At the risk of overly anthropomorphizing nature, I’ve observed that mountains can sometimes take on various moods, just as people do. Anyone who spends time vacationing in north central New Hampshire can’t easily overlook the effect of weather upon the mountain ranges which dominate the terrain.
Some days, the peaks are sun-bathed; other days, they are shrouded in mist and fog; while at other times, they are a blah gray. Just like people! Underneath it all though, if you think about it for a moment, the mountains themselves are changeless in their essence.
The impact of weather causes the hills to appear different. We could say the same of people we come to know, both our friends and family; and, even people in public life. The seasons and weather conditions alter the appearance of mountains viewed from a distance, but the closer you get to them, the more you come to realize that, underneath it all, their essence is changeless.
People are similar. Circumstances and the stages of life may combine to make a person look different. But at the core, people remain the same. Progress and character improvements don’t usually alter their fundamental nature. Just like the mountains near this stretch of the Appalachian Trail.
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