Christian Living

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It is impossible for me to think of mountains without thinking of a valley between them. I was born and raised in a valley between two mountains and my home town has been there since the 1600s. It grew as a community simply because it provided the easiest passage through those rather rugged monuments of ancient stone and falling rocks. While researching my town’s history, I uncovered a fascinating fact. It seems that the first official “road” was along the route Lenape Indians used for perhaps over a thousand years before European settlers ever arrived. Even more interesting was the particular usage of the first settlers. The road served as a path for sheep, cattle and pigs to winter over in the more lush meadows on the western end on the valley on the other side of the mountains.

The town began as most early colonial communities, a church body. Though I could find no specific record of one, I am sure the early elders saw the analogy of their road and verses from Psalm 23 and that I am not the first, nor the most eloquent resident to write about same.

Few folks would argue with the conclusion that life is more like a ride on a roller coaster than one on a float. It has, for everyone, ups and downs. Granted, some are more extreme than others, but live long enough and it all balances out. Often we come upon mountainous terrain and the only way across is through the pass in the valley between. . In biblical times this path was called the Valley of the Shadow of death because, though it allowed for the only passage to greener pastures for many animals, it was couched in shadow by the adjacent mountains and filled with opportunity for injury. Moreover, it gave ample places for predators to lay in wait for prey that had to move slowly through the shadowy and perilous pass.

The broadest interpretation of the “valley of the shadow of death” has it analogous to our own eventual death and it reassures us that The Good Shepherd will see us through this dark unknown to the green pastures of eternity. While certainly a pivotal Christian concept, I have as of late come to appreciate a more general and practical interpretation which has daily applicability.

Each day- and some days more than others- we travel through the valley of the shadow of death to arrive at the green pastures and quiet waters on the other side. Each day brings its own perils and troubles (Matthew 634) “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Each day the predators of Pride, The World, The Flesh and The Devil lie in wait. Each day The Shepherd is there to guide and comfort us with His rod and staff. Each day we have an opportunity to die in Christ and be born again in The Spirit. Each day we can die to sin and live for Grace. Each day the world wails for our attention while God whispers His plan for us. And each day we are given the choice to live in fear, loneliness and loathing or in hope, fellowship and love. Praise God!
Desperado 9/22/04

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