And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:13 KJV
Many people say they love the mountains. In Central Oregon there is a mountain named for love. The early settlers crossing the high desert could see the mountains grow larger each day as they traveled west. Perhaps someone was reading 1 Corinthians 13 as the early morning sun revealed the mountains that today are commonly known as the Three Sisters. Someone named them—from north to south—Faith, Hope, and Charity. And indeed, the largest—or greatest—of these impressive snowcapped peaks is South Sister, Charity. The promise of year-round pure water from the melting snow may have reminded a weary traveler of God’s love and provision for us. Today in that area there is a water bottling plant and an extensive canal system that waters thousands of acres of farms.
In many passages of Scripture, water is compared to the Word of God or to the spiritual cleansing that comes with salvation. In John 4, a Samaritan woman went to the well for water and learned of One who can quench our spiritual thirst. Like her, we can go to the Word and find refreshment.
Whether we simply gaze at the mountains or spend days wandering through them, we are aware of their majesty. There we may find solitude, peace, or even an answer to what is troubling our soul. God’s creation was designed for our benefit. When we combine Scripture with the outdoors, we are doubly blessed. We begin to understand why many biblical accounts take place in the wildlands. God’s love for us is seen in His provision of fellowship and solitude, in flatland and steep hillsides, in deserts, forests, mountains, and everything in between. He is so good to us.