I see this mountain almost every day.  There is stands, tall and confident, yet gentle and comforting.  Its been here for so long I sometimes wish I could talk to it.  What changes has it seen in our valley over the past hundreds of years?  Has it seen the elk cross that road hundreds of thousands of times?  Has it seen cars replace horses and houses replace fields?  How many storms has it weathered?

A few months ago I saw it like this.  The sight took my breath away.  Another storm was blowing in its face, taunting it with its icy power.  Yet at that very moment the sun set its warm hand on its shoulder, reminding the mountain of all the storms it had already endured.  The endless amount of torment it gone through only to give it more strength and character year after year.  It was a moment of light and darkness, of strength and gentleness.  It was a moment so incredible captivating it pulled me in with it’s alluring breath.