MEHER MOUNT

9902 Sulphur Mountain Road
Ojai, CA 93023-9375

Phone: 805-640-0000
Email: info@mehermount.org

HOURS

Wednesday-Sunday: Noon to 5:00 p.m.
Monday & Tuesday: Closed

MANAGER/CARETAKERS

Buzz & Ginger Glasky

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sam Ervin, Preident
Ron Holsey, Vice President
Ursula Reinhart, Treasurer
Jim Whitson, Director
Richard Mannis, Director

OFFICERS

Margaret Magnus, Secretary

Form Block
This form needs a storage option. Double-click here to edit this form, and tell us where to save form submissions in the Storage tab. Learn more

9902 Sulphur Mountain Rd
Ojai, CA, 93023
United States

(805) 640-0000

Photo Friday Blog

Filtering by Tag: Music

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

Meher Mount

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.


"Let my love open the door..."

Meher Mount

Your Friday photo is in honor of the 45th anniversary of the release on April 21, 1980, of the hit song, “Let My Love Open the Door,” by Pete Townshend.

This photo of the heart gate at Meher Mount was taken by Caretaker Ray Johnston just after he finished building it in 2003.

Volunteer Stephanie Ervin shares her Meher Baba coincidence involving the heart gate and Pete Townshend’s song.

Let my love open the door...
— Pete Townshend, Songwriter & Musician

Stephanie Ervin recalls her preparations for being a guest caretaker at Meher Mount in September 2018:

“I made a playlist for the two-and-a-half hour drive to Meher Mount with some of my favorite songs — one of which was ‘Let My Love Open the Door’ by Pete Townshend. It seemed fitting, since Townshend is a follower of Meher Baba, and the song always felt like it was surreptitiously about Meher Baba.

“The playlist was on shuffle, so I didn’t know when the song would play during my drive. Just as I reached the heart gate at the entrance to Meher Mount, this song started playing.

“I put my car in park to unlock the gate, leaving the music playing so I could hear it and chuckle as I opened the gates to drive through.”

“Let My Love Open the Door” on the album Empty Glass, was a Top Ten hit in 1980 for musician Pete Townshend of The Who. It was his only solo Top Ten hit.

Townshend, a follower of Meher Baba, originally brushed the song off as "just a ditty" after its release. Later in 1996, he revealed it was about Divine Love.

“It’s supposed to be about the power of God’s love,” Townshend said in a Rolling Stone interview. “That when you’re in difficulty, whether it’s major or minor, God’s love is always there for you.”


Lyrics — “Let My Love Open the Door”

When people keep repeating
That you'll never fall in love
When everybody keeps retreating
But you can't seem to get enough

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart

When everything feels all over
Everybody seems unkind
I'll give you a four-leaf clover
Take all worry out of your mind

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart, to your heart

I have the only key to your heart
I can stop you falling apart
Try today you'll find this way
Come on and give me a chance to say

Let my love open the door
It's all I'm living for
Release yourself from misery
There's only one thing gonna set you free
That's my love
That's my love

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door

When tragedy befalls you
Don't let it drag you down
Love can cure your problems
You're so lucky I'm around

Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
Let my love open the door
To your heart

Songwriter: Pete Townshend


Sources