We frequently talk about mountains and valleys when we consider the challenges of life and our walk with God. But our real-life experience of driving down one mountainside , across a valley and up another mountain really opened my eyes.
We were traveling from Cayambe to Quito, and had to cross several ranges to reach Quito which lays in a valley ringed by volcanic mountains. We had to be in Quito by nightfall since it is too dangerous to travel through the mountain after dark. As we drove down one mountainside into a valley, only one more mountain stood ahead. The sun hovered just above that last mountain.
Behind us, the mountain glowed in a red-orange late-day sunshine. I looked back at the mountain we had just crossed over and a storm was brewing behind it. The sky turned violet-deep blue in contrast to the golden-blue in front of us.
As you know, driving up and down mountains is never a straight road. The road buckles back on itself in twists and turns cut into the mountainside. Sometimes you are at the edge looking straight down hundreds of feet. Other times you hug the cliff and look up dizzyingly, hoping the hand of God holds the rocks in place as you travel beneath them. Back and forth you go, hoping you are making some progress, sometimes only being able to tell that by looking back.
When you reach the valley, you can't pause. The road is straight, and that means "Go faster!" There's urgency in your pace to reach the next mountain. The sun has slipped behind the mountains and shadows gather in your path. The mountain behind is still bathed in sunshine. It beckons you to return to the comfort of the past, the known way, the experiences that you've already conquered. That mountain was easy, a down slope in full light with the goal ahead visible and welcoming. Now, you've sped through the valley and the upslope ahead is almost in full darkness, only the silhouette of the mountain light by the waning sun. The most difficult and dangerous way lies between you and your goal. As you labor to climb, back and forth again, close to the precipice, against the wall, the engine groaning, fatigue straining everyone's nerves, you look forward into dimness, back toward even greater darkness.
You climb the last of the mountain in blackness and then at the crest you see the last glimpse of the sun as it disappears behind yet another mountain. But the city lies in the valley below. In darkness, but twinkling with thousands of little lights. Home. You breathe a sigh of relief. You've made it. But twilight is full and you can't see the reward just yet. The storms are behind you. But the sunlight isn't there either. Not until tomorrow.
Lessons learned:
1. Keep moving. The past always looks better, brighter, greener, because you've been there, you've conquered its battles and learned from them. But you can't stay there. You have to move on.
2. Moving on is almost never easy. There's a lot of back and forth, up and down, sunshine and darkness, cliffs and walls. Just keep going.
3. Sunshine isn't the goal. The valley isn't the goal. Home isn't even the goal. The journey with God is the goal. Each part of it is unique and has its own challenges and rewards. Traveling with Him teaches you to rejoice in the journey.
