| It is by far not an easy task, and though Kent McIlhany, who owns and operates the equipment assures the kids every year, that the lines are secure, because they are attached to the rock itself, there is still apprehension and fear in a lot of the kids. What if we fall??? So, we encourage them, reminding them that God is right there with them, cheering them on to stretch and grow. Sadly, there are always a few who won’t even try. I feel bad for those kids, because they are missing out on such an adventure. In his explanations, Kent always ads a spiritual component to the physical endeavor. He explains that when going down, our instincts tell us to lean into the rock, but in order to get down safely it is important to lean back, trust the rope and use the rock just to bounce off from, on the way to the ground. The rope is like God’s arms around us and the rock is where we can plant our feet to either take a rest or allow it to be our source for momentum for the next move. God will not let you fall; you just hold on to Him. And even if you cannot hold on anymore, He will hold on to you, He will not let you fall. Trust in the rope and the rock! Trust that God is holding you in His arms.
I can relate to the ones not wanting to even try because there is a teenager, still stuck in my mind somewhere who understands. I never was one of the brave kids. I participated sometimes, and other times I missed out and honestly, I regret that. I think there is a teenager inside all of us, who wants to hide and pretend it is no big deal if I don’t participate.
God has a plan for each of us, but that pesky teenager comes out in everyday life and wants to sabotage our life and our adventure with God. It has taken me a long time, to learn to say: “I trust you Lord” and actually mean it with all my heart. Life happens, whether it is that broken water heater right before Christmas, or a rock that seems way to steep and high for me to climb or rappel from. Fear does not discriminate; it tries to hook its ugly claws into everyone. It is up to us to find the courage to disregard it. Courage is built by doing something in spite of fear! And we never have to face it alone, our Father is just waiting for us to put our trust in Him! So, I choose to say: “I trust you Lord, you are my Rock!” |
