Wednesday, January 6, 2010

18

Psalm 84:5-7
"Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, They make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength, each one appears before God in Zion."

Last night I was watching a movie and there was a scene where the protagonist, a successful playwright, has her heart broken by someone she loves. He is not who he was. Broken heart for one. Following the fight, our heroine is beside herself, literally crying and sobbing with messy tears everywhere for a good 4 minutes or so of the film. As she cries, she is doing the usual: grocery shopping, eating, drinking, writing, waking up, going to bed, the WHOLE time sobbing. It's actually pretty funny to watch (because we can all relate in someway), but my point is regarding what happens after that. She is sobbing her little heart out and we are watching her type on her computer, working on a new play. Long story short, she writes a Broadway hit out of her story. She writes her story- her pain- it's a huge success and many people are touched by it. I guess it's not the most profound movie ever made, but I started thinking about it in the context of this psalm. Similarly, when the psalmist passed through the valley, he or she dug their wells, made their valley "...a spring..."

So far, from what I can tell, the human experience (the ups and downs) are essentially the same for everyone. Everyone has ups, and we all certainly have downs. So it's safe to say that someone else (maybe even you again in the future) will be passing through the same valley you are now. Don't waste your valley in bed crying. Okay, you can have a little time for in-bed crying. But the best way to get through a valley is to dig wells: create fresh water for someone else behind you who is yet to pass through. Who knows? Maybe they will be able to pass through their valley a teensy bit easier because of the help you created along the way: the lessons, knowing how to comfort and support, knowing what to say and what not to say. You know.

Don't let someone who has messed you up inside stop you from moving forward. Keep doing stuff even if you're broken inside. You're sobbing and wanting to die right now, and that's okay. You must try, however, to keep doing what you believe you were born to do. Keep waking up and breathing in and out. Keep eating breakfast, keep going to work, keep raising your kids, keep eating lunch, keep playing your instrument, being a friend, and in it all learn as much as you can, so maybe someone (or God forbid even you) can get through it a little bit easier because you paved the way.

Dig wells in your valley, and then wait for the sweet rain from heaven to come and do the rest. The Bible says you will keep getting stronger and stronger. And then you will see God.

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