Life on Flat Top Mountain
Discover the rhythm of mountain living, where nature, challenges, and quiet joys shape a life deeply connected to faith. Welcome to our stories from Flat Top Mountain.
The daily rhythm of mountain life
On this page, I want to share the real, everyday rhythm of living on Flat Top Mountain — the beauty, the challenges, the nature that surrounds us, and the quiet joys that settle into the heart and soul. I’ll write about the honest parts of mountain life: the winds that test us, the wildlife that surprises us, the work that keeps our hands busy, and the peace that meets us in the stillness. These stories will offer a glimpse into our daily life here — the lessons the land teaches, the moments that make us laugh, the struggles that stretch us, and the deep joy that comes from calling this mountain home.
Faith on the mountain
Mountain living has become a living, breathing part of my faith journey. Here on Flat Top Mountain, I wake each day in what feels like God’s own country — beneath a sky so blue it quiets my spirit, surrounded by birdsong that feels like morning praise. In the evenings, the gray foxes call across the meadow, and even their wild voices echo something sacred. When I step onto my front porch and feel the wind brush my face, I’m reminded that God meets me in the simplest moments. This place brings a deep peace to my soul, and the rhythm of the mountain seems to carry my spiritual journey higher — stretching me, grounding me, and drawing me closer to the heart of God with every breeze, every sunrise, every quiet step on this holy ground.
Finding peace in every moment
I want readers to leave this page with a sense of peace — the kind that settles deep in the soul when you realize God is present in the simple, everyday moments. My hope is that as they read about life on Flat Top Mountain, they feel invited into a slower rhythm, reminded of God’s nearness in nature, and encouraged to look for His fingerprints in their own surroundings. I want them to walk away feeling refreshed, grounded, and a little more connected to the beauty, honesty, and quiet joy that mountain living has brought into my spiritual journey.
“When the Meadow Begins to Dance”
“This morning the meadow began to dance — the wind its music, the sunlight its gentle brushstroke. In the quiet, the Holy Spirit whispered peace over my busy heart. Here, in the sway of grasses and birdsong, God reminds me: life is going to be okay, because He is here.”
(Coffee & Jesus Series)
This morning, I stepped out onto my front porch
and the world felt like it was already awake,
already worshiping.
Before me stretched the meadow—
tall grasses standing like a quiet congregation,
wildflowers scattered like little hallelujahs
painted by the hand of God Himself.
And the wind…
the wind was strong today.
It moved through the field like a musician,
and suddenly the whole meadow began to dance.
Sunlight spilled across part of it,
golden and warm,
while the clouds cast soft shadows
over the rest.
Light and dark,
side by side,
and somehow both were beautiful.
The birds joined in—
their song rising and falling
like a melody carried on the breeze.
I closed my eyes just to listen,
and for a moment,
my mind stopped racing.
My heart stopped striving.
There, in the quiet,
I felt something settle over me—
a restfulness I didn’t even know I needed.
A peace that wrapped around me
like a warm hug.
Standing on that porch,
looking over the meadow,
I felt free.
Truly free.
Because the wind wasn’t just wind.
It felt like a whisper—
a gentle reminder from the One who loves me:
“Life is going to be okay.
No matter what’s swirling around you,
I am here.”
And I knew…
I knew the Holy Spirit was present.
In the dancing grasses.
In the shifting light.
In the song of the birds.
In the quiet of my soul.
This moment—
this simple, sacred moment—
was God’s way of saying,
“Come rest with Me.
Right here.
Right now.”
And I did.
And He met me.
Written by: Cheryl Cotner
“The Meadow Is Dancing” — Original Song
Verse 1
Out on my front porch, the morning opens wide,
The meadow starts to shimmer as the grasses sway in time.
Wildflowers lift their faces, toward the meadow breeze,
And the sunlight pours its golden touch across the hills and trees.
Chorus
The meadow is dancing, and the wind is the music,
A holy kind of stillness settles deep inside my soul.
The birds sing the harmony, the clouds paint the shadows,
And in this quiet moment, I feel held, I feel whole.
Verse 2
The wind whispers softly, like a promise in the air,
Telling me that life is steady, even when it feels unfair.
I close my eyes and listen as the world begins to rest,
And peace wraps all around me like a warm and gentle breath.
Chorus
The meadow is dancing, and the wind is the music,
A holy kind of stillness settles deep inside my soul.
The birds sing the harmony, the clouds paint the shadows,
And in this quiet moment, I feel held, I feel whole.
Bridge
Here in God’s country, where the Spirit lingers nearby,
I feel freedom in the open sky, and comfort in the clear.
Every rustle in the grasses is a reminder whispered low:
“You’re not alone, beloved one — I’m with you as you go.”
Final Chorus
The meadow is dancing, and the wind is the music,
Heaven’s gentle presence makes the broken places new.
The sunlight and the shadows sing a song of mercy over me,
And in this quiet moment, Lord, I’m resting here with You.
Written by: Cheryl Cotner
