“Looking For Mt. Monadnoc" by Robert Siegel
We see the sign, “Monadnock State Park”
as it flashes by, after a mile or two
decide to go back, “We can’t pass by Mondnock
without seeing it,” I say, turning around.
We head down the side road – “Monadnock Realty,”
“Monadnock Pottery,” “Monadnock Designs,”
but no Mt. Monadnock. Then the signs fall away –
nothing but trees and the darkening afternoon.
We don’t speak, pass a clearing, and you say,
“I think I saw it, or part of it – a bald rock?”
Miles and miles more. Finally, I pull over
and we consult a map. “Monadnock’s right there.”
“Or just back a bit there.” “But we should see it –
we’re practically on top of it.” And driving back
we look – trees, a flash of clearing, purple rock -
but we are, it seems, too close to see it
It is here. We are on it. It is under us
Then Peterson writes, “this resurrection-life, this growing-up-in-Christ life, this Christian life that some people talk about and many others read about is a Mt. Monadnock kind of life”. He goes on, “we read the words, we see the signs. We hear the talk, we read the poems, sing the hymns, pray the prayers”. “We never see the mountain”.
Why do we never see Jesus? “Why” like Peterson asks “does He not advertise Himself?”
Peterson concludes with “the short answer”. “God reveals himself in personal relationship, and personal relationship only. God is not a phenomena to be considered. God is not a force to be used. God is not a proposition to be argued. There is nothing in or of God impersonal, nothing abstract, nothing imposed. And God treats us with an equivalent personal dignity. He isn’t out to impress us. He is here to eat bread with us and receive us into his love, just as we are, just where we are.”
Why do we not see God? He is here.
