Peace in the Valley

Lately I’ve been driving back forth between my home in northern Virginia, and Pittsburgh, PA.  Along I-70, in Fulton County PA you get this amazing view of this beautiful valley that’s a patchwork of farms and pastures.  I’m not sure what the name of the valley is, but it’s just north of Bethel Township.  In the middle of the valley there’s this pretty little white church that somehow manages to stand out, even though it is so small compared the expanse of the valley.  It all looks so peaceful and idyllic from up above.  It reminds me of gospel song whose origins are unknown to me, but was sung best to my liking by Johnny Cash at San Quentin, called Peace in the Valley.  It always calls out to me, because I’m usually feeling kinda tired by the time I reach that stretch of highway, but I’m always happy to see the valley.

 

Well I’m tired and so weary,

But I must go along

Until the Good Lord calls me away.

And the morning’s so bright,

And the lamb is the light,

And the night is as black as the Sea.

There will be peace in the valley for me someday.

There will be peace in the valley for me.

Dear Lord, I pray,

There will be sadness, no sorrow, no trouble will be.

There will be peace in the valley for me.

 

Maybe one of these days I’ll try to find my way down into the valley.  If you’d like to hear the version of the song that plays through my mind as I drive past, you can hear it here.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdxC68JLW2Q