Mountains of Perspective

One of my favorite books of all time is by Hannah Hurnard, “Hinds Feet on High Places.” It’s an allegory I can relate to every time I read it. The story is a triumphant tale of a “crippled” girl called Much Afraid, following the Chief Shepherd- Jesus- to the High Places. Her journey is filled with pain, sorrow, suffering, and trials, yet it is precisely those things that transform her crippled feet to hind’s feet so she can jump and leap in the mountains with ease and joy.

“Though the fig tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit on the vine, even if the product of the olive fails and the field yields no food, though the flock is cut off and there are no cattle in the stall,

Yet will I rejoice in the Lord and the God of my salvation!

The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army;

He makes my feet like hind’s feet

and will make me walk (not to stand still in terror, but to walk)

and make spiritual progress upon my high places (of trouble, suffering, or responsibility)!

Habakkuk 3:17-19 Amplified Version

I am in awe that my husband Jeff, sons- Noah, Micah, and Josh- climbed to the top of Pike’s Peak. I can’t imagine making that 5 hour climb. (it would be a lot longer for me!) What an accomplishment! The climb itself was transforming. Unlike Moriah, Bethany, and me, (who rode the cog train up and back) the guys braved the rocky terrain, the steep switchbacks, the thinning altitude, and unpredictable weather and snow storm at the peak. It was their “blood, sweat, and tears” that transformed them to “Conquerors of the Mountain”. They earned that title while I merely rode up on the effort and sweat of somone who had labored to build the Cog rail.

We both arrived at the top but I know that our perception of our journey was different. The truth is, sometimes we have to scrap and struggle our way up the mountain, and other times, God lifts us up. However we get there, the view is the same.

Same Mountain- Different vantage point.

There’s something about looking down from the top of the world. My problems seemed to shrink as I gazed out to where the horizon meets the sky. I became aware of how small I was and realized the Creator of the Universe was holding the whole world- my little world- in His Hands.

If I have the right perspective, I will see things as God sees them. I have learned that when I lift my eyes to see things from His eternal, heavenly perspective, life comes into focus. I need Him to perform spiritual lasix on me, so to speak.

I could choose to stare at my situation, my loss, my hurt, my needs, my life. I could choose to wallow in fear and worry about how to solve my problems or change my circumstances.

I can lift my eyes to the Maker of the mountains. I can lift my eyes to the One who suffered and died for me and is compassionate and understanding to everything I am going through. I can lift my eyes to Eternal One who is in control and holds every atom of the world together by His power! I can lift my eyes to the Healer who stands ready to transform me and heal my spirit from the sickness of sin!

I have vowed to journey with my Chief Shepherd! As I walk with Him, I rest in His promise that He will transform me from a fearful, cripple- to a courageous follower whose feet are changed to hind’s feet so I can make spiritual progress and gain spiritual perspective.