Forced Rest & New Perspectives
By Daniel Mohr
There’s something about skiing that puts my heart and mind at peace. To succeed, you have to let go of any thoughts and focus only on the next few feet of your line. I find it easier to feel God’s presence with skis beneath my feet, surrounded by the beauty of mountains and glistening snow.
Last January, I went skiing in New Hampshire with my cousin Karl. It was a beautiful morning, and we flew down the mountain as we raced each other to the bottom on each run. Right before lunch, we made a stop at the terrain park where one of the jumps was particularly imposing. Karl tried it and mentioned that it didn’t seem particularly safe. Naturally, I had to give it a go.
Fast forward four days and I am now lying in the hospital with a spine fractured in three different places. I had gone too fast off the jump and overshot the landing. I later found out from my surgeon that I should have been paralyzed from my fall, and I am incredibly fortunate to be able to walk again.
The days following the crash were extremely uncertain. I was frustrated and annoyed with the way things had transpired, and I wasn’t excited for the forced rest I would likely have to take. I was worried that my plans for the immediate future would have to change.
Looking back, I feel some guilt in initially having a relatively negative attitude about my situation. I was more focused on the inconveniences I was facing rather than the blessings in my life prior to the event.. In the weeks following my surgery, though, I resolved to change this guilt into motivation and an opportunity. With the newfound free time I initially saw as forced rest, I could now structure my life around what really mattered to me, without the daily stresses of attending classes at UVA or working. In the weeks since, I have found myself experiencing a greater sense of gratitude, not only for the many continued blessings in my life, but also for the skiing accident. This does not mean I enjoy having a broken back. This means that in the absence of all of the things that normally fill my time, I have been able to see the people, habits, and ideologies that have shaped me to this point. I have the chance to take stock of all the blessings in my life and respond with gratitude.
As a UVA student, it can often be hard to find opportunities to slow down and be thankful. Despite this, my first two and a half years at UVA gave me plenty of chances to do just that. Unfortunately, I never took advantage of those opportunities, whether they were during the first lockdown, over the summer in between school years, or while I was in quarantine for portions of last year. I often forget that even God rested on the 7th day, that Jesus took breaks from speaking to the crowds. Even though it may not always line up with our own timelines, we have to find time to rest and reflect.
It is often hard to see God’s plan in the midst of our own lives, but that is what faith is all about: knowing that we may never see the whole vision and trusting in God despite that. Throughout my experience, Isaiah 43:2 stuck with me:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
I believe that God not only had a plan for me in this unexpected time, but I also know he would never let me drown in the process. The break from normal life is part of that plan and I intend to embrace it rather than run from it. Even on days where I don’t see improvement in my condition and even in times where I wish things were going according to my plans, I know God is by my side and that he will help me through.
I am recovering well and soon I’ll be allowed to resume my old hobbies and routines. I’m excited to do everything that I love again, and I’m also excited to be able to more fully notice and appreciate God’s blessings.
God sees the whole mountain. You just have to stick to your line and trust that it will guide you where you need to go. Even if your line takes you somewhere unexpected, there is still so much around you to be thankful for and ways to see God working in your life. Taking time to refocus and reset is something we should all do once in a while. Just remember that crashing isn’t the only way to stop as you go down your mountain.
