“This is the story of how Much-Afraid escaped from her Fearing relatives and went with the Shepherd to the High Places where ‘perfect love casteth out fear.’” So Hannah Hurnard begins “Hinds’ Feet on High places;” an allegory of the Christian life.
The main character, Much-Afraid, has a few problems; one she’s crippled. Her feet aren’t exactly attached to her legs the way they’re supposed to be, and her mouth is twisted, which defaces her face(excuse the pun), and impairs her speech. She and her relatives, the Fearings, lived in the Valley of Humiliation. Some of her relatives include; Gloomy, Spiteful, Foreboding, Dismal, and Craven Fear, who she is being forced to marry. Now Much-Afraid is well, much afraid; she is very timid, weak; and all her relatives bully and torment her. One of the reasons is that she is in the service of the Shepherd, who dells on the High Places and watches over his flocks. (They don’t like the Shepherd.) One day he comes to her and offers to lead her to the High places, and replace her crippled feet with Hind’s Feet so that she could run and bound across the mountains and be free of her horrible relatives. Although her fear holds her back momentarily, she does decide to allow the Shepherd to lead her to the High Places and train her. The Shepherd does not go with her himself, instead he gives her two handmaidens to serve as guides, Sorrow and Suffering. Along the path to the High Places Much-Afraid goes through many trials; the path is constantly leading away from the High Places and she must learn to trust that the Shepherd will not lead her astray. Also her relatives followed her, and at times almost convinced her to turn back.
In the end Much-Afraid makes it to the High Places, and her crooked mouth and crippled legs are cured in the Pool of Healing.
Perhaps the biggest change in the book is in Much-Afraid. In the beginning of the book she is absolutely terrified (Much-Afraid) of her relatives, any other harm, or situation that looks uncertain. However on the way to the High Places she slowly becomes more and more bold, learning to trust the Shepherd. Finally after she reaches the High Places she has changed so much that her name is changed to Glory and Grace, and she want to venture back into the Valley of Humiliation to minister to her “poor and wretched” family.
This book really shows how the path to heaven is so often blotted with doubts, troubles, and placed we are tempted to stop. My favorite parts were when Much-Afraid’s relatives would come to her and try and convince her that the Shepherd was deceiving her. They had names like, Self-Pity, Bitterness, and Pride. They told her things that we would think to ourselves when we are faced with temptations; for example, Self-Pity would say things to her like,
“It is too bad, you know. You really are so devoted, and you have refused him [the Shepherd] nothing, yet this is the cruel way he treats you?”
Then Bitterness would add, “The more you yield to him, the more he will demand of you. He is cruel to you, and takes advantage of your devotion. Sooner or later, he’ll put you on a cross of some sort and abandon you on it.”
Then the Shepherd, who represents Jesus Christ would come to her to reassure her, comfort her, and show her the right paths to take.
Although it wasn’t my favorite book it has a lot good points; sometimes you can really relate the characters in the book. Several times on the way to the High Places the path leads Much-Afraid into a desert, or down into a ravine, and each time she questions the Shepherd and asks, am I really supposed to do this? Your not serious, are you? However the Shepherd always appears to her when she cries out for help. I also liked the way the author gave the characters/places names that match their personality/setting (i.e., Much-Afraid, Self-Pity, the Valley of Humiliation etc.)
Although I wouldn’t recommend this book to some one looking for action or suspense, it is a good book that shows the Christian life from a different point of view.
Thursday, March 12, 1998
Sunday, March 1, 1998
Ltr to the Editor of Focus on the Family's "Plugged In" magazine
Dear Plugged In,
I have seen many articles about the "dangers of the internet" and I agree that it certainly can be risky to stroll through. On the other hand, tt can also be dangerous to walk down a street at night or even into a mall -- children have been kidnapped right in a middle of a huge mall filled with people. The world is full of deceit and evils. So does that mean that we should never go out where there are people? Does that mean we should never go anywhere with anyone because they might be danger in disguise? Does that mean we should completely alienate ourselves from others so that we won't take the risks anything bad happening? Of course not! In your article you totally dismiss chat rooms and discussion groups as completely dangerous and state, "NEVER go into a chat room and NEVER EVER meet anyone you meet online."
Yes, it's true that there have been some terrible things happen online, but you fail to mention that there is a very wonderful side to the 'net as well. It's not all a dark, frightening world of bad-guys, liars, and evil. The Light of God's people can shine across the web just as bright.
The internet has been a huge blessing to me and some of the people I've met online have been the most wonderful, sweet, caring, Christians who have helped me so much in my walk through this life. Through a personal Christian chat room for the CCM artist Point of Grace (created by one of my now-closest friends who I've gotten together with several times) many Christian teens (and even adults and young children) have found much-needed love and fellowship that is just so hard to get other places. Those who are lonely have found a place in this chat where they can fit in and be cared about and loved. They find people willing to listen and encourage them to stay strong. They find people who will cry with them, laugh with them and grow with them. Over the internet you can really get to know someone better than in real life because you are not judged by looks, but by what you say and believe. It is easier to write than to try and explain aloud how you are feeling sometimes and very close accountability-relationships can develop. There, in fact, has even been a couple who met in the chat who are now engaged and it has worked out wonderfully. Being homeschooled, I don't have people around me to pick me up when I'm down. But I can count on a close circle of Christian friends online to be there for me. It really is a "circle of friends."
I'm not saying that there are no problems with the net or that you shouldn't be cautious and think ahead for there certainly are some bad people out there, but aren't there everywhere? Everywhere we go we need to be on guard. Sometimes it seems that the world (wide web) is so wrong. But let's not forget that there are GOOD people out there as well. Good people, everywhere, God's people.
"I spent so many lonely years just trying to fit in,
Now i've found my place in this circle of friends!"
Sincerely,
Alexa Weber
I have seen many articles about the "dangers of the internet" and I agree that it certainly can be risky to stroll through. On the other hand, tt can also be dangerous to walk down a street at night or even into a mall -- children have been kidnapped right in a middle of a huge mall filled with people. The world is full of deceit and evils. So does that mean that we should never go out where there are people? Does that mean we should never go anywhere with anyone because they might be danger in disguise? Does that mean we should completely alienate ourselves from others so that we won't take the risks anything bad happening? Of course not! In your article you totally dismiss chat rooms and discussion groups as completely dangerous and state, "NEVER go into a chat room and NEVER EVER meet anyone you meet online."
Yes, it's true that there have been some terrible things happen online, but you fail to mention that there is a very wonderful side to the 'net as well. It's not all a dark, frightening world of bad-guys, liars, and evil. The Light of God's people can shine across the web just as bright.
The internet has been a huge blessing to me and some of the people I've met online have been the most wonderful, sweet, caring, Christians who have helped me so much in my walk through this life. Through a personal Christian chat room for the CCM artist Point of Grace (created by one of my now-closest friends who I've gotten together with several times) many Christian teens (and even adults and young children) have found much-needed love and fellowship that is just so hard to get other places. Those who are lonely have found a place in this chat where they can fit in and be cared about and loved. They find people willing to listen and encourage them to stay strong. They find people who will cry with them, laugh with them and grow with them. Over the internet you can really get to know someone better than in real life because you are not judged by looks, but by what you say and believe. It is easier to write than to try and explain aloud how you are feeling sometimes and very close accountability-relationships can develop. There, in fact, has even been a couple who met in the chat who are now engaged and it has worked out wonderfully. Being homeschooled, I don't have people around me to pick me up when I'm down. But I can count on a close circle of Christian friends online to be there for me. It really is a "circle of friends."
I'm not saying that there are no problems with the net or that you shouldn't be cautious and think ahead for there certainly are some bad people out there, but aren't there everywhere? Everywhere we go we need to be on guard. Sometimes it seems that the world (wide web) is so wrong. But let's not forget that there are GOOD people out there as well. Good people, everywhere, God's people.
"I spent so many lonely years just trying to fit in,
Now i've found my place in this circle of friends!"
Sincerely,
Alexa Weber
Your Turn to Talk, Campus Life Magazine
I'm very active in my church and my school. The problem is, my life is getting so crowded, I hardly have any free time. But I have a hard time saying no when someone asks me to help out with something. How can I learn to say no and get my life back?
I can relate well to having so many activities with school and church that I end up working from dawn till dusk and running out of time to spend doing anything else. I think that sometimes we need to remember the age-old saying, "stop and smell the roses."
It's wonderful to be an active servant of the Lord and to give yourself away to serve others. Remember that NOTHING you do for the Him is a waste of time or effort. "Throw yourselves into the work of the Lord, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:58, The Message) Do not become weary in doing good.
On the other hand, "It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night for God gives rest to his loved ones." (Psalm 127:2, NIV). If we work ourselves ragged, ending up with too much on our plates and no time to stop and smell the roses, we are much more vulnerable and lose heart and strength. It is important to stop and savor the peace that God gives to His children, to be still and know that He is Lord. When we are weary and worn, even with doing work for the Lord, it is easier for us to fall prey to temptation. God loves us and does not want to abuse us or for us to abuse ourselves.
Remember the story of Mary and Martha? Martha busied herself with cooking and cleaning while Mary came and knelt to spend time with her Master. Be a Mary, make sure that all of your activities and projects don't prevent you from taking time out to spend one-on-one with the Father. When you are weary, God wants you to stop and run to Him. Sometimes it means saying "no." Get away with the Father and you'll recover your life. Learn to live lightly and freely by the "rhythm of grace" (Matthew 11, The Message).
I'm very active in my church and my school. The problem is, my life is getting so crowded, I hardly have any free time. But I have a hard time saying no when someone asks me to help out with something. How can I learn to say no and get my life back?
I can relate well to having so many activities with school and church that I end up working from dawn till dusk and running out of time to spend doing anything else. I think that sometimes we need to remember the age-old saying, "stop and smell the roses."
It's wonderful to be an active servant of the Lord and to give yourself away to serve others. Remember that NOTHING you do for the Him is a waste of time or effort. "Throw yourselves into the work of the Lord, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort." (1 Corinthians 15:58, The Message) Do not become weary in doing good.
On the other hand, "It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night for God gives rest to his loved ones." (Psalm 127:2, NIV). If we work ourselves ragged, ending up with too much on our plates and no time to stop and smell the roses, we are much more vulnerable and lose heart and strength. It is important to stop and savor the peace that God gives to His children, to be still and know that He is Lord. When we are weary and worn, even with doing work for the Lord, it is easier for us to fall prey to temptation. God loves us and does not want to abuse us or for us to abuse ourselves.
Remember the story of Mary and Martha? Martha busied herself with cooking and cleaning while Mary came and knelt to spend time with her Master. Be a Mary, make sure that all of your activities and projects don't prevent you from taking time out to spend one-on-one with the Father. When you are weary, God wants you to stop and run to Him. Sometimes it means saying "no." Get away with the Father and you'll recover your life. Learn to live lightly and freely by the "rhythm of grace" (Matthew 11, The Message).
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