I am a woman of passion, a warrior of sorts, and there is a song written by the mountain winds that play continuously in my mind. It’s the sound created as it weaves through the pines and carved-out canyons. It’s a melody without words or unidentifiable notes. Majestic are those mountains; their size and mysterious presence arouse a sense of reverence and an ordained fear. You prepare based on your limited experience when seeking the wisdom and tranquility within them.

I believe God to be the greatest trail guide, leading us on an adventure unique to each individual. I know the mountains are my medicine and the altar where I meet God and experience His greatest spiritual lessons.

I’ve themed all my adventures around mountain climbing in various places worldwide. Sometimes the song plays silently, and other times the decibels are immeasurable. In 2014, I was hiking with my family in the Vintgar Gorge in Bled, Slovenia. The volume turned up on the melody, so I pulled away from my family and climbed to a viewpoint. I looked up into the trees and took in the familiar sounds of the mountain and then wrote this message I received from God:

“I’m absorbing all of my surroundings and feeling free to explore parts of my soul that remain dormant much of my highly demanding life. I realize it is a vacation, or am I a vessel docked for refurbishing to be prepared for battle? Alpine breezes whisper messages of the Holy Spirit and scenery that would drop you to your knees in reverence to God above.

I’m humbled beyond my understanding as I am experiencing the purest sense of all that He has as good. I hear, “Jacke, thank you for seeking my Will and loving me enough to accept my discipline. Here, take this trip as my love and be ready for what’s to come. Oh, and Jacke, trust me…this mountain you must climb will have deep crevasses before you see atop that mountain.”

Almost two years later, on January 15th, 2016, the mountains shook, and down came the Landslide! In one moment, all of those feared mountain climbing experiences simulated in your mind happen in the form of a horrible dream, but it’s not! You’re frozen, breathless, disoriented, delusional, and in disbelief. Then little by little, you’re drawn back to that familiar melody, and you become re-acquainted with its healing properties. God, in His infinite glory, provides you with passions that speak to your heart and then uses them, drawing you inward toward the hope that only He can offer.