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GOD WILL NOT LET YOU FALL
My family and I went camping this past summer. We took several hikes down the little river bed as it flowed through the Cuyamaca State Park near our home in San Diego. We stopped for a picnic lunch, and ate with our feet in the cool running water. As I ate my sandwich, I started tracing a trail through the rocks that shot up into the air in front of us. It was an old habit from days gone by of rock scrambling: no ropes, no hardware, no helmet, no brains! As teenagers, and even into college, my buddies and I would climb the rocks of Big Bend in Texas. I'm sure I'll get in trouble with the folks from safety but I confess...I got up and started to climb; partly to prove something to myself and mostly to show off for my bride of nine years. Our daughter of fifteen watched me for a bit and started to follow. She caught up with me and we went over the basics. I showed her the path she was to take which involved little skill and kept mom happy. I took the more difficult route and we met at the top. Unless you rappel, getting down is usually more difficult, so I stayed close to Tiffany in order to offer help should she need it. The tendency is to cling to the rock but often it's best to lean out away from it for better balance and stability. As she was coming down, I was below verbally guiding her. She couldn't see the next ledge below her, and was trying her best to stretch in order to touch it while hanging on to the hand hold above. I could see exactly what she needed to do and knew she was capable of doing it. I told her she just had to trust me. With confidence in Dad, she lowered herself the last few inches and fully planted her feet on secure rock. You could see the pride shining in her eyes (and probably mine too)! Just think of how many times our heavenly "Dad" is below us; seeing the next step perfectly, even when we are blind to the future. There are times when we simply have to trust God to not let us fall. The more we learn to depend on God the easier it gets to place our lives into those loving hands with confidence. The next time you find your footing somewhat unsure, and the fear of falling looms up from below, remember that God is there for you, anxious to show you the way and guide you one step at a time.
LT Stephen W. Nance, CHC, USNR |
