Valley Forge.

Valley Forge. The first in a series of travel writings.

When I joined my daughter on her 8th grade Washington D.C. trip, each day a word popped into my head. Different. Every day. I know this was a way for God to speak to me. For me to focus. On my surroundings. On being present. On looking at the past. And how it applied to me.

3/18/18

Perseverance. I heard this word. So very loud. As we set off up the hill.

To the place. Where George Washington brought his troops for the winter. In the bitter cold. We’ve all seen the paintings. Cloth wrapped feet. No shoes. Men freezing. As they waited.

They had left behind Philadelphia. The British had taken over. They now controlled the city. It was time to rest. To regroup. To wait.

Would there be victory after the wait? After the rest?

With the hindsight of history we have over 200 years later. We know the answer. We celebrate the answer.

Still there. The hand dug trenches and hills. To have the high ground. Because to have victory. To have the advantage. You need the high ground.

Washington knew this. His troops knew this.

We all have our own Valley Forge. When we escape. Evacuate. Reevaluate. Because the enemy has come in. And we need to wait. To rest. To regroup.

Prayer. Time in the Word. Leaning in. Listening.

He is our high ground. As we dig into His word. He lifts us up. Readying us for the next battle. For victory.