Me as Evening Settles in over Nevada Falls (click 4 large view)

This place is beyond description, though of course, I try. As I often say, it is where God showed off. Our language lacks adequate words to do Yosemite justice.

Incredible. Amazing. Spectacular. Breathtaking. Beautiful. Magnificent.

I suppose the best I can use is awe-inspiring. Awe at the sheer size, and height, and depth, and distance, and beauty, and splendor that hits your eyes all at once. And no matter how many pictures you take (and I take a lot) you can’t contain it. You can’t get your mind around it. You have to be there and just experience it. But what is the “it” – “it” is not Yosemite, it is GOD. His Bigness, His Majesty, His Beauty, His Greatness, His Power, His Creative ability, – I do not worship Yosemite – I love Yosemite because it draws out of me a depth of worship I can only experience there. It’s like somehow God is more there than anywhere else. While I know theologically that isn’t true, this broken spiritual vessel is somehow healed there – even if only temporarily – and able to feel God’s presence like no other time. All doubts, All worries, All concerns, All pressures, All temptations, All guilt, All my earthly distractions vanish there – and I get a taste of what heaven will be like. Not necessarily what I see the outside there – but what happens to me on the inside there. And I beg God to let me take Yosemite (His peace and presence) back with me when I return to my normal life. May I not forget those mountains, those waterfalls, those trees and those vistas are all still there – even as I hurry about my busy life – to remind me the HE is still there too, quietly, patiently waiting for me to STOP and ponder Him, worship Him, and return to that place of Awe wherever I may be.

Last year at this time I was overwhelmed with depression, anger, insecurity, and the demands of a ministry that I didn’t realize was coming to an end.  The Yosemite Summit turned out to be exactly what I needed to recognize my true value before an amazing God who delights in me regardless of my performance or behavior.  The months following the Summit were difficult for my family as we left our church without knowing where God would take us next, but I can say with certainty that Karl’s invitation to Yosemite led to a healing and contentment that I couldn’t have survived without.

Praise God that I’m in a much better situation this year.  Yes, I’m returning to Yosemite, and if you are going through anything like I was a year ago, I hope to meet you there and be a part of your renewal.  You need this more than you realize!

Note: Brent went to the second Summit and added a PS that after writing this e-mail he was heading off to lunch with a Yosemite Summiteer from the first year that I hooked him up with when he moved to Phoenix. Amazing how God has used this event to create friendships even outside of any beyond Yosemite!

(See also: What I learned at Yosemite Summit by Brent)

The number one reason to go back – I know that I need the time away. I love what I do, don’t get me wrong. But throughout the year, the emotional stress can wear you out. The “normal” people issues that come up can wear on your soul, especially when the people are not just bodies in the congregation but are your friends, your family, your brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that I need the time away to leave the work of ministry behind, to leave the daily tasks behind, and to focus on ultimately what is most important, my own personal relationship with Christ.

Words cannot describe the feeling you have when you are 8,000+ feet up, looking over God’s awesome creation and it is just you, Him and His Word. God revealed things to me during the week at Yosemite that I was not expecting.

The time away last year allowed me to refocus my life and set my eyes on what was most important once again. I am looking forward to the time once again to refocus my life and to continue to grow as a child of God.

The opportunity to get with other guys from across the country and share life together was amazing. We all shared the common ground of children’s ministry but it was great to get to know each other, pray for each other, and encourage each other in our personal walks with Christ. I am looking forward to that fellowship again this year.

The cost was an issue that I had to weigh out. But when it came down to it, I could spend the money going to conferences getting new ideas for ministry or I could spend the money and take the time away I need to grow in Christ and re-energize my walk with Him.

I don’t know about you, but I have so many ideas that I don’t know what to do with them all. And the thing is, if I am pouring my energy into ministry and not taking care of my own relationship with Him, those new ideas are not going to take off anyway. Over the last couple years I have been doing what I can to do what I have always known, to put my relationship with God before my ministry. This is easier said than done, especially during the day to day things of life. Yosemite Summit is a great way to get away to leave the other things behind for a week and focus on what is most important.

Whether we realize it or not, we all need this time away with God. We fool ourselves into thinking that it is not a good time. We tell ourselves that we have too much going on. The things is, when don’t we as children’s pastors have too much going on? When are we just waiting around with nothing to do? There is always something to do!

There is never going to be the “best” time in our eyes to leave things behind. But as I came to the conclusion last year and this year, I need this time more than I need to hold the next event for the children. I need this time more than the next new activity or idea for the children’s ministry.

I realized that I needed to trust God and that He would provide the way to get things done that needed to get done – He would clear the path even if issues came up while at Yosemite. So with that said, I look forward to the discussions God and I will have on that mountain top. I look forward to the time with Him. I look forward to the continued strength from Him and how I will grow closer to Him that week. It will be an awesome week. Don’t miss it.

- Pat, April 2010

Everyone needs to almost die.

By the way, this is my report on my Solo Sabbatical in Yosemite. Everyone has been asking me about my time in Yosemite alone at the end of January/beginning of February – so here it is. I blogged a thank you to my pastor in Illinois on why I was doing a solo sabbatical in Yosemite as well as my first report with a follow up there. I do not intend to post all the reports here. This site is about Yosemite Summit, so this will be the ONLY post about my Solo Sabbatical, if you want to follow the “deeper” reports on my trip and more photos, you’ll need to follow my personal blog, but I did want to post an official report here as well as the highlight video I made to show the best of the photos I took. And now back to the report in progress! As I was saying…

Everyone needs to almost die…

And no, I’m not referring to almost being struck by lightening in Yosemite last year! And I’m not directly talking about my near heart attack last year either – though for all practical purposes I might as well be. If almost dying twice in 2009 taught me anything (and it taught me a lot!) it made me realize that long life is not something you should assume. So let me say it again, and I really hope you will hear me this third time: (this is now directly from my journal on my solo sabbatical)

Everyone ought to almost die. If not, they really should try to pretend or reflect on what it means to live as though they are not sure of long life.

Let me set the record straight. I’m not afraid of dying. Never was. But after almost dying (twice!) I’m no longer afraid of living! I refuse to put off the life I want. If that sounds selfish, let me rephrase it – I refuse to put off what I believe God is calling me to do. (sound better?) I no longer assume far off “somedays” exist! Two to three years is as long as I assume I have. That DOESN’T mean I think I’m a dead man in five years! Without going into detail – I have a clean bill of health, I avoided a heart attack, and have a stent in a healthy heart. It just means that if I want to do something, I START PLANNING IT! I know better now – start planning it, or it’ll never happen!

Someday is just another word for NEVER!

What are you saying you will do someday? Write a book? Go on some dream vacation? Produce a resource? Start a business? (Go on Yosemite Summit or Unbridled?) I can’t even guess what it is for YOU, but YOU know what I’m talking about… I’m scratching that itch RIGHT NOW. I know I am.

The point is, start planning it NOW. At least get out a pad of paper and start scratching out the first few steps.

One of my life long dreams was to go to Yosemite in Winter. It seemed impossible. The only way it happened was to start planning it. And then God came along and took care of the “impossible” part for me! He surprised me by taking care of the one detail I couldn’t manage. Do you think God won’t do that for you? Do you think He loves me more than you? Bah!

Watch this video of my little dream come true. This took over four years to come true. Even longer if you count the years I was too scared and too busy to dream the dream! Enjoy! Two days snow shoeing through Yosemite in winter and then ask yourself,

What “someday” am I not trusting God for? And start planning it.

Download: YosemiteWinter-byKarlBastian.mov (38mb MOV) 640×480

By Brent Peak, Summiteer 2009

I suppose it’s time to start sharing what I experienced at the Yosemite Summit last year. The point of the Summit was for us children’s pastors (8 of us, plus our leader, Karl Bastian) to resign from our jobs for a week and reconnect with God. I knew I needed this, but I didn’t realize how much so until I got there. The beauty of Yosemite National Park is amazing. Words and pictures just don’t do it justice. To be so close to God through nature was an amazing opportunity.

It was refreshing to be with eight other guys who cared about the same things I did, but also had the same struggles as well. I received tremendous insight from hearing Karl talk about his experiences and struggles in ministry and family. He gave us a challenge on the first full day of hiking to think about who we are, apart from being a children’s pastor. I had never tried to define myself like that, but I’m glad I did that day.  Here’s what I realized:

I am a child of God who brings joy to him, regardless of my performance or behavior.

That was such a liberating realization!  I cried when I first voiced that sentence to myself.  As I thought about my relationship with my own children, I realized that there was nothing they could do to make me stop loving them.  I can only assume God feels the same about me.  I also thought about how my children’s ability to relate to me increases with their maturity.  I know the same is true between me and God.  I felt like a literal child before God–something I’d never really experienced before–eager to know and enjoy him better.  It felt great to not be a children’s pastor that day.  The guy with all the answers for the kids.  The guy who felt the pressure to perform for God, church leaders, parents, and kids.  They guy who had let God and others down.  For a few days in Yosemite I wasn’t any of that.  I was just a child of God enjoying his creation, trying to enjoy him as much as I hoped he enjoyed me.

Re-posted with permission from brentpeak.com

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Disneyland or Yosemite?

As I was reflecting on Yosemite today I got to thinking how much better Yosemite is than even a Disney theme park:

It’s enough to make you reconsider just what is the happiest place on earth.

(original source)

A new resource?

A new program?

A new book?

A new curriculum?

A new conference?

A new idea?

A new volunteer?

A new senior pastor? :0)

This may surprise you – but the best thing for your ministry right now may be to get as far away from it as possible – and to get a close to God as possible.

That is what Yosemite Summit is all about. It is about focusing on what matters most to your ministry: your walk with God. Your soul. NOTHING is more important and nothing will impact your ministry more than your private walk with God. Come join a few other children’s pastors and walk with God for a few days and let Him speak you directly. Through nature, though worship, through fellowship, through the Word, through the quietness you may only find at a sun rise at Glacier Point or in the midst of a thousand foot water fall.

You will never be the same after meeting God here. Cast off the excuses, and allow God to provide if He is hinting in your spirit that He wants you to get away with Him soon.

And it is about full for 2009 with only two spots left, and one nearly already spoken for – so you might as well consider it only ONE spot left!

What are you waiting for?

It is the most amazingly spectacular place in all of the United States of America (if not the world) and I will be there in just four months again joined by at least three other children’s pastors who will bask in the glory of God’s magnificent creation with me. There are still five spots left… I wonder who will be joining us. You?

I just can’t stop thinking about it – there is no other place like it. The range of climates experienced in one day (from walking through shady snowy passes to through warm sunlight on bald rock), the breathtaking vistas, the roaring waterfalls, the wild life that is at ease with its human visitors, the expanse of sky and mountains as far as the eye can see, sheer cliffs that boggle mind, and the ability to almost tangibly feel God’s presence.

Last year exceeded even my wildest expectations… and I’m so glad to be going back soon for more. I just can’t help it, I keep day dreaming about it.

Yosemite, here I come!

There is just something powerful about hiking. about exploring. about going where few have gone before. And while Yosemite may be a place visited by many, many more never bother to take the time to plan to get away, and even fewer leave the valley to hike to more remote trails that offer the most spectacular views of God’s creation, in a place I often say is where, “God showed off.”

Came across some good quotes on hiking/exploring today that I wanted to save here – not all directly relate to Yosemite Summit (we do stick to the trails and do intend on arriving at the end!) but they are good quotes on the power of getting out of the routine and setting out!

“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” -Lao Tzu

“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” –Saint Augustine

“Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.” –Ernest Hemingway

“The two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” –Robert Frost

Yosemite Summit is a chace for a few men to take the road less traveled, to leave behind the normal trail and spend some time in a place where arriving is not the goal, the journey is. It is a time to fellowship with men you will love because they will share your love for God, your passion for ministering to kids, and your need for a break to reconnect with the Creator.

Yosemite Summit isn’t for everyone, but it just may be exactly what YOU need. Don’t miss this awesome experience that you will reflect back on for the rest of your life.