Mountains and Valleys

Over the long weekend, I shared a moment with my grandchildren and children as we walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge together. From up high, the water below was stunning, with boats and ferries making waves and trails in the ocean as they moved from wharf to wharf. Within moments we had returned to sea level, and the things that we had admired from up high looked vastly different. We could hear the sounds more clearly, see the landmarks as they stood and we quickly lost the sense of magnitude which was evident from above.

The view from the mountain top, a lookout or high vantage point is truly breathtaking! As you stand at a peak, overlooking what is below, you see things from a completely different perspective. The vast expanse of nature below, in all its intricacies complemented by the breadth of variety in colour, shape and form can fill you with wonder and awe, recognising God the Creator in the midst of the magnificence. At some stage, however, you need to descend to the valley, returning to the lower landscape and be amongst the nature that captured your eye as you observed from up high. Things look different here – and it is easy to lose a sense of the magnificence as you place one foot in front of the other. 

The following day I listened to a sermon on a podcast which spoke about the mountain top and the valley, where I was challenged by this simple fact…if you were to plant a garden, you would not walk to the mountain top to begin your work, rather, you would invest your time and energy in the valley, where you walk and live each day. The beauty of the garden is best appreciated when you can walk amongst it, enjoying its colours, the little details of petals and leaves, and taking in the fragrance which comes as the warm sun beats down on it.

The rhythm of life can bring both the mountain top experience and (plenty) of time in the valley. The mountain top moments are important as they are those times which fill your heart and soul, they recharge and refresh you, and they help you to see the bigger picture. On the mountain top we can see, hear and experience time with the Lord and be reminded of His magnificence and glory. These moments are what prepares us for our valley or everyday life experiences – our decisions, our relationships, our work and even our challenges. 

But the Lord calls us to spend time in the valley – to live, to work and to spend time with Him and His people in community and relationships. It is here that we tend the garden, ensuring that it flourishes and thrives, in all its shapes and colours.

As I contemplated this simple truth, I was reminded of how blessed we are to support, encourage and equip our students with the knowledge that in life, there will be highs (the mountain top moments) and there will be the everyday challenges and expectations (time in the valley). We can also help them to access the strategies they need to move from one moment to the next, as we raise them to be all that God has intended for them to be and be prepared to live resilient, abundant and flourishing lives that bring glory to Him.

Let’s give thanks for mountain tops and valleys as we live in community together.