I have mentioned before that I attended the Texas Home School Coalition’s Annual Conference.  I listened to many dynamic speakers.  One of which was Sally Clarkson.  I literally laughed so hard at one of her stories that I cried.  Not only is she a great storyteller and dynamic speaker, but she is able to really speak to your heart.  I really enjoyed listening to her workshop.

While listening to Ms. Clarkson, she told a story about her daughter.  Since this is not my story, I will try to briefly describe the scene.  A young woman sets out to climb a mountain.  After hours of struggling to climb the trail, she arrives at the summit of the mountain.  There is a spectacular view.  Just as she stops to enjoy it, the sky opens up and it pours cats and dogs.  Not expecting the rain, the woman is without umbrella, coat, or anything else to keep her dry or warm.  In complete frustration, she cries out to God, “Why?! Why are you always raining on my parade?”

There soaking wet on the top of a mountain she reflected on her life.  She realized that in her life she was always having to overcome obstacles.  Life is not easy.  It always seemed to be one thing after another.

Do you ever feel like that?  I do.  Do you ever wonder why do all these weird events seem to only occur in your life?  Have you ever looked around and thought everybody else has it so much easier?  If so, maybe you are just like this young woman.  Maybe you are wondering, “Why me?”

Well back on the mountaintop in the pouring rain, this young woman has an epiphany.  Oprah Winfrey calls it a “light-bulb moment.”  Regardless of what you call it, this woman realized something about herself.  She realized that she was a mountain climber.  She was not a valley dweller.  She did not have an easy life, and most likely she was not going to have one.  She was going to overcome obstacles her whole life.

Personally, I don’t know if anyone is a valley dweller.  Are there people who enjoy life on the easy street or do they just seem to?  Do people really have the Midas touch where everything they touch turns to gold?  I don’t know the answer to my own question; however, I do know that I am not a valley dweller.

I am a mountain climber.  I do not have the easy life. But I wonder, can homesteading families have an easy, valley-dweller life?  They are always working as they strive to be self-sufficient.  Their lives are dependent on good weather, the right amount of rainfall, and fertile animals.  If you have ever lived on a ranch or farm, then you know all the obstacles you face.  It is not an easy lifestyle.

So what changed for the young woman?  Here life did not.  She continued to endure obstacles and overcome circumstances.  Her life did not become easy.  However, her perspective on life changed.  She learned to see the obstacles as a chance to learn and grow.  She no longer grew weary and through pity parties for herself.  She rejoiced when she overcame a challenge and waited for the next one to present itself. Perspective and attitude can make a huge difference in how you perceive life, whether you enjoy it or not.

If you are considering the homesteading life, prepare yourself to climb mountains.  After reading this article, you say, “Never mind.”  But, let me tell you why my husband and I chose to homestead.  It is rewarding.  Vegetables never tasted so good until you sweat for them.  The same goes for meat, eggs, milk, etc.  Anything you raise will taste that much better to you.  It has no pesticides, fertilizers, etc., but most importantly you poured your heart and soul into raising it.

The view is so much prettier on top of the mountain compared to the valley.  Yes, the valley has its own charm, but from the mountain top you gain so much perspective.  You see the big picture.  For a little while you are on top of the world.  Sometimes you can see the next mountain you are going to have to climb, and sometimes you do not see anymore for miles.  Regardless of how many you climb, each one is an experience.  Each is rewarding.  So don’t let life get you down.  Change your perspective.  Rejoice that you are a mountain climber.  Accept it and do not long to be a valley dweller.

Likewise if there are any valley dwellers in the world.  Rejoice in your station of life.  Don’t take it for granted.  Either way, “be joyful always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  Are you a mountain climber or a valley dweller?

Now, I have told the story as it was told in the conference workshop.  Of course, I have added my own thoughts and ideas about homesteading because that is how the story affected me.  I simply applied it to my own life.  If you would like to read the story from the horse’s mouth, if you will, from the actual young woman who experienced the literal mountain climb and subsequent downpour, then you will want to go to the Itinerant Idealist.

Tags: life's obstacles, mountain climbing, overcoming, Sally Clarkson, valley dwelling

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 at 6:28 am and is filed under For Women, Homesteading. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.