Scaling Veiled Mountains

Around Christmas 2024, back home in Slovakia, I took a lot of time to explore new places. These journeys through snowy foothills, misty forests, and icy peaks in and around the Slovak Mountains each revealed a unique truth about the beauty and challenges of life, and God’s persistent goodness throughout. Each movement in this piece interprets one of these experiences.

i. Ascent

Ascent presents the mountain. Its wooded slopes stretch up and out of view. The rocky dirt road swerves along between patches of fluffy white snow; birds chirp in the frosted tops of beech and pine. A refreshing, cool breeze blows from behind, offering an invitation to journey on.

ii. In Mist

In Mist depicts a bleak, foggy forest road, winding its way up the mountain. Frost covers the dead grass and rotting leaves on the roadside. Tall gray trees disappear into the imposing fog above. One cannot see what lies ahead, but the road goes on.

iii. Summit

Summit describes a treacherous, steep, final climb. Then, all at once, the summit. All is still but cold wafts of thin air gently stirring powdered snow. An endless sea of churning clouds vanishing on the horizon. Immense islands of rock and ice breach the expanse in the distance. In time, awe gives way to excitement in reflecting on the journey, and in anticipating countless adventures ahead.