I love Thursdays!!
It’s that time again for Thursday’s Thoughts from Pastor David
I was serving a church in Augusta, Georgia (they have a nice little golf tournament there every year), and I went away for a week for a conference.
Upon my return, one of the wisest elderly ladies I have ever met, Mrs. Berry asked me how the conference went.
I went into detail the people I met, the objectives of the course, the joy of “getting away” and the overall satisfaction of a fulfilling conference.
I concluded my comments with Mrs. Berry with this statement.
“It was a mountain top experience…”
The pregnant pause, the smile on Mrs. Berry’s wrinkled face slowly stretching from ear to ear and the twinkle in her eighty plus year old eyes piercing my very heart brought my soul and mind to a quick stop.
The follow up was hearing her sweet southern accent drawl out this next statement which has stuck like tar to my heart for the last twenty-five years.
“David… just remember… nothing ever grows on the mountain top… Everything always and only grows in the valley…”
Her sweet smile, twinkling eyes, gentle spirit and soft hands grasping mine left me speechless.
It was one of those statements which stripped my spiritual gears, bent my intelligent mind, and furrowed my brow.
My response?
My stupefied speechless smile silently said something I am sure… But I cannot remember.
It matters not what the Associate Pastor David Dendy said at that moment.
What matters is what Mrs. Berry said in all her wisdom built firsthand on the foundation of the very life we lead.
“David… just remember… nothing ever grows on the mountain top… Everything always and only grows in the valley…”
Believe me when I say I fought this statement for days and even months. My proud protestations were built on my shallow experience of life… “Don’t we all want to live a ‘Mountain Top” type life?”
Twenty-five years later… My proud protestations are but mere rubble…
Yes, we need “Mountain Top” experiences to perhaps gain a broader view and perspective on our adventure and sojourn.
But come on back to the valley where the spiritual garden of our hearts are in full bloom, where the oxygenated air is rich, where the soil for our spiritual roots to sink deep is fertile.
Where are you these days?
Mountain Top or Valley?
If you are on the Mountain Top – Way to go!! Enjoy the view! We will see you when you come back down.
If you are in the Valley – Welcome to where the spiritual growth takes place and the blooms of difficult lessons learned brightly bask in the light of God’s grace.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever. (Psalm 23)
SeeingGodatWorkEveryDay…
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!
David@seeinggodatworkeveryday.com