What a View!
I love the mountains. I love the majesty of the mountains. I love the snow covered peaks of the mountains. I love everything about the mountains. Many times mountains are used symbolically of the heights of life. The times when things are going great, times when everything is right, times you never want to end. Have you ever been on a really high mountain? Eventually as you go on a really high mountain you get to a point where you are above the tree line. That is, the elevation no longer supports plant life. It is very strange because you suddenly reach a place where things just stop growing. The view is great, but there is an absence of growth.
Just as mountains symbolize the good times, often valleys symbolize the not-so-good-times. Times when things do not seem to be going right and when times could not get any worse. Honestly, these are the times we often want to avoid. Yet, unlike the mountains the valleys are always lush with vegetation. In the valleys you find flowers, in the valleys you find trees, in the valleys you find all living things growing and flourishing. One other thing you often find in the valley is a river.
Are you picking up on the symbolism? The mountains are wonderful and the view is always grand, however on the really high mountains there is an absence of growth. The valley is a place of rich growth and more importantly, in the valley you find the flowing river of the Holy Spirit to carry you through the valley. When you are in the valley, make sure you take time to learn the lessons of the valley and watch the growth in your life.
If you are on the mountain height today, enjoy the view! If you are in the valley today, enjoy the view!
God bless,
Pastor Gary
