Thriving Valleys

Thriving Valleys

We were driving up the San Bernardino Mountains recently and I decided to focus on the outside of the car for once.  Staring out the window, I could see the crevices of each mountain peak.  Being in the middle of summer, the tops of the mountains were brown and dry.  But within the crevices, the cracks, the valleys, the foliage was green and lush.  The contrast of the green and the brown was unmistakable.  It was like a piece of rainforest amongst the desert.  I stared and noticed the same thing with every passing peak.....green, lush, thriving valleys.

I began to ponder why this was.....perhaps it is because the valleys are the only path of water.  When it rains, water accumulates and funnels down these crevices.  When it snows, the melting water flows for months.  When the sun shines, these valleys are  shadowed, protected from the oppressive heat.  And so......there is growth.

Then it dawned on me how much it sucks being in the valley. Sure it's all green and healthy now but what about during those treacherous storms?  Imagine the animals, the insects, the little seedling struggling to hold on as the flow of the water rushes over them? When they are barely staying above water in order to survive during the deepest of storms?  How about the freezing melting snow that continually flows for months at a time? Or the periods of darkness when no sunlight shines upon them?

Consider the seedling that is continually drowned, tossed and enduring the wind. In this moment it's our tendency to say, "don't worry seedling, you will be the strongest and greenest on the entire mountainside. This is for the best, you see....you're getting the most water than anyone......you will be blessed!" Or, "I know you haven't seen the light of day in weeks but you will grow so tall, you will be swaying and dancing in it everyday."  How about, "this is meant to be.....this is Gods design."

But the seedling can't hear you amongst the treacherous conditions.  It just wants to hold on, keep its head above water and..... survive.

It truly is in the valleys where our soil gets washed away, drenched yet also nourished.  One day when the sun is hot and dry, the mountaintop will go bare and it's in those valleys where we will flourish, grow, endure.  The soil will be toiled, churned, and beaten down.  Roots grow deep, strong, and sturdy.  The raging swift rivers dwindle down to a trickle and the coolness of the shadows are welcomed offering soothing whispers in the heat of the day.

It is then and only then the seedling will see the light.......the light that was kept from it for so long.......it all makes sense now......finally it dances and sways in the delicate warm breeze. And when the next season of storms come, it will endure again this time with deeper roots and all the while knowing, the light may not be shining on you.....but it's always there.