Baca

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

As they go through the Valley of Baca

    they make it a place of springs;

    the early rain also covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength;

    each one appears before God in Zion” (Psalm 84:5-7, ESV)

We all journey. Psalm 84, Pilgrim Song on the way to Temple worship. Yet, we travel through the Valley of Baca—which meant “The Valley of Weeping,” “The Valley of Pain,” “The Valley of Trouble and Tears.” We trudge through the mud, the gray drizzle, the drenching downpour where we feel like we’re drowning in our own tears. The sun seems hidden and all in view are storms.

Yet—we pilgrims make it a place of springs. Eyes so set on God, we see the silver lining in the clouds. We see the glory awaiting in the Temple. We see the flowers springing forth.

And see! See! Here comes one like the Son of Man, “Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills” (Song of Songs 2:8). Through the Valley of Baca-Gethsemane. Now the earth trembles to feel the steps of the Resurrected King. Each footstep the grass trembles at LIFE HIMSELF, and green is left in his wake. Palestinian wildflowers spring up and arch their colored heads, yellow, red, white, blue! Waving just like the palm branches and cloaks in a previous triumphal entry. Here, triumphal entry! And earth sings!

And we—Christ in us. As we trudge through the Valley of Baca, let Christ in us bring forth, bring up life. Where we see pain, let us bring comfort and hope. Where we see drugs and addictions and death and disease, let us bring freedom and life. Where we see broken souls, let us bring peace and love. Green ripples through the Valley of Baca, lilies of the valley wind up in answer spreading forth fragrance. We bear the Living Lord, present in tears and, through tears, life-giving in us, through us.