RALLY IN THE VALLEY

RALLY IN THE VALLEY

Introduction

There’s a verse of Scripture that says, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God” Isaiah 40:1. It’s during hard times like these that we really need to comfort each other.

The word “comfort” is made up of two words, i.e., com, together, and, fortis, meaning strong. Add it all together and we have “together strong”. With regards to the present coronavirus crisis, that is what I am attempting to do by the following, i.e., to make us strong as a community.

Ben Lomond

First, I’ll talk about the view, and then I’ll talk about you.

The View

“It is the valley, the lovely valley where the Leven flows.” So goes the words of a song we’re all no doubt familiar with. We all need to rally in the lovely valley! To help in this important task and worthy cause, please ask yourself the following question:

Monkey Island, River Leven, Balloch

What do I (i.e., you) like best about the valley?

Think hard. Is it the scenery? Let’s spend a wee moment talking about the view. Think about it: We have two grand rocky sentinels standing guard at each end of our valley. One at Balloch, and one at Dumbarton.

In Balloch, with sentimental and oft teary eyes, summer or winter, we raise a toast to our beautiful Ben. Proud and magnificent! And, where the Leven flows, at Dumbarton, as our river shakes hands with the Clyde, the sons and daughters of the Rock raise a glass (of Ballantine’s?) to the twin peaks. Steadfast and ancient!

The Leven flows under many bridges as it meanders through Alexandria, Bonhill, the Renton, and Dalreoch, as it takes Loch Lomond’s thirst-quenching contents to water the Elephant at the Castle. (Aye, my faither worked in Denny’s Shipyard back in the day! And, “Weel done Cutty Sark!”)

We’ve walked alongside the Leven, we’ve swam in the Leven, fished in the Leven, sailed on the Leven, and (some of us) have drank whisky made with the water from the Leven.

How are you coping during this time of personal trial? Drinking more? Feeling a bit depressed? Haratio Gates Spafford wrote the following in 1873 after hearing the tragic news from his wife that they had lost their four daughters at sea (not long after having lost their son in a fire):

“When peace like a river attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll;

whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

‘It is well, it is well with my soul.’”

Aye, “It is the valley, the lovely valley where the Leven flows.” Take a wee stroll by the River Leven to calm your nerves, to find comfort for your soul, and may peace like a river attend your way. But, may the Ben and may the Rock comfort you because they remind you of the One who is behind the mountain and the Rock, i.e., God, to whom these are clear signposts.

The valley where the Leven flows does have some very beautiful scenery. Doesn’t it? This is one of the reasons why you love the place. Isn’t it? But, is that what you love most about the place? The scenery? Or is it the people? (It can be both of course!)

You

Look at the present rally in the valley. The valley folk are rallying to a cause. What cause? It’s the love cause. Love is a verb, a “doing” word. Butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers are all uniting in seeking to help others through this time of crisis. Like never before, we’re looking after our elderly, our sick and infirm. It’s as if wee Willie Winkie is running through the toon again:

“Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town, 

Up stairs and down stairs in his night-gown.

Tapping at the window, crying at the lock, 

Are the children in their bed, for it’s past ten o’clock?”

We’re checking on each other. We’re looking out for each other. We’re loving our neighbours as ourselves. Just like the Good Book says we should!

The coronavirus is mysterious to us. But sometimes, so is God.

“God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform” is the opening line of a hymn written by William Cowper in 1773. He wrote it just before he descended into a major bout of depression. Things became so bad in his eyes that he wanted to drown himself. But he didn’t! The hymn goes on to say:

“Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.”

Tobias Smollett Monument, Renton

So, what are you afraid of? We’re all mainly (a)feart of the unknown. Our enemy, the coronavirus, is a hidden enemy. It is an unseen enemy. It operates by pure sneakiness and stealth.  It is an insidious interloper, an unwanted intruder. A murderer! Blindfolded, we are battling with darkness, shooting at shadows.

However, ponder for a moment the fact that we’ve already seen the hand of God at work in our midst. He’s been working in us, with us, and through us. How so? As we love our neighbours as ourselves. Just like He told us to! Ponder those words again:

“Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.”

Courage in the face of adversity brings blessings in the end! Who’d have thought?

Think about it: I heard in church that the thing that is most commanded in the Bible is not found in the Ten Commandments, but in the words, “Fear not” as in God saying to His people, “Be not afraid”.

You all know those words in Psalm 23? You’ve all sung them (perhaps too many times) at funerals. Why do we tend to sing the Shepherd Psalm? Its words are intended to bring you comfort. Remember, “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God”?

Dumbarton Castle Wall

Aye, it’s dark right now in the Vale. But take courage, take comfort from following:

“Yea, though I walk through death’s dark vale,

yet will I fear none ill,

for Thou art with me; 

and Thy rod and staff me comfort still.”

There’s that word “comfort” appearing again.

“If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31b. And, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38-39. You may as well add the word “coronavirus” to that list

Conclusion

God is about good news to people, i.e., good news to people especially in times of adversity. E.g., “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

Dumbarton Quay, Castle & Rock in background

Up and down the valley, from the bay at Balloch to the quay at Dumbarton and beyond, pray for each other, and answer your own prayers by physically helping others. There’s a blessing in it for you, and for the whole community. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” Galatians 6:9.

It may not be exactly the one you know, but here’s one version of The Valley Where the Leven Flows:

There’s a valley nestles neatly ‘neath the shadow of the hills 

To which my heart is dear

Its beauty and its splendour with a joy my bosom fills

Tho I be far or near

It is the valley, the lovely valley where the Leven flows

In sun or showers, tis beauty’s bower

When the heather blows

With joy my heart is always dancing,

No other part is so entrancing 

As in the valley, the lovely valley

Where the Leven flows

If you ask the lonely exile who has left it for a while

And gone across the foam

To name the spot he loves the best, he’ll answer with a smile

‘It is my home sweet home’

Words and Music by Archibald McFarlane.

Let us continue to rally in the valley, the lovely valley where the Leven flows.