Mountaintops and Valleys

Many years ago, I was told a bit of wisdom that I have never forgotten.
The wise words were said by an older woman.
I gleaned so much from her.
She had such a wonderful way of explaining things.

It was about the time of the women’s retreat.
I was not able to go, since I had just had a baby.
Many women were going to the retreat.
This wise, older woman gave us all a bit of advice.

When you come home from the retreat, put your hand on the doorknob and take a deep breath. You have just left the mountaintop. You will come home to dishes in the sink, laundry left undone, and everyone needing you. Breathe when you come down into the valley.

I have never forgotten her words.
I remember her words even if I am gone for the day.
You cannot stay on the mountaintop.
You always have to come down to the valley.

I just got back from Hutchmoot.
Hutchmoot has been described as a feast.
Indeed, it is.
It is a feast for the soul.

To say it is a creativity conference, would not do it justice.
Moot is a word that Tolkien used to describe a meeting.
Hutchmoot is sponsored by The Rabbit Room.
The description of  feast, is most appropriate.

Three hundred people come together as part of this Hutchmoot community.
Artists, singers, musicians, poets, and writers gather together.
We are taught, and challenged, and encouraged.
Egos do not exist; there is a genuine love of our craft, each other, and the Lord.

Hutchmoot is a little taste of heaven.
It is so wonderful to be able to talk to kindred spirits about what matters.
It is so encouraging to hear the stories of others.
It is so uplifting to see what God is doing with our little bit.

I thought of the wise woman’s words from all those years ago.
Put your hand on the doorknob and take a deep breath.
It is so hard to leave this wonderful group of people.
Everyone experiences a sort of reentry when they return to their homes.

Kelly Keller, a fellow Hutchmooter, said it best.
If I may, I’d like to remind you of one very hard thing: Hutchmoot isn’t a staying place; it’s a sending place.

I understand what she means.
We all have to come home and touch the doorknob.
We all have to come back and take a deep breath before we reenter the life we left.
We cannot stay on the mountaintop; we have to come down in the valley.

The valley is not a terrible place.
It is the place we left for a short time.
It is the place we return to after we have been fed and nourished.
It is the place where God has put us to do our specific Kingdom work.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. (Acts 17:26)

God determined where we are to live.
God set us in families.
God placed us in communities.
God gave us specific gifts that we are to use in our places.

Mountaintops are places to visit.
Mountaintops are not places to stay.
The valley is where we do our work.
The valley is where God uses us for His Glory and for the good of others.

But, first, remember, remember, remember the signs. Say them to yourself when you wake in the morning and when you lie down at night, and when you wake in the middle of the night. And whatever strange things may happen to you, let nothing turn your mind from following the signs. And secondly, I give you a warning. Here on the mountain I have spoken to you clearly: I will not often do so down in Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down into Narnia, the air will thicken. Take great care that it does not confuse your mind. And the signs which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there. That is why it is so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearances. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters. (C.S. Lewis)

C.S. Lewis understood the mountain top.
In The Silver Chair, Aslan reminds Jill to remember what she learned on the mountain.
Aslan told her that the things she learned will look different once she goes down to Narnia.
Things always look different in the valley.

We are called to go.
We are called to bring what we learned to the places God has put us.
We are to take a deep breath before our hand touches the doorknob.
It is not the mountain; it is not supposed to be.

Hutchmoot was a little taste of heaven.
It was a preview of the way it will be one day.
For now, it is valley living.
It is valley living with our eyes always on the mountain.

 

2 responses to “Mountaintops and Valleys”

1. I love this.

   I will share my story of “remember the signs…”
   I was having an ectopic pregnancy. Alone in a hospital room, convinced death was coming for me, I had a few minutes before I would be anesthetized for emergency surgery.
   I asked for my purse and wrote a note to my daughters, 13, 11, and 8.
   I only had moments so I wrote, “The Silver Chair. Remember the signs!”

   Plot twist- I survived!

   But I still believe those would have been impressive last words.

   Reply

   • Oh, my sweet friend. I never knew. I am so glad you are alive! Praise God for His tender mercy. Yes, those words from The Silver Chair are perfect.
     Gina

     Reply