(Cont. the story of Much-Afraid. If you have just joined us, feel free to read the last few days of her adventures in the previous blogs. Orig. story by Hannah Hurnard called HINDS FEET ON HIGH PLACES.) For a little while Much-Afraid had a song in her heart, even as she left behind the fields and orchards which were so pleasant. Hope had leapt up in her so it seemed not to matter that she still had much to learn. She felt certain that when she reached the High Places she would be given her "hinds feet." Her present lameness had much improved, but still worried her that she might not have enough strength for the steeper routes through the mountains without the promised feet like the hinds who scamper along without effort.
The path continued to slope upward, but Sorrow and Suffering helped her swing upward, and it seemed just like fun. As the sun rose higher and the glow faded from the sky, she saw that the highest peaks were covered with snow, white and dazzling. And here the path they were following turned eastward and led directly toward the mountains. Much-Afraid fell on her knees in thanks, worshiping the One who had brought her through the pain and the trials she had suffered on the long journey.
As they approached the mountains, Much-Afraid could not help being struck by the steepness of these new slopes, and the nearer they drew, the more impassable the walls and mountains appeared to be. "Surely there will be a valley or gorge, or a pass up which we can proceed!" But the steepness of the walls seemed impassable. In fact, later in the afternoon they did come to the top of the lower slopes and the path led them right up to the foot of an impassable precipice..and there stopped dead. Much-Afraid just stood there and stared. She was stunned. The cliffs completely blocked the way before her, yet the path ran right up to them. There, the hart and hind led the way across a narrow and intensely steep track which zigzagged across the face of the cliff. But, in certain places the track apparently broke right off. The hart and the hind leaped and sprang with grace and assurance up the face of the precipice and disappeared from sight over the top.
Much-Afraid covered her face with her hands, and sank with dread, her heart broken as she had never felt it before. Her companions took her hands in theirs. "Don't be afraid, Much- Afraid. The hart and the hind have shown us quite plainly what to do." But, Much-Afraid would not be comforted. "The path is impossible! I could ever make it up there! It's impossible, simply impossible." Her two companions tried to speak again, but she put her hands over her ears and broke into terrified sobs. "I can't do it; I can't. I shall never get to the High Places!" Her actions were far from the royal person she had thought she was coming to be.
Completely exhausted, she heard a nasty sound, "Ha! Ha! My near little cousin, the mouse. Isn't this a delightfully pleasant situation?" And it was Craven Fear himself, the one she had been slated to marry. He was the one she feared the most of all the Fear Family. "And here we are, together again! How is it I am not surprised?" As he continued to gloat, and express their certain future back in the Fear Family, Much-Afraid gasped and replied, "I absolutely refuse to go with you." And his retort? "Well, you can take your choice. Won't you feel lovely and gracious up there? See, half-way up? There's a dizzy little ledge which breaks right off and you have to jump across the chasm on to that bit of rock. Can you picture yourself jumping that!"
Her two guides stooped over her and shook her by the shoulder gently but firmly. "You know where your help lies. Call for help." "He will tell me that I must go that way, that dreadful way, and I can't . It's impossible. I can't face it. What shall I do?" And they answered, "You must call for him."
Craven Fear laughed in triumph and took a step toward her. Much-Afraid cried out in anguish. Seeing this, the two guides, Suffering and Sorrow looked at each other, and nodded. Suffering took a small but very sharp knife and bent over her as Much-Afraid crouched on the earth, and pricked her. Much-Afraid cried out in anguish, and then, in utter despair at finding herself helpless, called upon the Shepherd. "My fears have taken hold upon me, and I am ashamed to look up." And He answered, "Be of good cheer, it is I. Be not afraid." (End of today's reading)
"Be not afraid; it is I." Oh! How I have longed to hear those words said by the Lord Jesus, my own Shepherd. I guess I will have to wait until the day of judgment! What is next best, is knowing He says it, even if I cannot hear the words! "It is I, Your Lord."
Have Patience, Jo!
Jo INMN
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