Comments on: The Low Side of High

By: Bonnie Dickinson

Bonnie Dickinson — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:26:39 +0000

I sort of like the comment made by “rdrcomp” posted 6/9/09. It does seem that way at times….that the Lord has a way of “getting our attention” (my paraphrase) from time to time. For instance, somewhere I have not been devoted to prayer as I should and “down side” things are beginning to happen–depression, speculation, worry, etc. I never ever turn away from the Lord, I just seem to “relax” @ times.

By: BabyJ

BabyJ — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:13:47 +0000

I don’t know, I am little late in the conversation but I agree with the story about climbing and then falling to a plateau. To me the whole journey of christian growth is like climbing a mountain or running a race. If we are growing, the longer we excercise our faith, the easier it is to excercise our faith.

When I make mistakes, its not that I have lost belief, its more that I have not learned how to use my faith muscle in that particular way yet. So the lesson is retraining the muscle to be used in a “different” exercise.

I feel like every time I think I have learned some life lesson, the minute I say, ” Yes, I get it now!” God tests that confidence. After the fact, the situation is so clearly related to my declaration that I see how I should have responded to it. But when I am in the test, the logic of “this is a test” just doesn’t apply.

Just my two cents worth……

By: daisymarygoldr

daisymarygoldr — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:13:26 +0000

Peter had confidently boasted in his human strength… to lay down his life for the master. Elijah had basked in his awesome victory over the prophets of Baal. Solomon’s wisdom and wealth had dethroned God within the temple of his heart… and yes, after the power of Exodus… a fearful Israel wanted to return to the old comfortable slavery of their past but… when they saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, they feared Him and put their trust in Him. (Exo 14:13)

Have been thinking real hard and long about coming down the mountain… after reading all the inspiring comments about hiking and skiing… Seems to me that the low side of high is for the ultimate good… lest we get filled with pride and… fall… just as the thorn in the flesh… the low helps in busting all of our boasting in the high!

Also, it is true that while hiking up a mountain I do slip… so, you are right we should “be careful” and “watch our step”…and as others have pointed out, there could be any number of reasons (gravity, pitfalls, stones, pine cones, etc, etc.) for me to come down. However, my confidence is rooted in God’s promise that though our feet may stumble… we will not fall!

I’m sure everyone is familiar with the picture of the father walking along with his little child… holding hands as they walk side by side. Occasionally, the child will stumble and will let go of her father’s hand. However, she will not fall because the father’s hand holds her up.

The Bible says that “…though the righteous… fall seven times (which means unlimited number of times) they rise again. You know why they are always rising? …because they never fell in the first place! You know why? …because it is the Lord that holds them by the hand! (Psalm 37:23-24 NLT)

So, as long as we live in the flesh we will stumble in our weaknesses and experience the low side of high… its OK because after all it is for our good… spiritually we should feel secure… because no matter what… “He is able to keep us from falling” (Jude 24)!

By: foreverblessed

foreverblessed — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:10:52 +0000

Hi everyone, what chicogirl wrote I have experienced too.
When God gives me a great moment, like as being in heaven, His love for me is so real, and so close.
The next day some big trial happens, I am being tested. God warms me beforehand.
But I dont think this is what Mart meant.
More about being on a mountain top, and we get over- enthousiastic, and do not cling to God so much anymore.
It is when I was in art school. When my paintings would be good, I felt good and thought: boy am I good. And sure enough, after that my painting would be terrible.
The best paintings are made when feeling uncertain.
I think it is the same in christian life, as JoJo wrote: being totally clinged to God, and not relying on self.

By: JoJo

JoJo — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:36:21 +0000

I too have observed this correlation between the mountaintop experiences and valleys soon to follow in my own life and in the lives of those recorded in the Scriptures. So much so that often I must remind myself to fully enjoy the mountaintop time with God and not diminish it by fearing the pitfalls of the test or trial I know will soon come. I agree with chigogirl that God in His tender mercy draws near to us like the angels who ministered to Jesus and refreshed Him at Gethsemane before His heading to the cross. Being aware of the pitfalls is half the battle. Mart, you articulated them well. When I think I’ve avoided one pitfall, annoyingly, I can fall into another. But, I am recognizing when I’m in a pitfall sooner and able to come to God more quickly with my raw human emotions that try to override Truth, and laying them at His feet, reminding Him that I am but dust. I think this is a big part of how our faith muscle is grown. Our muscles grow and become stronger when used. They actually tear a bit and then in the repair process become stronger. Another aspect of this cycle is even though I know better, I can still have this “American” idea that somehow I can prepare ahead of time to make the valleys not as difficult and painful to traverse. When in reality, I can only prepare my soul to cling all the more confidently and tightly to my God in good times and bad. My humanness wants heaven now.

By: wretch-like-me

wretch-like-me — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:00:19 +0000

Thanks all for sharing.
Somedays I read and respond.
These past couple I just read and weep.
Memories, joyful and bittersweet, I look forward to the ultimate ‘Mountaintop Experience’ to which we are all destined.
God Bless Us, Everyone!!!
Huggs
frank

By: rokdude5

rokdude5 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:44:13 +0000

One person that comes to my mind that “was on top of the mountain” yet fell is King Solomon. The Lord blessed him beyond what one would expect by praying for wisdom in guiding his kingdom.

Perhaps its the naivete in me, but I would like to think that Solomon married all those women as a sort of welfare for them since abandoned or widowed women at that time would have no source of income other than begging and prostitution.

Nevertheless, I think God started withdrawing Solomon’s wisdom when Solomon started praying to those women’s pagan gods and Solomon’s world collapse around him.

During my twenties, I quit going to church and reading and I practically ended up like Solomon – a spiritual destitute. However, the Good Lord kept a watchful eye on me and broke me. Now I realized this is why I need to read the Bible DAILY and go to church weekly.

Like Mtman, the view on top near where I live is spectacular but when I look below I see air pollution all around which is sort of what my spiritual walk is like.

Also the climb is easier up when on the trails if the terrain isnt too steep. The climb down can be tricky if you step on a stone or ground that all of sudden give way. Hiking enthusiasts now carry a sort of ski poles to aid them with their hike on such terrains.

Not only you have to watch your feet but you need to keep a watchful eye for critters too. Last week when I was hiking, I saw a doe and her fawn climbing the side of the hill quite aggressively. Five minutes later, I saw a cougar down in the creek bed. The wind was blowing that day and those deers were way high and downwind trying to lose the cougar’s scent of them.
The cougar saw my buddy and me and coward away from us. Perhaps we saved that fawn’s life.

By: phpatato

phpatato — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:24:42 +0000

I’ve got a childhood ditty in my head that I’m humming as I vacuum.

“Climb, Climb up Sunshine Mountain, Heavenly breezes blow.. Climb, Climb up Sunshine Mountain, faces all aglow.. Turn, Turn from sin and doubting, Look up to the sky.. Climb, Climb up Sunshine Mountain, YOu and I…

Daisy

I hope to add to your comment. I am wondering if our spiritual walk isn’t about looking at climbing back down the mountain when we are on top. I wonder if our walk is always climbing up without reaching the top. Puts me in mind with the saying, Two steps forward and one step back. You are always stepping one step forward, hence inching slowly up. When a child of God falls down, they only fall as far as the nearest plateau. It is there where God is waiting to pick you back up and brush you off, hold you tight and wipe your tears. Hopefully you take the time to gaze at the view (smell the roses), see how far you’ve come and take stock of what your journey has been like. You assess the path upward to ensure you don’t take the same path again and with a deep breath wearing the armor that God has given you, you begin once more.

Just my thoughts which may be way off base. :-)

P.S. There is a mountain in the Canadian Rockies called Sunshine Mountain. Great skiing I am told. I don’t do skis until they install brakes on them.

By: violet D

violet D — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:01:37 +0000

I feel compelled to share what someone told me years ago – “Without valleys- there would be no mountains”.
When I have experienced “valleys” the above thought has helped me through.
Psalm 121:1 is one of my favorite verses and says it all!

By: HEY REV

HEY REV — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:12:03 +0000

I did not want to respond but as I read what those above shared their gloden nuggets I wanted to say a little.
I’m sure all of us at different times can relate our experiences about mountains, hills, etc. I have mine. Some were great some I want to forget.Put them alll together and most were somewhat of a struggle to go up, easier coming down. From what most of you are saying you had your own very personal experience that gave you positives and negatives. Put them all together and we come out pretty much the same. Good and bad.
I remember one, that taught me a life lesson
Did the trip (up and down) three times during a whole day outing.
The first was easy on the way up,and the same down.
Second was a little harder, but harder coming down because I allowed myself to go with the gravity coming down and lost control with the speed. Almost killed myself.
Look out nbr three. You would think I learned by two previous tries but no not me. I wanted to show others I could do it.
Let me avoid all the sorry news, but they carried me out to the rest area in a make shift strecher. What did I learn I could share to help others. To add what rdcomp says and SFDBWV about ECCL Chap Three
SOME DAYS YOUR THE WINDSHIELD, THE NEXT DAY THE BUG.
That one experience (stands out the most for me) and many of the others put together is I can do NOTHING WITHOUT CHRIST Phil 1:21
I will always have my ups and downs because of my mistakes and life in general. I accept that and continue to pray to have more ups than downs.
God bless you all for God is using you to teach me new things and reminders about the past things. At 72 you would think I’ve learned most things. No not yet at least not the NEW THINGS.
Let me finish with a line a wise mentor brother taught me goes like this:
I’VE LEARNED SOMETHING FROM EVERBODY I’VE MET IN LIFE—EVEN A FOOL.