Finding Perspective in the White Mountains

by Lori Wilson

I spent a few days in the White Mountains this past week—a wonderful time to rest, pray, and soak up the pristine views and peace that this place exudes. Everything seemed heightened here: the coffee tasted richer at the Blue Moose, the food more flavorful at El Charro, and the air cleaner and somehow more life-giving.

This sacred space has given me the room to write and to pray deeply for my daughters, grandkids, extended family, and dear friends. I've been marinated in gratitude for all the gifts God has placed in my life—people I love who encourage me, friends I don't need to talk to every day but can still pick up with wherever we left off, this world that displays such breathtaking beauty. I'm grateful that my life allows me time to take these breaks, to recognize how abundantly blessed I am by both grand and simple things: a warm blanket, reliable internet, windows that block driving rain, and chocolate.

I've been able to sink into such a contemplative space here, feeling God's presence both in the natural world and in the people I've encountered—kind, funny, helpful souls who reflect divine love in ordinary moments.

The View from Above

But perhaps the most powerful metaphor came as I ziplined above the forest canopy. Feeling an adrenaline surge and my heart beating faster, I gained more than just a physical perspective. I was invited to rise above the small things that disturb my daily peace—to let go and remember that I have a choice about whether to be troubled by events that, from this height, seem far less important.

I don't have to flow on the tide of emotion that can drag me out to sea. Instead, I can imagine rising above, like on this zipline, seeing from a different angle. I am in control of how I respond. I can pause and ask: Do I need to do something here? Do I want to let this go? How am I feeling in this moment?

The Gift of Choice

We have so much more choice than we realize—but when I don't take breaks, I forget just how much agency I truly possess. Being contemplative has helped me slow down, react more thoughtfully, and allow God into the little events so I can savor what is a blessing, question what is challenging, and give gratitude for it all.

Reflection Questions

• When did you last give yourself permission to step away and gain perspective on your daily concerns?

• What "small things" tend to disturb your peace? How might viewing them from a different angle change their importance?

• Where do you most clearly sense God's presence—in nature, relationships, quiet moments, or active experiences?

• What simple gifts in your life deserve more recognition and gratitude?

• How might regular contemplative practices help you remember your power to choose your responses?

• 
  

A Prayer of Gratitude

Gracious God, 

Thank you for mountains that remind us of your majesty and forests that whisper of your creativity. Thank you for the gift of perspective—both the literal view from above and the spiritual insight that comes when we step back from our daily concerns.

We are grateful for friends who journey with us, for simple pleasures that nourish our souls, and for the choice you've given us in how we respond to life's challenges. Help us remember that we need not be carried away by every tide of emotion, but can pause, breathe, and choose our path with intention.

Thank you for retreat spaces that restore our spirits and contemplative moments that reveal your presence in both the extraordinary and the everyday. May we carry this mountain perspective back into our regular rhythms, never forgetting how abundantly blessed we are.

Amen.