Climb 100 Mountains

Mountains cast a shadow

At times it's hard to tell

Will darkness overtake you

Will you succeed or fail

Though I've climbed a hundred mountains

And stood upon their peaks

I still find my greatest comfort

From the rock that lies beneath(1)

* * *

We measure our lives by mountain peaks, those high moments, those exciting moments. The times in our lives when everything falls into place. The events that we want to share and celebrate.

In contrast, we want to avoid the valleys. We want to get through the down time as quickly as possible, leaving the depression and insecurity and fear behind.

But the truth is, life is made of both. I could write some clichés here: you have to come down off the mountain sometime; valleys are where the growth happens.

Cliches are overused expressions that we hand out flippantly like breath mints. Someone once told me to never turn down a breath mint; maybe that person is too polite to tell the truth. And clichés are overused because they are true.

We do have to come down sometime and the growth does happen in the valleys.

But as I listen to this song over and over, the words that stick in my soul are that mountains cast a shadow and my strength comes from the rock beneath.

The good times, the mountain experiences, can cast a beautiful shadow on the valleys. We can remember those times, remember what God has already done. For you, for others, for the people of God. We can't always touch the peak, but the mountain can touch us.

More importantly, it is the rock that lies beneath... Walking through the valley or breathing the clear air of the mountain, you are walking on the rock that is your faith in God. A just God who demands payment for sin and a loving God who sent His Son to pay that debt. A kind God. A strong God. An all-knowing God. An all-powerful God. Mountains and valleys, He is the same.

(1) partial lyircs to "Valleys", by Christian recording artist Eli, 1999