Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
-Mark 9:2-5

Jesus: Peter, tell me what you remember. Tell me just one thing you remember from the time we've been together.
Peter: Eh.... The mountain top... you and Moses and Elijah having a conversation. I still think somebody should have built a cairn [a landmark] or painted a picture of it.
Jesus: Peter, what you saw was for your soul, not for your display cabinet...
-from "Table Talk" in Jesus and Peter: Off-the-Record Conversations
by John L. Bell and Graham Maule.

Poor Peter. Yes, Jesus chose him to be a disciple and to start the church. But all the same, poor Peter. He's one of those people who can almost always find a way to say the wrong thing. Of course, Peter's real problem isn't so simple as not knowing the right words. Peter's real problem is that he usually misses the point, especially where Jesus is concerned. This week's story is a great example of that.

Jesus takes a few of his disciples up on the mountain, and they have an experience that goes beyond our comprehension. Jesus' clothes were white -- whiter than any bleach could get them. Elijah and Moses -- two of the key figures from the Old Testament, both of whom were long gone from this life -- suddenly show up. We can only imagine what it was like, but surely it was a moment of wonder, amazement, gratitude. For just a moment, Peter had a glimpse of God's grandeur, seen in Jesus' glistening white robes. While there must have been some confusion about what was going on, I suspect that it must have been, in other ways, a moment of great clarity. Peter saw clearly that God's grace was with Jesus in a unique way, and he got to be a part of it. For just a moment, Peter knew what was most important in life. Everything else was suddenly boring and dull and irrelevant by comparison. How he must have longed for that clarity to continue! All his questions would be answered: no more muddling through life, trying to figure out where God was in the midst of daily living -- God's presence was now clear.

The first American to walk in space was Ed White. When he had to go back inside, he said that it was the saddest moment in his life. I suspect that's how Peter felt, walking down the mountain. Of course they didn't build a tent; of course they had to go back to their daily routines. And Peter was left to try and figure out what difference that moment on the mountain would make in the rest of his life.

I suspect that we've all had moments when life suddenly seemed to make sense, moments when God's presence was so real. And I suspect that we're all a little sad when the clarity fades, just as Jesus' robes did. In all fairness to Peter, maybe we all would have missed the point. Maybe we all would have wanted to freeze time, and build a tent right up there on top of the mountain so the experience wouldn't have to end.

And yet, Jesus reminds Peter and us that we're not supposed to build those tents. Those moments of clarity, those moments of inspiration and peacefulness: they're not permanent. Jesus seems to say that they're not supposed to be. Bummer, eh?

Why do you suppose Jesus does that? It's a great question to ponder.

Maybe it's because it's hard to love your neighbor when you're not spending time with them, because you're too busy feeling close to God. Maybe it's because it's easy to take ourselves too seriously when we think that we've got everything figured out. Maybe it's because it's dangerous to get the idea that we're closer to God than everyone else. Maybe it's because God isn't only found in those mountain-top moments, but also in our moments of confusion and despair. Or maybe there are a lot of other reasons. I don't know.

But I do know this: God's grace is meant for us in the midst of our ordinary, busy, confused and confusing daily lives. Be thankful for clarity, when you find it... but don't become too attached to it! Jesus calls us back down the mountain. He goes with us into the routines that make up our days, and we are not alone.