If you’ve ever been to Glacier National Park, you know that magical feeling of being awestruck. It’s not nicknamed the “Crown of the Continent” for nothing. Glacier-carved basins, jagged summits, lush meadows, roaring waterfalls, rivers, and blue-green lakes span across one million acres. Bears, wolves, mountain lions, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and more inhabit this land. Glacier National Park is truly captivating and somewhat (I must admit) terrifying – at least it was for me while planning a backpacking trip to the area this past September.

A dear friend had invited me to hike 58 miles through Glacier’s northwest section, which represented a rite of passage for me – an opportunity to face my fears in this next stage of life. My heart leapt with excitement while my mind kept obsessing about any number of fateful consequences that could occur during our trek. Specifically, the thought of being mauled by a bear would not subside, no matter how many deep breaths I took. Despite my fear, this became the fuel that would ignite my adventure, knowing that in the depths of my soul, the mountains were calling.

Days before our backpacking trip, reports of camp closures due to high bear volume flooded my email. We considered all factors and came up with a plan. Once in the park, we immediately saw a grizzly from our car. Oh, how I love God’s sense of humor! Cognizant and prepared for our amazing adventure, we headed out onto trail. Day two, and 15 beautiful miles in, the hiking trail presented plenty of bear scat and prints. Then, it happened. Directly in front of me, 15-20 feet ahead, I locked eyes with a large mama bear and her cubs! Terror raced through my body, but, miraculously, she didn’t maul me! In fact, she stepped off trail far enough for us to pass. What? Major paradigm shift. Not only would my friend and I survive, but also the bears wanted nothing to do with us. We were harmoniously living together in nature. I faced my fear with a loving concern for the bears alongside my immediate fear – both realities existing at the same time.

My Glacier National Park adventure did not disappoint. The bear encounter happened, was scary, and also gave me a real sense of “aliveness!” In an instant, I was changed. Mama bear taught many lessons in that moment. She didn’t want confrontation. She came in peace. My fear was huge, but my love was bigger. I wanted her and I to be okay and in that moment, I faced my fears of scarcity, aging, and disease, as well as losing independence and loved ones. They may all happen, but with some planning, a lot of love for myself, and all of creation, I can handle whatever comes my way.