Reflection:  Mount Roland is one of the first things you see as you come up the Mersey River on the Spirit of Tasmania into Devonport. It stands like an old man towering over the landscape, strong and proud. You can see it from the Rubicon Estuary, and as you travel inland towards the mountains. Its north face stands like a wall of towering rock with vertical dolerite rock formations that look a bit like basalt organ pipes. Directly under it lay the Kentish Hills. This is the birthplace of my grandmother, in a small, isolated farming district, in a town called Paradise.

Mountains are by no means tame. I have a healthy respect for their beauty and strength. I am more than aware of the unforgiving weather that surrounds them, often changing without warning. It’s a reminder of our vulnerability and smallness in the face of nature. Yet the mountain stands defiant no matter what is thrown at it.

The Psalmist writes that these mountains are a reminder of God’s nature. We often look to these verses when we are struggling or want to encourage a friend. Mount Roland gives us a reason to ponder why these verses are so profound. God is like the mountains, strong, quietly there. We do not need to look far to find God’s presence with us in nature, and people who care for us. Like the mountains which have stood thousands of years and not moved, God is reliable too. He is not going to abandon us. He is our help; we just need to look to him and ask.

Prayer:  My help comes from you O Lord, maker of heaven and earth. Raise my eyes and change my perspective. Help me see your power and strength in creation and remember that like the mountains, you remain unmoved and are always quietly there. You will never abandon me. I ask for your help now. Amen.