A Trip Up North

Last week I went to the Upper Peninsula for the first time. Having only lived in Michigan for just over two years, this is the farthest I’ve ever ventured northward.  I was joined by 2 of our adult children, which made it even more special.

The beauty of ‘up North’ lived up to its reputation. My son, Caleb, and I hiked through the forest in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  The tree canopy was high and thick, and the forest rich with small ferns.  The sun was streaming through the leaves and branches painting floor with light.  The path followed a rambling stream white with foam and dark with rocks.

We crossed a bridge over the stream and headed toward a break in the forest.  The stream we were following suddenly spilled out over hundreds of feet of smooth rock gently cascading into Lake Superior.  The wind was blowing small whitecaps as Kayakers rode them back to the sandy shoreline.  It was a split screen of forest and vast water that I had never encountered before. The beauty was astounding.  

I’m writing this “Words from the Rector” on August 6, the Day of Transfiguration.  On that day, Jesus took the Disciples up Mount Tabor.  They walked a steep mountain and saw astounding beauty.

Christiane and I have been on Mount Tabor in Israel and it is full of natural beauty, however, the beauty the disciples saw was supernatural.  The prophetic beauty of a transfigured Christ in the company of Moses and Elijah.

He [Jesus] took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:28-31)

There is so much rich theology here that we have talked about in the past. Everything in Israel’s history had been pointing to the time when the Messiah would fulfill the Law (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by Elijah) [see Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:27] In this short letter, I want to point out one thing to you: Peter’s reaction.

Peter saw this astounding beauty and said, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Luke 9:33).  Peter loved what he was seeing and immediately started thinking about how to make this moment last.  His solution was to build tents and stay.

I had a similar reaction this week up north. I jokingly said to my son at that juxtaposition of Lake Superior and beautiful forest, “I want to build a cabin right here.” (We had built a cabin together on some property I owned when he was a child in Virginia.) 

Although my comments were made tongue in cheek, the idea is similar to Peter’s: Let’s make this beauty last for us!  

Directly after Peter’s suggestion of building tents another supernatural event happened.

As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:34-35)

In Matt 17:9 we see the same story and what Jesus told them:

And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

The disciples were being prepared in order to share what they have learned with others.  They were given this beautiful experience, not to build tents and stay, but to bring God’s presence and story with them into their daily life and ministry. 

It’s these times of beauty and encouragement that give us the strength when we become tired and need encouragement ourselves. The presence of God is available to us always wherever we go.  However, we aren’t called to only look for these supernatural touches and experiences for ourselves.  We look to His power and strength daily so we can ‘go back down the mountain’ and minister to our family, friends, neighbors and fellow church members.  

May we pray together this Collect for the Day of Transfiguration:

O God, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thine only-begotten Son Wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistering; Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in his beauty, who with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, on God, world without end. Amen.

(1928 BCP p 247-248)

Blessings and peace,

Rev. Todd