Becoming Ms. Frizzle

As I am reading the chapter on beauty in Captivating, an interesting thought is forming in my mind. The authors quote "The soul's inclination to love beauty is the trap God most frequently uses in order to win it." And my first thought was about mountains. To me, mountains are God's most beautiful landscape, cloaked in graceful trees swaying in the soft breeze and teeming with creatures of all shapes and sizes which capture the heart of all who venture but a step into their world. I would wager that I am not alone in this great reverence of the majesty and beauty of mountain ranges. In fact, I believe them to be the most alluring of places for most men. So are men attracted to the mountains solely for the adventure they promise, or is it first and foremost for the extravagant beauty they are able to experience when exploring the depths of the mountain?

I am beginning to think that it must be the beauty that first draws him in, or in the end wins him over. The taste of the crisp air, the symphony created by the living creatures, the remarkable sunrises, and the sense of wonder and awe that are instantly felt upon the journey upward. Mountains themselves provide not only their own beauty, but also a ladder, a better view to the rest of God's beautiful and boundless artwork. So, next time you venture to the mountains, ask yourself "is it the adventure or beauty that truly captures and wins my heart?"