Okay - I need a show of hands. How many of you are afraid of heights? Come on now! We are all friends here. No need to be afraid. Well I am! And not ashamed to say it. Always have been and always will be. So why do I ask you say? Glad you asked!
One of my favorite places is Zion National Park in Utah - USA. It is the closest thing to heaven here on earth (my opinion of course). A very dear friend of mine introduced me to it almost 17 years ago. One of the trails you can take is called Angels Landing. Now they call it that for a reason! It sticks out by itself and they figured Angels were the only ones brave enough to go out there!!
Well - guess some people figured they are angels because someone decided to let people climb out there just to see the view. This friend is one of those people but she kept telling me it was worth it! She promised and that she would be there all the way to help me. She did everything to prepare me - showed me pictures - encouraged me that I wouldn’t have to go through with it if I didn’t want to.
I must admit that I was pretty nervous heading into it because I just don’t like heights. I like my feet on very low stable ground. Of course being in this area it’s not always stable! But you know what I mean. We got to the last half mile - which is walking along the top of this rock formation - which from my viewpoint looked about the size of a pencil! Just kidding - but seemed that way.
After climbing over rocks and grabbing chains to pull you up (or hold onto for dear life!) we made it out to the end. Let me tell you! It was well worth it! You can’t get a view of the canyon any other way. So we sat down - ate lunch and enjoyed to scene that God had placed before us. To sit and take in the awe and splendor of His creation! Wow!
I must admit that I was feeling pretty proud of myself for making it out there and not freaking out. But Barb was really good about reminding me to look up and not think about what was down - alll the waaaayyy down there:) So as we headed back I was feeling pretty confident about getting back down. Down being the operative word - the formation slopped down and so it forced your eyes to look down instead of up. I was doing fine until we hit one spot in the formation where it is at its narrowest point. I believe it is about 2-3 feet wide and the span was about 3-4 feet to cross. As I came down to that spot all I could see was the canyon floor way down there on both sides.
I froze - I could not move! The thought crossed my mind that I could stay here! Really I’ll just live here for the rest of my life. But I knew I didn’t have a choice. But I could not move!
Yet waiting for me on the other side was Barb:) She reminded me to look up and get my focus off of what was around me and look straight ahead. After what seemed like an eternity I managed to cross the little span (which seemed like 16000 ft long) and we went on our way. Now I will tell you - I seriously thought about getting down and kissing the ground after we got down but I refrained.
Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you are there now? You are standing still out of fear. You can’t go forward - what is ahead seems very dark and scary. It seems so much better to just stay where you are! But someone is beckoning you on. Calling you to move forward. Out of love and care for your well being they remind you to look up and come on ahead.
As the New Year is now here I want to encourage you to do two things.
1. Ask God to show where you are standing still. I promise that even though it may “look” scary He always has your best interest at heart. Trust Him - He will prove Himself Faithful!
2. Who has God put in your life that encourages you to look up? Who in your ‘circle of friends’ has influenced you in your Spiritual walk? Do two things:) Make sure they know how much you appreciate them - tell them. Then Thank the One Who gave them to you in the first place.
Oh by the way - I went back on that trail several more times because it was worth it and I learned the first time.
Originally Written 1/01/2002
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