Cougs in Creation: Jacob Peyton
“I remember halfway through the session, sitting on the top of Winter Park, just in tears…”
The outdoors tends to hold its own meaning to everyone that experiences it. It is a place that offers endless adventure, peace, and joy to those who are willing to endure the elements. But for some, the outdoors takes on a much deeper meaning than simply being fun. This week, we are sitting down with Jacob Peyton to see what the outdoors means to him and how it has impacted his life.
Jacob Peyton is in his third year studying psychology and music at CCU. His involvement in worship and discipleship groups has made him a well-respected and active leader on campus. But when he isn’t studying people’s brains or writing the next hit worship song, you will most likely find him out hiking, climbing, snowboarding, or just basking in God’s creation.
Jacob’s love for the outdoors stems from his childhood and lots of crazy adventures with his dad. He recalls fondly an “epic road trip” with the whole family that covered almost the entire west coast, much of the Rockies, and lasted over a month! You could see him making the connection in his head for the first time when he said, “I think that was the first time I got an idea of how big and grand our world is, and how much of it we can’t see from a car.” He credits this trip to sparking his love of the outdoors, saying, “after that point was when it became something that I started to pursue instead of something that I would just do with my family.”
The outdoors plays many roles in Jacob’s life, but the primary role it plays is that of an escape. “I’ve had a history of struggling a lot with mental health; and being outside, a lot of times, provides an escape from that. And since it’s a place that naturally brings me closer to God; it’s a place of healing, restoration, and peace.” Jacob also feels that the outdoors gives him a stage to worship God and glorify Him, especially with more physically demanding activities such as climbing. “The best climbs I’ve had, and the best headspace I’m in when I’m climbing, is when I am using my body, mind, and strength… literally… to worship God and bring him glory through climbing.”
Jacob’s climbing journey didn’t begin until he came to CCU, where he quickly fell in love with the sport and began crushing hard climbs. He got addicted to it for the same reasons most climbers do. “It’s just super unique. It’s one of the only sports out there where you can consistently find your limit and you can consistently push your limit mentally and physically.”
These are not the only things that call Jacob out into creation. His favorite part of the outdoors is the silence and connection with God that it offers. To elaborate on this, he shared one final story.
“The absolute closest I’ve ever felt to God was when I decided to go snowboarding for an entire day by myself. Didn’t bring my headphones. Didn’t check my phone a ton. Didn’t really talk to anyone. I didn’t really even talk to God a ton, honestly. Like, I didn’t go for the spiritual retreat purpose of it or anything. I went to have fun… I remember halfway through the session, sitting on the top of Winter Park, just in tears, because of how free I felt on that mountain snowboarding. I felt that God was like, so close, that nothing else in the world could stop me.”
To hear more about Jacob’s journey of mental health in the outdoors, check back in two weeks for a video special!
