Mountaintop Moments

May 14, 2024

Hello friends!

I’m back after a two-week break from writing and a nice trip back to the USA! I love America. To recap my time at home: I saw a bunch of people whom I love very much; I ate an absurd amount of chocolate chip cookies, Pop-Tarts, and tacos; I danced the night away at my cousin Jenna’s wedding (best day ever!!!); I swam a bit, golfed a bit, and walked a bit; I gawked at palm trees in Arizona and mountains (and also the northern lights?!!?) in Washington; and overall, I just had the best time!! I’m on my flight back to Italy now, and two things have hit me pretty hard:

1.      I have a lot of school to catch up on

2.      I can’t believe I get to live the life I’m living

For my whole time in Italy, I have really been walking on sunshine. There are good and bad moments of course, but I am so thankful to be in Italy. I'm so blessed to get to learn, travel, and meet all of these amazing people. I just want to hold onto all of these beautiful things!

“We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life - those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength.” – Oswald Chambers

Lately, I’ve been living on a mountaintop (metaphorically—Piacenza is in a valley). And man do I wish I could stay here forever (again—metaphorically—I do not want to live in Piacenza for the rest of my life). While I’m up here, I will soak it all in. I will count my blessings and live life to the fullest and all of those other cliché things that really are good advice. But I also know I won’t be here forever. I know God gives generously, but also takes away. There are seasons for everything I know that even though some seasons might not feel good, they are for my good.

Some of you reading this might be with me on a mountain top. Some of you might feel like you’re on a plateau. Some of you might be in a valley.

In Philippians 4, Paul writes "…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

I can tend to be anxious, and even while I’m on the mountaintop I tend to fear what comes next. (I hate hiking downhill more than hiking uphill, after all.) But I know the importance of being in the present moment, and I know that no matter if I’m on top of the world or in the deepest valley, He has made my feet like the feet of a dear so I will not slip. He is with me.

So! Keep going! If you're on top of a mountain, soak in the views up there. If you're in a valley, find rest when you can, but keep moving forward. It won't last forever! Rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances. You are never alone!

Some mountaintop moments from the past few weeks: