. When we experience this first hand it is a truly humbling experience…one which has the unparalleled way of pointing us all to our true place in the world. Humbled before a magnificent God; We feel tiny, powerless, weak and unknowing. It’s a scene ideal for seeing how powerful, strong and full of knowledge our God really is.
RELATED POST: WORSHIPPING GOD WITH AWE BY EXPERIENCING THE SCALE OF CREATION
So, whether you are standing beneath towering mountains or on the rim of the Grand Canyon… or looking deeply at the tiniest creature. We can see displayed before us the reality that God is infinitely more amazing that we can imagine and will help us relate with David when we writes,
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them.” – Psalm 8
REFLECTION
- Think back to a time when the awe of creation has made you feel humble. Recall as best that you can what your senses were perceiving.
- As you remember those senses, pray thanksgiving where you currently see His magnificence in your life.
- Receive the hope and promise of God’d goodness over places that you might feel “tiny, powerless, weak or unknowing.”
- Consider bringing a group to a place of beauty and pray over these things together.
