What's big for you?

Do you have big problems, big worries? Sure you do. We all do. Some are big and public like the headlines, some are quieter and wear away at us from the inside. If your worries feel really big right now, listen to this story about perspective.

Last weekend I went snow shoeing at Mt. Rainer. There I was, in my own little world with a sad tale replaying in my head about leaving my job a couple of months ago, being unemployed and denied unemployment benefits, feeling unmoored professionally...round and round we go. Big worries. Big doubt. Big heavy problem about that paycheck thing.

But I'm snow shoeing at Mt. Rainier National Park, did I mention that? The group I'm with is fun and there's fluffy snow everywhere and I have the right gear to stay warm and our guide is teaching us about the ecosystem. My problems shrink to the background, just a little. Then we find a hill to slide and jump down and I forget about all that big heavy stuff and take off into a cloud of powder and swinging arms and splaying feet. I'm having fun. I climb back up to the top of the hill and turn my head when someone gasps. There is the top of Mt. Rainier peeking out from behind a bank of fog. It looks huge. Huge and bright white against blue sky, with wisps of cloud trailing out like long hair on a fast bike ride.

My cold face breaks into a smile. "Now that's big", I say. And I feel better. Not because my problems are instantly solved. I feel better because I'm reminded that there is something bigger than me and my problems, and knowing that helps me. I will solve that paycheck problem. Mt. Rainier is 500,000 years old and over 14,000 feet high. The existence of something that big and beautiful means it is possible for me to be big too. Bigger than worry, bigger than those problems.

What's bigger than you and your problems? The ocean? The tree in your back yard? Rainier or another mountain? Find it. I know you'll feel better.