High meadows near St Anton-am-Arlberg… from the valley floor they look mostly green in between rocky scree slopes. Ascending by cable-car provides more information, but from 10 metres higher it is really just coloured dots and low-growing shapes of the Alpenrose and dwarf pine.
Then the slow walk up from the cable-car station to the Alpine meadows, with the buzz of similar bees, but discovering the flowers are mostly different: a few scabious, some lupins look familiar, but then sheets of colour that need a guidebook to identify! My (fallible) memory tells me these are a variety of gentian. Please forgive me if that is incorrect.
Such high-altitude flowers are exposed to strong sunlight, high winds, and a regular deluge from the frequent thunderstorms. So delicate- yet really tough survivors. Thin “soils” are gritty and not very fertile, but the flora are superbly adapted to their environment. Note how the centre of each flower is protected by a crown of hair-like strands. The bee has no problem in accessing the pollen and nectar, but her gold-dust won’t just be blown away by the wind.
Mountain air is fresh and cool. The streams trickle, clear as crystal, then pick up speed as they merge in torrents hurtling to the valley; gradually they become a milky blue-green colour because they are full of rock “flour.” Their distant goal- the rivers that run through Innsbruck and Salzburg to the European plains.
The high meadows are lonely and quiet. Yes, holiday hikers come here- but the mountain is so large there is room to breathe.
Cow bells softly “clonk” in a musical tone. Goats chase nimble-footed after the ravens, or browse happily. Peace descends. Sitting on low rocks, surrounded by floral splendour, we pull our lunch packs out and consume “Kaiser Semmel” rolls, fresh baked with a star-shaped pattern on top: one ham, one cheese, an apple and a fruit juice carton. It all tastes extra delicious out in nature’s park.
No wonder some of the most significant encounters in the Bible take place on mountains. Have a look… join Moses, Elijah, David and many more as they are changed by meeting with God. Think of Jesus, walking out in the morning to a lonely wilderness to pray. There is something majestic about mountains: and sometimes they are frightening, dangerous places for fragile humans to be. Imagine, though, the vision up to the high heavens and across spectacular valleys- and listen for the “still, small voice” of God that we only hear when we are free of distractions and duties. Heaven touches Earth. We are here with the Lord. Surrounded by beauty and majesty, overwhelmed with greatness- for this is God’s high meadow “garden” where He walks, seeking the attentive ear of the children of Adam. Will we hide in shame? Or reach out arms longing to be embraced?
What do your senses tell you of His grace and compassion? This meadow is for you: a gift, a shrine, a high cathedral. Accepting it IS an act of grateful worship. Come, let us reason together, says the Lord.
The Reflectionary 