Life's "Valleys"

I was reflecting yesterday on what it means to be going through a "valley" of life. My first impression of a valley is that it is a beautiful one, full of vegitation and with a great background of mountains. But when people are going through a difficult phase of life, they sometimes refer to it as a "valley". Here are a few reasons things they might mean by that:

When you're in a valley, you can't see past the mountains; if you're on a mountain top, you can see the valley and so much more. Sometimes people in a valley don't feel like they can see the road ahead.

For a valley, the sun rises later and sets sooner than the mountain tops. Sometimes people in a valley feel like they're walking in darkness.

When it rains, much of the water runs down the side of the mountain. In some cases, this can cause a flash flood in the valley such that a wave of water knocks over people, animals, cars, and even houses. Sometimes people in a valley feel like they're getting knocked over by a wave of difficulty.

Many valleys are hidden by a line of mountains that blocks them. You could say that they're isolated from the rest of the world, and that few people recognize the "inner beauty" of the valley because the mountains around them are so dominant. Sometimes people in a valley either feel socially isolated from the world or do not feel very appreciated compared to those around them.

Mountains come in many sizes and shapes. They usually have distinctive features that draw the eye and set them apart from others. Valleys, on the other hand, are flat. They can seem a little boring compared to the majestic mountain peaks that surround them. Sometimes people in a valley feel like their life is painfully boring.

After reading this, would you associate yourself more with a mountain or a valley? If you're a mountain, I'd encourage you to look around and see people who may be going through a "valley" time of life, and look for ways to encourage them. If you're more like a valley, I'd encourage you to remember a couple of things: First, everyone goes through a few valleys in life. Second, there is an important difference between you and an actual valley: A valley cannot do anything to change its location. It sits there for thousands of years experiencing some of the things mentioned above. On the contrary, people can be proactive about making positive choices in life. What is something in your life that you can adjust to help yourself move away from the "valley" time of your life?