Start for the High Places - Chapter 4

This week our discussion group is going to be reading chapters 4-7.  Below are some questions to discuss and ponder.  The answers to these are found in Chapter 4.

1.  The start for the high places begins with some lessons on humility.  What were some of those lessons?

2.  The ideas expressed in The Water Song are not easy to do.  Can you think of some areas in your life where you must go low, and lower still? 

 3.  Jesus is the best example.  How did Jesus go low? 

The Water Song

Come, oh come! let us away --

Lower, lower every day.

Oh, what joy it is to race

Down to find the lowest place.

This the dearest law we know

“It is happy to go low.”

Sweetest urge and sweetest will,

“Let us go down lower still.”

 

Hear the summons night and day

Calling us to come away.

From the heights we leap and flow

To the valleys down below.

Always answering to the call,

To the lowest place of all.

Sweetest urge and sweetest pain,

To go low and rise again.

 

3. “The High Places,” answered the Shepherd, “are the starting places for the journey down to the lowest place in the world.  When you have hinds’ feet and can go ‘leaping on the mountains and skipping on the hills,’ you will be able, as I am, to run down from the heights in gladdest self-giving and then go up to the mountains again.”   Why is it necessary to go to the high places in order to go to the lowest places in “gladdest self-giving?”  or How does “leaping on the mountains” enable you to be full of “gladdest self-giving?”

4.  What are the High Places? 

5.  What was Much-Afraid’s response when she encountered her two companions to help her journey to the High Places? 

6.  What were the names of the companions that she would have preferred?

7.  My response has often been the same when Sorrow and Suffering become my companions.  How does encountering sorrow and suffering help you in your journey?

8.  On page 68-69, Much-Afraid remembers a hymn.  She was encouraged by it.  What were the thoughts that encouraged her?  How have similar hymns and remembrances helped you in your journey?

9.  How are you hindered if you reject – so to speak – the work of sorrow and suffering – kicking against it rather than viewing it as God’s plan and purpose to work righteousness? 

When I first started this book years ago, the idea of "High Places" conjured up the idea of having such a strong position in my faith that I could be "above" my troubles.  I thought that somehow, if I tried hard enough, I could be unaffected by life's sorrows and sufferings.  They might come, but I would never have to grieve again.  Boy, was I wrong!  The bad stuff is still painful, but I do have some choices.

Every time difficult circumstances happen, I find myself faced with the same old decisions:  Will I fight to believe that He is able to handle my past, present, and future, or will I yield to the controlling spirit and demand to have my way?  Will I fight to believe that He is working all things together for good to those who love Him, or will I yield to the despair of thinking that I'm the exception to His grace and mercy? Will I trust Him if the circumstances never change, and will I choose to simply delight in the fact that I have the privilege of knowing and belonging to Him, or will I hate my life? Will I let the satisfaction that I find in Him work its way out into contentment, or will my discontent drive me to madness?   I am like Much-Afraid - trying to choose whether or not to accept the difficult road that God has chosen for my life - or will I decide to kick, struggle and fight until I end up in a weary heap of anger and bitterness?  Will I let His character be formed and discover the depth of His faithfulness, or will I hate Him because He seems unjust?

Please know that I don't always jump into contentment with a smile on my face.  I wrestle; I fight; I kick, but it is a futile resistance.  I ultimately end at the same place with two thoughts: "You rule and reign according to your wisdom and power, so I have no choice but to yield because You are God," and "To whom will I go, You have the words of eternal life."  He is sovereign, and He is good.  I don't have to understand, I only have to believe.

That sounds so fatalistic, but it isn't.  It is the ultimate in hope.  He is going to work through the circumstances and bring Himself great glory and honor.  He will change me through it, and I will understand His mercy and faithfulness more and more because of the "it." He is worthy.  So, you and I might as well try to enjoy the journey.