Poetry

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Plateaus

Mountains high and valleys low
That seems to be all we know
Focused on the peaks and valleys
Around these points studies rally

What it is that I really want to know
Is about those places called plateaus
In the place between the valleys and peaks
Is the knowledge that my heart seeks

Holding steady on a single plain
Nothing lost and nothing gained
Where growth seems to be on hold
The soul’s fire neither hot nor cold

Is this the place of a lukewarm heart
Or is it another place, where lessons impart
New knowledge for a heart to gain
Here on this wide open plane

Wondering what is this place that I see
Am I the only one who has come to be
Standing steadily in this plateau
What is this place, I must know

Lord, help me open my heart
To gain what You wish to impart
Lessons learned here on this plane
More guidance to lift up Your Name

Is this a time to only reflect
Or the place my heart to genuflect
What is it that I am here to do
I want only to serve You

As we are seeking our Father’s face
There is more to our walk in this place
More than mountains high and valleys low
There is also the quiet of the plateau


Brothers and Sisters,

As I appear to be coming out of a rest period, I have been doing some reflecting.

I have felt stagnant over the last few years, since my transfer to Japan. I notice the pattern of my life since my salvation. On shore duty I am able to attend church regularly and fellowship with Christians. When I am asigned to a ship and underway, I find that I always seem to back slide or slip. Don't misread this. I don't go back to being the old man that I was, but I notice that I am not as active as I am when I am around a church and in regular fellowship.

Shipboard life offers a person little personal time. The ship has a chapel and chaplains. There are fellow Christians there as well. I have attended some of the services. I have been in fellowship with the Christians. Yet, I always feel my time there as wasted. It always seemed to me to be in a deep valley.

As I have been reveiwing some of the poems the Lord has allowed me to pen for him. The lessons continue to reach me and teach me. I observed the pattern I stated above, but then I started to realize that our life is not necessarily only peaks and valleys. There are plateaus.

The Lord revieled to me that this time is not wasted. This is a time to learn, just like any other. I didn't accomlished what I hoped. I didn't get a chance to be active in ministry. I just led a dull life as a Christian. I used faith and Christian beliefs to deal with situations. I offered comfort and I learned patience. I was tested and tried. So the time is definitely not wasted.

As always I share a lesson that took me some time to learn, but I am learning. I hope this helps you if you find yourself in between peaks and valleys.

Love always,
Christian

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