MY 'MOUNTAIN TOP' EXPERIENCE ON A REAL MOUNTAIN

From time to time, I hear Christians talking about their "mountain top" experience. What they mean is an exceptionally good spiritual event. It could be as varied as answered prayer or leading somebody to faith in Christ. It's all very well to have such experiences but we'd grow bored if they occurred daily.

I also had an experience on top of Sulphur Mountain which I treasure for its rareness. Having poor sight, I can't see wildlife plainly unless the creatures are close to me. At times, I was able to bribe animals to come to me, as in the case of the squirrels in Toronto back in 1975. Other times, I wasn't allowed to feed the creatures but they came close to me. Such was the case with the mountain sheep I saw while on vacation in 1988.

On a sunny afternoon in September, after the crowds had left, I stayed at a hotel in Banff National Park. There were only a few tourists but we enjoyed our ride in the gondola, both going to the top and back. As we walked on the wooden sidewalks provided for us, I watched as a few female mountain sheep wandered around the gondola station. I took plenty of photos of these beautiful animals, including the one at the top of this page.

At one point, one of them came up to the boardwalk with her lamb within three feet of me. As they stood gazing at me through the bars of the railing, I took their photo. For a brief second, it was like we had some sort of connection with each other. Then both mountain sheep wandered off to lie down in the late summer sunlight.

As with other sublime moments I've had, I'll never forget how special that meeting was. In the grand scheme of things, it's inconsequential. To me however, that day has profound meaning.

I've mentioned my love of God's wondrous creation in my three memoirs. The first two are available at the Bruce Atchison's books page. How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity is at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Virtual Bookworm Publishers

THE JOYS OF VACATIONING ALONE.

People generally like to take vacations with family and friends. The idea is to share experiences and each other's company. On the other hand, people such as myself enjoy the freedom of spending a holiday alone.

Back in September of 1988, I decided to visit Banff and Jasper on my own. I had been to Banff with Sister Eileen and my brother Roy three years previously and we did have some fun then. Even so, I decided to go alone and find out if I would have more fun than with company.

Having checked out accomodation prices, I decided to rent a motel room. It was simply furnished with a bed, table, two chairs, and a wardrobe. The room also had a bathroom with a shower and bath tub. I slept well that night since nobody was in a partying mood there. On my previous visit, I rented a hotel room above a bar. I had to sleep with earplugs and even then I could still feel the vibrations from the amps.

I spent the next few days touring the town. Being able to eat when I felt like and go where I wanted to without checking with others felt exhilarating. On past trips, I had to go wherever others wanted to visit. On this trip, I had the freedom of walking wherever I desired.

My ride on the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain was equally pleasing and better than in 1985. Though there were still some tourists riding with me, I felt at ease. They had no expectations of me and I had none of them.

The best part of the trip was seeing bighorn sheep eues close up. Though there was a fine for feeding the animals, they felt no fear of us as we took photos of them. At one point, a eue and her lamb stood within three feet of me as I took their picture. I felt a sensation of peaceful coexistance with those beautiful creatures as we regarded one another. Then the eue wandered away with her lamb following her.

There were also little squirrels who dashed around us. Since there was no fine for feeding them, the eager rodents mugged for hand-outs. One even jumped on my thigh as I sat on the wooden pathway.

Though there were moments when I wanted to share my experience with somebody, I felt happy on that part of the trip. I boarded a bus to Jasper with the feeling that visiting that national park alone would be just as pleasurable.

I didn't mention this vacation in my book called How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity. The focus of the memoir was on how the heavenly Father led me out of error and into the freedom of knowing his character more perfectly. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Virtual Bookworm Publishers distribute this inspiring testimony of my deliverance from false teachers.