"It's in the valleys that I grow..."

Your Friday photo…

This photo from Avatar’s Point at Meher Mount looking southeast to the Santa Monica Mountains and Heritage Valley was taken by former caretaker Buzz Glasky.

This song was adapted by singer-songwriter, Pam Rubenstein, from the poem, “It’s In the Valleys I Grow,” by Jane Eggleston.

“Sometimes my life seems hard to bear,
Full of troubles, tears, and woe,
It’s then I must remember,
It’s in the valleys that I grow.”

— Jane Eggleston/Pam Rubenstein

---

It’s In the Valleys That I Grow

Sometimes my life seems hard to bear,
Full of troubles, tears, and woe,
It’s then that I must remember,
It’s in the valleys that I grow.

If I never left the mountaintop,
And knew nothing more of pain,
I seldom would remember You,
And my life would be in vain.

I have so much to learn about,
And my growth seems very slow;
Sometimes I need the mountaintops,
But it’s in the valleys that I grow.

And I don’t always understand
Why things happen as they do,
But I’m very sure of one thing,
My dearest Friend will see me through.

Forgive me for complaining, Lord,
When I’m feeling very low,
Just flash me a reminder:
It’s in the valleys that I grow.

Do what You must to make me strong,
And use me every day,
To share Your love with others,
And help them find their way.

Thank you for the valleys, Lord,
For this one thing, I know:
The mountaintops are glorious,
But it’s in the valleys that I grow.

~Jane Eggleston, Poet, and Pam Rubenstein, Singer & Songwriter

---

Listen to the Song
Click to hear Pam Rubenstein sing “It’s In the Valleys That I Grow” on her solo CD, It’s Always Now.

---

About

• Jane Eggleston was a church volunteer at Grace Baptist Church in Williamsburg, VA. She wrote this poem, “It’s In the Valleys I Grow,” in 1977.

• Pam Rubenstein is a professional musician, and artist, and follower of Avatar Meher Baba. She and her late husband, Danny Rubenstein, created and performed original music inspired by Meher Baba. Her solo CD It’s Always Now is available from Sheriar Books.

---

"...the solid mountain of our true nature stays where it's always been."

Your Friday photo…

One late summer evening, photographer and guest caretaker Juan Mendez took this photo of the Topa Topa Bluffs as seen from Meher Mount. Long-time volunteer Sam L. Ervin suggested these words from the Sufi poet Rumi.

“There are many winds full of anger, and lust and greed. They move the rubbish around, but the solid mountain of our true nature stays where it’s always been.”

— Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī

---

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, also known as Rumi, was a 13th century poet and Islamic scholar. Avatar Meher Baba enjoyed listening to Rumi's poetry and praised him as one of the greatest minds of all mystical and spiritual literature.

---

Source
Coleman Barks, “Feeling the Shoulder of the Lion: Poetry and Teaching Stories of Rumi,” p.91, Shambhala Publications, 2000. (Selections from Rumi’s epic poem, Mathnawi.)

---

"It was a beautiful and serene moment."

Your Friday photo…

Board vice president Ron Holsey had the opportunity to be a temporary caretaker last summer. Here’s how he spent one evening.

“It was a beautiful and serene moment.”

— Ron Holsey, Temporary Caretaker

---

One of my favorite things about being a guest caretaker at Meher Mount is the stillness and the quietude that comes at nightfall.

The sun had just gone down, and I decided to walk out to Baba's Tree and Avatar's Point to experience the stillness.

When I looked back toward the Visitor Center, I saw the moon as a thin sliver in the night sky. It was a beautiful and serene moment.

~Ron Holsey, Board Vice President & Temporary Caretaker

---

"...there is a field. I'll meet you there." - Rumi

This week’s Friday photo…

The viewpoint is from Avatar's Point overlooking what is known as the Prasad Orchard. The Pacific Ocean is in the background. The photo was taken by Caretaker Ray Johnston who created the heart in the field and selected the following Rumi poem.

AVATAR’S POINT at Meher Mount. (Photo: (c) Ray Johnston)

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.”

— Rumi

Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī, also known as Rumi, was a 13th century poet and Islamic scholar who was born in Afghanistan and wrote poetry in multiple languages, particularly Farsi.

Avatar Meher Baba enjoyed listening to Rumi's poetry and praised him as one of the greatest minds of all mystical and spiritual literature. This poem in particular talks about Divine love.

---