I grew up in the shade of the Slievebloom Mountain. Climbing the mountain, the broad and lordly river Shannon, in the distance, looked like a silver thread, weaving its way, through dappled landscape. A town, far away, seemed the size of a postcard. It reminded me of the astronaut, looking at our planet earth, from the moon. In ecstasy, he described our world, as a small blue ball, floating and fragile. The mountain helps us to see life in perspective. We are part of a bigger picture. Jesus had a feel for the mountain. Lent, can be a mountain experience, to see oneself, and our world in renewed ways. The mountain is part heaven and part earth. It plays with the clouds, dances with the sun, glistens with snow, and links with landscape and bogland, in the factory of everyday life. We have a foot on earth, and a foot in heaven. We are mixed spirits ..breathing clay. We know too well how we can get ‘bogged down’ by the cares of life, selfish ways, temptation detours, that lead us into meaningless cul de sacs. We need a mountain experience. God was always with Peter as with us, but it was only on the mountain to day, that he heard Gods voice. He was in a listening mood. To treat oneself to a few minutes rest a day...just to look and listen, in the car by the seaside, or viewpoint, a stroll in the park, a corner in the pub, a quiet resting chair, can be a mountain experience. Like Peter and Jesus, the same old rough and tumble world will be waiting, when we return from ‘the mountain’. But, Peter never forgot the experience.

Liam Hickey, St.Ciarans, Hartstown, Dublin 15.