Up On That Mountain

Each song in this album had its challenges. In this song it was the challenge of describing what is different – how I am different – because I “walked” around that metaphorical mountain. How to describe those changes in the space of a song? I will do it by quoting the lyrics to the song: 

I learned that when I lose my way, if I can only keep the faith may make it to another day, there upon that mountain. Discovered where my fears reside, where faith is tested and truth lies, and thankfully where love abides, there upon that mountain. I learned the healing power of stories, found the magic in a song, learned that we’re all going somewhere, there’s somewhere where we belong. I learned we first must love ourselves if we are to love someone else. I found despair and hope both dwell, there upon that mountain. (I learned) it’s in the darkest quiet times we touch our soul and see the light, knowing it’s enough to try there upon that mountain.

I’d learned something important in the twenty years since my dad died. When I was “finding, facing, and freeing my fears” I realized I could have spent the rest of my life doing just that. When I was “learning how to love” I could have indefinitely continued on that quest. The lesson was that things like facing fears and learning to love were things I needed to do before I could truly make it “home.” The goal, however, always was to get home. As I got ready to leave the mountain there was one final warning or reminder:

It’s all so clear up on that mountain, all I’ve learned and what I know. Yet (it’s) easily lost or forgotten as I find my way back home.