Martin Luther once said: “The world is like a drunken peasant. If you lift him into the saddle on one side, he will fall off on the other side.” These are the chronicles, thoughts, and questions of a Lutheran pastor just struggling to stay on his theological horse, and not fall off one side or the other.
Found this thought on someone's twitter feed: "One sees great things from the valley, only small things from the peak." [GK Chesterton] Think about it.
All respect to Chesterton aside, I completely disagree. Being in the valley tends to make one rather myopic. While "valley" struggles can help one better understand the need for Christ and strengthen that relationship, being there still narrows perspective. Life becomes all about the I.
Looking out from the mountaintop affords an opportunity to see the majesty of our Creator and to understand that our lives are but a passing breath in His good work, in His perfect plans and purposes. We can see that while we are in His loving hands, that while we are part of His creation, there is still a whole wide world out there that matters as well.
The focus can thus shift from concentrating solely on what He is doing to help me to desiring that others, too, might know of His wonder and His merciful objective grace.
My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul. Awake, harp and lyre; I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to You among the nations. For your lovingkindess is great above the heavens, And Your truth reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth.
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All respect to Chesterton aside, I completely disagree. Being in the valley tends to make one rather myopic. While "valley" struggles can help one better understand the need for Christ and strengthen that relationship, being there still narrows perspective. Life becomes all about the I.
Looking out from the mountaintop affords an opportunity to see the majesty of our Creator and to understand that our lives are but a passing breath in His good work, in His perfect plans and purposes. We can see that while we are in His loving hands, that while we are part of His creation, there is still a whole wide world out there that matters as well.
The focus can thus shift from concentrating solely on what He is doing to help me to desiring that others, too, might know of His wonder and His merciful objective grace.
My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre;
I will awaken the dawn!
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
For your lovingkindess is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth.
~Psalm 104:1-5
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