I hope this is not a day too late, but I have become aware that yesterday's blog, after the weekend, was difficult to understand without help. So, I will explain this the story is about a woman named Much-Afraid who wants to take a spiritual journey for her own personal growth. She is full of fears, and suffers living incapacitated regarding the joys of life. She has met the Good Shepherd who has promised to help her climb the mountain of Love where she can learn to accept Love in trust and joy. The story is from HINDS FEET ON HIGH PLACES by Hannah Hurnard.
Today, she is searching for the Shepherd whom she trusts to give her a new name once she has found the peak of the mountain. She missed her meeting with him because she was kept behind by the Fear Family who wants her to marry the well-known Craven Fear whom she despises. Now back to the story.
It was the morning of a beautiful day. The valley lay as though still asleep. The only sounds were the joyful laughter of the running streams and the little songs of the birds. When she saw the Shepherd, she threw herself at his feet and sobbed saying, "Don't leave me behind. Please take me with you." And the Shepherd said, "I knew you would come." And as the sun rose over the peaks of the mountains, he took her hand
They walked over patches of thousands of tiny pink and violet blossoms, each minutely small and delicate forming a brilliant carpet. Once the Shepherd stooped and gently touched the flowers, then said, "Humble yourself, and you will find that Love is spreading a carpet of flowers beneath your feet." And she answered, "It seems strange that something so beautiful is hidden out here in the wild, where they are so rarely seen." And the Shepherd answered, "I must tell you a great truth, which only a few understand. All the fairest beauty in the human soul, its greatest victories, and its most splendid achievements are always those which no one else knows anything about, or can only dimly guess at. Every inner response of the human heart to Love and every conquest over self-love is a new flower on the tree of Love." Much-Afraid listened carefully. The Shepherd continued, "Many a quiet, ordinary, and hidden life, unknown to the world, is a veritable garden in which Love's flowers and fruits have come to such perfection that it is a place of delight where the King of Love himself walks and rejoices with his friends. Learn this lesson now, down here in the valley, and when you get to the steep places of the mountain it will comfort you." And they both began to sing with the birds.
As they were singing they came to a place where a rushing stream poured itself across their path and cascaded down the mountain and the sound of its running seemed to fill the valley with a laughing voice. Much-Afraid said, "I do wish I knew what it is that running water sings," for she had heard it in the silence of the night from the little stream which runs past her cottage. And the Shepherd smiled, standing silently for a few moments, and the stream seemed to shout exultantly just for them. Water language began to become clear to Much-Afraid and she thought she heard, "Oh, what a joy it is to race down to find the lowest place."
Now, this puzzled Much-Afraid, and the shepherd, once again, explained. "The High Places are the starting places for all who would serve in the lower places. To run with hinds feet from the mountain to the lower places, as you will be able, is joy. It is only up on the High Places of Love that anyone can receive the power to pour themselves down in an utter abandonment of self-giving. And even the rivers and streams know this law. "Here is the law by which we live--Oh it is sweet to give and give." And Much-Afraid whispered, "Oh, I never knew before that the Valley is such a beautiful place and so full of song." The Shepherd laughed and answered, "Only Love can really understand the music and beauty and joy which was planted in the heart of all created things. And now, you, too, have that same Love planted in your heart. I hope you have not forgotten?" After a moment, as Much-Afraid considered all the Shepherd had said, he continued, "Now, we must be off to find the two guides waiting for you."
More about Much-Afraid tomorrow. If you are reading about her for the first time, feel free to go back to the first message about Much-Afraid in my previous blogs.
I was like Much-Afraid, but am thankful for my own Shepherd (make that a plural) who helped me learn over the years. Hope you have a Shepherd, too.
Out of the pasture and into the Barn!
Jo INMN
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