Excerpts from "Hinds' Feet on High Places" by Hannah Hurnard

Posted: 2007-12-06 15:39:08

Excerpts from Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, Living Books, 1975

Habakkuk 3:19, He will make my feet like hinds’ (deer) feet and he will make me to walk upon my high places.

Introduction: “Much Afraid” is the name of a young lady who visits the Shepherd regularly and is encouraged by what he says. (this book is an allegory)  She is not loved or appreciated in the Valley she lives in and has problems in her life and with her personality. After some years of visiting the Shepherd she is offered a chance to go to the High Places by invitation of the Shepherd and not have to live in the Valley any more. She is promised to be guided to the High Places to live, to have her feet be made as hinds’ feet, and to have her name changed. One requirement before she goes is that she must learn to love in the new Kingdom of Love that she is going to, but that the Shepherd will put that seed in her heart that will grow and flower if she wants it and wants to go to the High Places. She decides to take this journey not knowing that it will be very hard and that she will be changed in some dramatic ways all along her journey. Some of the things she learns are as follows. 

P.12,   Whatever happens to us is by God’s permission and design. Every sacrifice we make and every abandoning of ourselves to his will is a means of furthering us on the way to the High Places which he desires to bring every child of his while they are still living on the earth. His goal is that we would experience unbroken union with him not letting these (negative) happenings side track us.

P. 18,   Two disfigurements that the young lady named “Much Afraid” had (a crooked mouth and crooked feet). She feared that there would no deliverance from these and that they would continue to mar her service always. (the Shepherd would be disappointed and she would be seen by others in a negative light). 

P. 24,   To go up to the High Places you must have a growing love in your heart. “Much Afraid” responded, I think I have a longing in my heart to be loved and admired, (but not very much love for others). Then the Shepherd said, I will plant the seed then in you, if you want it and it will grow and flower. But know this, if you love you will be hurt, but to love is happy, and the pain in love will not be as significant to you as the happiness of loving others.

P. 29,   Know this, that growing into the likeness of what you want to be will be a long process. 

P. 33,   (After some time of walking with the Shepherd, “Much Afraid” says) What is the use of thinking of going to the High Places? I could never reach them, for the least, little thing is enough to turn me back.

P. 56,   How is it that wild flowers are not seen by men and animals just walk on them and don’t appreciate them? The wild flowers have a wonderful lesson to teach. They offer themselves confidently and willingly and with no one to appreciate them. They sing their joyous song to themselves that it is so happy to love even though one is not loved in return (but God loves their song).

P. 57,   The greatest victories and most beautiful flowers in our life to the Lord, no one ever knows about.

P. 60,   Once you go high (with the Lord) you will want to go low to do all the painful work of self giving and then go high again to be rejuvenated. Only in the High Places of Love can we receive power to pour ourselves down in utter abandonment to give to others. (Like water coming down and falling from the high mountains to give drink to those below).

P. 61,   I planted the seed of love in your heart and already it has begun to make you hear and see things which you had not noticed before (bubbling water sounds, the color of flowers, birds songs, the people you see each day (your two guides)).

P. 63,   If I (the Shepherd) carried you to the top (of the High Places, without all the struggles you are going through) you would never develop hinds’ feet for yourself and you could not be my companion and go where I go. When you get your hinds’ feet then you will be able to go with me “leaping upon the mountains.” If you don’t fully learn love you will be on the smaller hills always in reach of your enemies (they will be able to bother you). 

P. 77,   One of “Much Afraid’s” enemies named Pride met her on her path and said, The Shepherd will abandon you when you get to the top (the High Places). Has he not surprised you so far with your traveling companions Sorrow and Suffering (detours through a desert), might he also surprise you with other things (of course always saying they are for your good) but still very hard to do? He says you are going to the Kingdom of Love? You were never loved in the valley where you lived because of your deformities, how will you be loved up there (in the High Places) where there are no blemishes? 

P. 82,   This desert path contradicts all that you (the Shepherd) promised. I want to go up to the High Places (but we are going away from them now). The High Places are postponed but for how long or why is not told. Just that it is to be. OK, I will do it, as a burnt offering of my heart and to be in your will and do whatever pleases you.

P. 91,   I saw the little golden flower in the desert with one drop of water falling on it from time to time, it’s name is Acceptance with Joy. (And so that is what I must do).

P. 105,   This is a great day to remember “Much Afraid” said the Shepherd. The day you promised to wait patiently until I give you your hearts desires. (I have promised you many things and I cannot lie).

P. 126,   I don’t think I want hinds’ feet, if it means I have to go on a path like that, she said slowly and painfully (as she looked ahead).

P. 145,   Don’t ever allow yourself to begin to picture what it will be like (ahead). Believe me (said the Shepherd), when you get to the places which you dread you will find that they are as different as possible from what you have imagined….

P. 152,   Much Afraid was now accepting her two guides more as (friends) and companions and she seemed to be more alive than ever before to beauty and delight in the world around her. She was enjoying more every little detail of her life (the morning star, the sound of the rain, the safety and peace of her temporary little hut).

P. 172,   At one point Much Afraid was tempted with these thoughts. Instead of doing what the Shepherd wanted maybe she should choose the path she wants. Her sorrow and suffering could be ended at once and she could plan her own life in the way she liked best, without the Shepherd.

P. 174,   Now he wants me to go down into the Valley of Loss and loose everything I had gained before, and he wants me to climb the highest wall I have ever seen. (Suffer yourself to loose all of the past). 

P. 176,   If all things that you promised are not true (although I believe you cannot lie) still it is you that I will follow. (I have none other). 

P. 179,   Love is beautiful and it is also terrible (in the Shepherd), terrible in its determination to allow nothing blemished or unworthy to remain in the beloved.

P. 182,   This very high cliff that you dreaded will take no effort this time. We will be carried in these chairs on guide wires, without any struggling or striving on your part.

P. 189,   When there is a mist over the High Mountains where you are going (and you can’t see them) you may think they are not real (at times) but then the mist will part for a few moments some days and frame the truth. You have seen reality, the mist is the illusion. Whatever happens I mean to bring you up there exactly as I promised.

P. 198,   Now I want you to take the promises of hinds’ feet, going to the Higher Places, and the love I have put in your heart and offer all these promises as a burnt offering.

P. 202,   These promises of hinds’ feet and to go to the High Places have not come to pass as yet. But I must admit I am walking in higher places than I ever have before? I will hold on to these promises. So what if I die now without all I wanted?

P. 211,   I am now at this “grave” and at the place where I make a burnt offering of all promises. One flame now burns in Much Afraid steadily, the flame of concentrated desire to do his will, everything else had died and fallen to ashes.

P. 241,   You always saw me (Much Afraid) as I will be (like a queen walking with grace) not as I was. And now I tell you (my Shepherd) I greatly want to regard others in the same way. (Last page) I greatly desire to go back to my valley and help those who are so miserable. The Shepherd says, that is what I do, let us go there.