Readjusting the Grip

During the months after my first round of cancer battles, I pushed to carry on with life as I knew it. I don’t know how successful I was; memories are hazy. Mostly, I remember being unable to communicate what I needed to say in word or song or prayer, staring at walls for hours that seemed like moments, and playing this song over and over and over . . .

Lying at the bottom

I can clearly see the top

Pressed against this firm foundation

I count none of this as loss

As I struggle up each mountain

With every bloody knee

I am often prone to stumble

It’s this rock that catches me

It’s this rock that tells me

That’s what valleys are for

It’s from here that we measure

Just how far we must go

You don’t know how tall you stand

Until you fall

Mountains cast a shadow

At times it’s hard to tell

Will the darkness overtake you

Will you succeed or fall

Though I’ve climbed a thousand mountains

Stood upon their peaks

I still draw my greatest comfort

From the rock that lies beneath

It’s this rock that tells me

That’s what valleys are for

It’s from here that we measure

Just how far we must go

You don’t know how tall you stand

Until you fall

-Eli/ “Valleys” from Second-Hand Clothing album

I thank God for all who share the light you’ve been given. Hold it tightly and high for all to see!

This blog post is part of a series of writing (May 31-June 2012) by Tammy Fletcher Bergland about holding on and letting go.   tbergland.blogspot.com