Chapter 9 Summary

In Chapter 9, Much-Afraid continues on her path with Sorrow and Suffering towards the High Places. The path continued until they were stopped at the bottom of the mountains with only a steep precipice in front of them and no other way to go around it. Much-Afraid saw no way to climb the mountain and thought they would have to turn back. Then Sorrow directed Much-Afraid’s attention to two deer leaping up that same precipce in front of them. Much-Afraid was not encouraged by seeing the deer leap up the mountains, it only made it seem more impossible. She sat down and covered her face in fear. Sorrow and Suffering took her hands in theirs and spoke to Much-Afraid, telling her that the deer have shown them the way to get up and they will get up the ascent topgether. Much-Afraid started sobbing and told her companions that it’s impossible for her to get up the mountain that way and so she won’t be able to get to the High Places at all. Then she covered her ears as her companioins tried to say something else to her.

In this moment her cousin Craven Fear appeared and began to paint a picture for her of how she would fall and dash to pieces if she tried to climb that mountain. Her guides grabed her shoulders and reminded her that she can call for help, but Much-Afraid was afraid that the Shepherd would only tell her to climb the mountain so she didn’t want to call him. Sorrow told her she must call him, and Much-Afraid responded that the Shepherd will tell her to build an altar, but she couldn’t do it this time. Craven Fear stepped toward Much-Afraid with laughter, believeing he had won, but Sorrow and Suffering stepped in front of Much-Afraid and with a nod from Sorrow, Suffering pricked Much-Afraid’s Finger with a small shard knife. Much-Afraid screamed in pain and called out to the Great Shepherd.

The Great Shepherd appeared at once and Much-Afraid instantly felt stronger in his presence. The Great Shepherd explained to Much-Afraid that this path is the only way for her to develop hinds’ feet. Much-Afraid explained that she is as far from being a deer or goat than a jellyfish is. The Great Shepherd responded that his delight and joy is to transform weakness into strength and fear into faith and even a jellyfish into a mountain goat. Much-Afraid built an altar to lay down her will, her dread and her shrinking and in return found a stone that was larger and rougher than an of her other stones so far. The Great Shepherd tied a rope around the three of them so that Sorrow would cilmb first, then Much-Afraid and Suffering would climb last. Then he gave Much-Afraid a cordial for her to drink when she feels weak and it was labelled ‘Spirit of Grace and Comfort’ and they began their ascent.

Chapter 8 Thoughts:

This chapter is the first time Sorrow and Suffering speak to Much-Afraid, or at least the first time Much-Afraid can understand them. They have become more active in guiding Much-Afraid in the recent chapters, and in this chapter that includes both speaking and inflicting pain! When fear overtook Much-Afraid, she was too afraid to even call the Great Shepherd, until Suffering pricked her finger. This is a beautiful picture of how Suffering’s only goal in causing pain was to help Much-Afraid and connect her with the Great Shepherd. Suffering is not Much-Afraid’s enemy, she is standing between Much-Afraid and her real enemy to protect her, and tried to encourage Much-Afraid to call to the Great Shepherd before going to the lengths of causing physical pain. Once again, here is the theme of how sorrow and suffering direct us to Christ when we may not have chosen to turn to him otherwise.

Much-Afraid has grown so much, but it is still possible for fear and doubt to cloud her thinking. Standing at the bottom of this precipice triggered the insecurities of her physical limits. She was only able to think about the difference between her and the deer and how impossible it was for her to climb that mountain. Her fears caused her focus on the physical and completely forget the spiritual. She was overcome with so much fear that she didn’t even want to ask the Shepherd for help, because she felt like she knew what he would ask her to do and felt like she couldn’t do it. I think a lot of us can relate to having prayers we are afraid to pray, because there is answers we don’t want to hear. The truth is, The Great Shepherd did tell her the things she didn’t want to hear, but being in the presence of the Shepherd changed how she felt about doing those things.

The presence of Christ makes all the difference. It made so much of a difference for Much-Afraid that she even told the Great Shepherd that she didn’t mind if he lets her be put to shame, because nothing else matters to her as much as allowing him to have his will and way in her. What a powerful moment.

Is there an insecurity for you that often leads to fear and causes you to forget God’s power and ability to overcome the impossible? What is it? Take some time to bring that insecurity before the Lord and ask for his guidance.

Much-Afraid still has several lessons to learn on her journey to the High Places and I look forward to continuing this journey with you.

-Nadine

Hinds Feet on High Places Summary and Thoughts - Chapter 9

Hinds Feet on High Places Summary and Thoughts - Chapter 8