Hinds’ Feet on High Places

Title: Hinds’ Feet on High Places
Author: Hannah Hurnard
Major Themes: Christian Allegories, Surrender, Faith
Synopsis: As Much-Afraid journeys to the High Places, she displays an allegory of the Christian life.

I was sitting in a youth conference, listening to a sermon, the first time I remember hearing Hinds’ Feet on High Places mentioned. It sounded interesting—perhaps helpful—so I wrote it down in my notebook with double arrows pointing at it, hoping to remind myself to look the title up later. I did look it up after I got home—but we didn’t have it on our shelf, as I thought, so I forgot about it until I saw it on a friend’s counter one day. That led to buying the audiobook several months later, and I finally got to listen to it. What a good read! I’m sorry I waited so long to get into it!

Much-Afraid has helped the Chief Shepherd for years, and always loved the peace she feels when she is with him, but her family, the Fearings, want her to have nothing to do with him. She has crippled feet and a twisted mouth, and though she longs for something better, she doesn’t know how to get it—until one day, when the Fearings inform her that she is to marry her cousin Craven Fear. Fleeing to the comfort of the Chief Shepherd, she tells him her woes—and he invites her to take a journey to the High Places, where the King lives, and where she will no longer be within reach of all her relatives. Seeing that that will be her best and only true option, Much-Afraid starts on her journey, joined by Sorrow and Suffering as companions.

I’ve loved allegories since I was very young—Pilgrim’s Progress in dramatized audio form was one of my first audiobook finds, and I spent many, many happy hours listening to it over and over! Though it took a long time to understand the allegorical side of the story, I’ve always been drawn to that genre. Several years ago, I enjoyed Sacred Allegories as well, and now Hinds’ Feet in High Places has been added to my favorites list. There’s something about Much-Afraid’s journey. Though it doesn’t quite hold up to the caliber of Pilgrim’s Progress (or, perhaps, having known that one so long that I’m biased by default), several parts of this allegory really blessed me. One part, in particular, was the lesson of surrender that came through. It wasn’t an easy one for Much-Afraid to learn, and not an easy one for me to observe. But it was precious in its own way, and in the weeks I’ve had since reading this book, that has stayed with me.

If you appreciate allegories, or in general any story that points you to Jesus, this is an excellent book. It’s written in old English, so I’d almost recommend listening to it instead of reading it—somehow, I find books like that easier to get through in audio. Prepare to be challenged and inspired in your walk with Christ.

No warnings!

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