Jessica Buhler ~Bristol Mountain

While on a snowboarding trip in New York, I found myself facing the wilderness alone at night which was something I have never done before to the extent that I was completely alone and far from any other human. As I road the ski lift up I watched the sun descend behind the mountains that surrounded me. There was a light drizzle of freezing rain but I didn’t care I was going to conquer one of my fears. When I got up to the top there was just enough light to walk up to the longer of the trails to go down and part ways with my company. I took off down the mountain going pretty fast but suddenly I hit a chunk of ice and found myself lying in the middle of a mountain completely alone and surround by darkness. I started to wonder if God made me fall to help me conquer my fear of being alone in the wilderness in the dark. The only light that I could see was out and the rain began to become denser but light. As I was sitting there and beginning to panic because I was hurt and alone I began to question God. I asked why did I have to fall and why do I have to be alone? Am I being punished for something? I continued asking him why and then just venting to him about everything in my life. I did so for about 30mins when suddenly a light began shinning in my eyes. I thought for a minute that I must have froze to death and an angle or God was coming to get me, but instead it felt more like a sign that everything was going to be ok and that I was going to get back on the right path. It was like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Next thing I knew a strong hand was pulling me up and asking me if I was ok. Once I got focused I realized it was my friend. They came to find me when the realized I was not coming down the mountain. I feel like I had an enlightening experience with myself. I learned that I am strong and I can face my fears and that I’m not alone. The wilderness did not seem so scary at night anymore after that point.