Christian Comment with Christine Colby, Methodist Local Preacher

THE other day I visited the Centre for Christian Healing at Harnhill, near Cirencester for a Communion Service.

After the service I was asked where I came from.

I replied: "Stroud, often known as the Five Valleys" at which the man responded: "Oh, seven hills".

This made me pause for thought.

Some valleys can be dark places with the hills being the places were we find a refreshing breeze and a closeness to God, the creator.

How many times do we focus on the valleys, the low times in our lives?

Do we, at times, choose to spend our lives living down in the valleys and never climb up the hills?

During August Bank holiday my husband and I went for a walk up the Malvern Hills.

It was a hot sunny day and the views were breathtaking.

We found a point where when we looked one way we could see clear into Wales but when we turned round we looked clear across the River Severn, to the Cotswolds.

From the height of the Malvern Hills we got a much clearer perspective of the layout of the landscape below us.

It was then that it struck me how, when we are up high, we get a much better perspective of the world around us.

Jesus would often go, on his own, up into the hills to pray and spend time with his heavenly Father in order to be refreshed, renewed and ready to face the people he came across down in the valleys.

Are there not times when we all feel like we are walking in a deep, dark valley?

Is it not at those times that out doubts and fears can overwhelm us and faith in a God who cares seems unlikely?

Yet, just like when we have climbed a hill and looked out over a glorious view, are we not reminded that there must be a creator, a God who cares.

Yes, a God cares so much that he sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to show us the way out of the valleys and up into the hills.