Hinds Feet

Hinds' Feet in High Places offers an insightful look at the Christian walk and the fears that we each grapple with to some extent. When Much-Afraid questioned the Shepherd about the wastefulness of wildflowers (blooming for no reason, essentially invisible), she mourned over their wasted, unappreciated beauty.

The look the Shepherd turned on her was very beautiful. "Nothing my Father and I have made is ever wasted," he said quietly, "and the little wild flowers have a wonderful lesson to teach. They offer themselves so sweetly and confidently and willingly, even if it seems that there is no one to appreciate them. Just as though they sang a joyous little song to themselves, that it is so happy to love, even though one is not loved in return.

"I must tell you a great truth, Much-Afraid, which only the few understand. All the fairest beauties in the human soul, its greatest victories, and its most splendid achievements are always those which no one else knows anything about, or can only dimly guess at. Every inner response of the human heart to Love and every conquest over self-love is a new flower on the tree of Love.

"Many a quiet, ordinary, and hidden life, unknown to the world, is a veritable garden in which Love's flowers and fruits have come to such perfection that it is a place of delight where the Kind of Love himself walks and rejoices with his friends. Some of my servants have indeed won great visible victories and are rightly loved and reverenced by other men, but always their greatest victories are like the wild flowers, those which no one knows about. Learn this lesson now, down here in the valley, Much-Afraid, and when you get tot he steep places of the mountains it will comfort you."

What a lesson to learn. One that was spoken in the story of the cathedral workmen, and one that God continues to whisper to my heart. He does not need me to make some landmark change in the world, just daily faithfulness. Victory over sinfulness in my life, through surrender to Him. The beauty of a life lived for Him is never wasted even if no one on this earth makes mention of it.