Walking Through the Valley – Toni M. Babcock
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 NKJV)
In this world, we walk through dark valleys and press against unknown shadows such as disappointments, illness, even death. These shadows seem to lengthen with each passing year — changing our perspectives, and deepening our faith.
Late this fall, my husband and I were supposed to have a family get together. There was a menu planned and a hayride. Instead, plans were canceled because my husband and I caught a highly infectious respiratory virus.
On the day of the canceled event, in the quiet of this unfortunate change of circumstance, I thought I’d catch some fresh air and take a walk. I pulled on my rubber boots and walked to the end of a dried out pond named Skinny on our property. I shuffled through the soft but dried up landscape where clumps of grass and weeds spread beneath my feet. Instead of water glistening end to end, the pond is now a grassy field where deer scamper, graze and play, and birds soar above the sunken valley which makes a long and natural amphitheater.
As I stood at the far end, I played my wooden flute. It echoed down the valley and up and over birch and aspen—those leaning sentinels almost bared of yellow leaves. I played before the winds of winter howl down across the soft depression in the land, blanketing the grassy field with layers of fallen snow.
I played Wayfaring Stranger. You may recognize the tune:
I’m just a poor wayfaring stranger, A trav’ling through this world below; But there’s no sickness, no toil, nor danger, In that bright world to which I go. I’m going there to meet my Father I’m going there no more to roam; I’m just a going over Jordan, I’m just a going over home.
Even in my disappointment, God keeps things in perspective.
Toni M. Babcock is the author of The Stone Writer. Contact
