We come to another creek crossing; our passage to the other side is a scattering of slippery stones. Everyone watches to see if _____ will fall in again. :) This time Rob challenges some of us to jump over the creek, with packs on. Two of the guys successfully make the leap. Rob throws down the challenge to me. I look at the creek and doubt if I can really make it. But I’ve got to try. What is this emotion I am feeling? Is it fear? Not fear of embarrassment, I can’t be embarrassed with these guys after what we have experienced. It’s not a fear of falling in. It’s not dangerous. The worse case scenario is that I get a little wet. It’s an odd feeling to try to do something that I’m not sure I can do.
The adrenaline is rushing as I back up and prepare for a running start. Now I’m running full speed towards the creeks edge. It’s just a few steps away; no turning back now. As I take off into the air I still feel like I’m going to come up short. Somehow I land on the other side, rolling over and wiping out, but dry. I made it! Hardly anyone was watching, and if they were they were probably yawning. But inside I am pumped! Why is that? What’s the big deal; it was just a small little creek. Two days ago I scaled a 12,000 foot peak. Yesterday I climbed down the face of a ridge. So what is it to jump a creek?
I realize that this is the first thing I tried this week that I didn't think I could do. It was the first real leap of faith I took. I think about my life, my family, my ministry; and I realize that everything about my life is fairly unchallenging. My everyday life does not require any risk. But this creek made me feel vulnerable.
God, are You calling me to take some leaps of faith in my life back home? I wonder what that kind of risk would look like.
Posted on
Wed, July 22, 2009
by Chris Spitters