The Valley

It is filled with difficulties and hardships, from which you may learn many things, and become a better person for; but the pain and sorrow you must endure exact a bitter toll.

And at this moment in my life, I am teetering on the brink of yet another of these valleys.

I say, yet another, because I have been through many valleys in my life; and, in fact, there is one particular valley from which I have not yet entirely escaped. It seems, instead, to go on and on ahead of me, broken only occasionally by bright hilltops of relief; and it is from the edge of just such a hilltop that I now contemplate my life.

I know I have progressed far along this valley for I have learned much along the way. I look back and see clearly the right and wrong turns I have made; I look ahead and see only the darkness of uncertainty in this valley at my feet.

Neither the past, nor the future can I change from where I now stand. I can only learn as best I am able from my remembered experiences and strive to make better decisions on the road ahead.

There is, however, one part of my future that I see... I see it as one sees through a frosted window and then only from a great distance. Between myself and this bright future the only certainty I see is a midnight haze, in which anything and everything in this life will happen.

I see the window clearly when I am on the hilltops; it shines brightly upon me and gives me glimpses of hope. Of comfort. Of my King.

When I am down in the valley it shines upon me still, but I do not always attend. Too often, I am distracted by the muck and mire that suck at my feet and slow my progress. Too often, I sit and flail about in the swamps, bemoaning my life and whining like a spoiled child.

But now... now, I wait. now, I tremble

I look ahead and all seems dark; I do not know how deep or how long this valley may be, but my Lord bids me step forward in faith.

I lift up my heart... I let fall my life... I tremble... I step.