Mountain Peaks and Foothills

We may speak of hills and valleys
in the routine of this life.
Some hills may seem more like mountains
as to glory and/or strife.
And one valley may be fertile
where we reap some joys sublime,
while another deep and dismal
as a canyon carved by time.

Mountains loom out in the distance--
highest peaks first meet our gaze;
yet the foothills are much nearer,
hardly noticed in the haze.
But in progress, as we scale them,
we invariably lose sight
of the higher mounts envisioned,
hidden by the foothills' height.

Soon we learn that climbing foothills 
calls for more than feeble strength;
and our patience, all too often,
is quite strained by journey's length.
But it still is gratifying
that the dream has been fulfilled
and we thrill in retrospection
when the mountain we have scaled.

Marriage is much like a foothill
where we climb by prayer and plan;
worthy venture--quite mysterious,
so ordained by God's own hand.
But a summit in the distance
beckons on to lofty goals,
spanning yet a few more valleys,
challenging the best of souls.

We may travel toward the summit
in companionship sublime;
but the journey's far from over,
there may be great tests, in time.
And the Captain of Salvation
bids us all His power employ,
there to hear His "Well done!" spoken,
and review our trek with joy.

fpn/Sept 1979



Photo by Aaron Benson on Unsplash