On Belay with God
“On belay!”
“Am I on belay?”
“Yes, you are on belay!”
“Can I climb?”
“Climb on!”
This safety conversation made sure my belay ropes were fastened down and secured. Before I ascended a 50 foot tower or descended a 60 foot gorge attached only to a couple of ropes, I certainly was glad for any conversation that made me feel safer, especially with my fear of heights.
The day we were to complete the Tower Challenge I was slightly hopeful that I might attempt some of it but when I rounded the path in the woods and saw the monstrous tower looming in the sky, I knew right then I couldn’t climb to the top of that thing.
Our guide, Emily, helped a little by telling us this task was about personal goals, not climbing to the top. So, I picked the lowest level of the tower thinking, “Oh that will be easy. Maybe I’ll even go to the next level.”
So, my confidence grew as I watched others. Dwayne skinned right to the top, less than 3 minutes. Caroline, also scared of heights, made it to the top. Michael was making his way up when he fell off the tower. And guess what, he didn’t go anywhere, except dangling in space right beside the tower. The grabbed hold and began to climb on.
Katrina made it to the top pretty easily. I was impressed with her climbing skills. She even sat on the edge of the top platform and waved down at all us ants on the ground. But when Emily said, “Scoot over the edge and let go,” Katrina responded, “Can’t I just climb back down?”
“No,” Emily said. “It’s too dangerous.”
“No really,” Katrina retorted, “I’d like to climb down.”
“I’ve got you,” persuaded Emily. “I’ll let you down easily.”
So Katrina scooted to the edge, pinched her eyes closed, shouted, “Our father, who art in heaven,” let go and screamed a little until she realized the belay rope really was holding her. The ride down was smooth and easy; the ropes were holding fast.
Well, I’ll tell you that I made it to my original goal, the 1st platform, but that was as far as I got. And, like Katrina, the hardest part was letting go and allowing the belay ropes to lower me down.
Isn’t it like that with God too. Sometimes we have a hard time letting go of a situation even though we know God has it under control. Perhaps we think we can handle it, like Katrina wanting to climb back down, when really God’s way would be much easier.
Hindsight is 20-20 and I wish now that I had stepped out of my comfort zone just a little more and made it to that 2nd level way up in the sky. I can’t help but wonder how many times I’ve missed an adventure with God because I was too afraid. Too worried that I couldn’t handle the situation, when really I was sitting in the security of God’s belay ropes and even if I fell, He had me securely fastened by His everlasting strength.
What person would I have shared God’s hope with? Which little child would I have taught the song “Jesus Loves Me”? Who would I have stopped to pray with? What mission trip would I have embarked upon? Which stranger would I have asked, “Do you know my Jesus?” Where would I have traveled with my banner of faith flying high for others to see, leading them to a savior who offers love, peace and life?
With a belay rope you don’t have to worry about falling. You don’t even have to hang on. You just have to have faith that it will hold you. So my question is . . . If you know you’re attached to God’s belay rope and He’s shouted, “Climb on!”, then what are you waiting for?
