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Ziplining The Canyon
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 by Sarah Schwerin

The thin metal cable stretches over the canyon. In the distance, the trees curve menacingly, obscuring the end of the line and the other platform. Knowing my current weight, I doubt the cable will hold me. Why am I here? I’m going to plummet to my death.

Behind me, my husband’s steady voice. “You signed up for this. We’ve done this before. Just step off the platform. It’s safe. Trust me.”

It sounds easy. I have done it before. I hold on to my harness’ strap and step off the platform. With my knees curled into my chest, I zipline across the open space.

Faith is a stepping out and a stepping into. We step out of the safety of what we know and see. We step into the unknown. It may seem dangerous and impossible. We want our feet on the ground. We want the safety and surety of knowing exactly where we are going and how we are going to get there. The world and our brains tell us that something so flimsy could never hold us up. We can’t even see the end result of our faith.

But the Holy Spirit calls us. You signed up for this. Just step off the platform. Trust Me.

Despite my initial rush of fear, I love to zipline. The view as you speed along the cable. The safety of the platform when you end your journey. But sometimes my arms hurt from holding on. My hands burn when I do something I’m not supposed to do. And there’s always the fear when I take that first step.

When we follow Jesus Christ, the view will be wonderful. Blessings will meet us as we speed along the way. But sometimes we will hurt. Our hearts will break and our arms will ache from holding onto a faith that others will not understand. And we will never feel the safety of the other platform until we take our last breath.

Hebrews 11 is a list of men and women who signed up for the faith journey. They stepped out into an adventure that made little sense to others around them. Most of them never saw the end result of their faith. They didn’t receive their promised reward until they breathed their last breath.

The next chapter encourages us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God,” Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV.

Much like my husband spurred me into action, the men and women of faith from chapter 11 cheer us on. Their stories encourage us in the middle of our pain and struggles.

Step off the platform and step into a life of following Jesus. It may hurt and it will not be easy, but it will be worth it. At the end, we will find safety on the final platform. We will fall into the arms of the one who’s been cheering us on and believing in us since the creation of the world.

*Photo courtesy of pixabay.com

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Comments

Debbie Wilson From North Carolina At 6/10/2024 2:16:36 PM

A great analogy. And I love the could of witnesses who cheer us on.

Yvonne Morgan From Oklahoma At 6/7/2024 1:32:05 PM

Wonderful way to think about our faith Sarah. I’ve zipped line a few times and you described it so well.

Reply by: Sarah Schwerin

Thanks for reading.

Katherine Pasour From North Carolina At 6/7/2024 12:46:55 PM

You had me from the title. I love ziplining . Your application is right on target--step off the platform and follow Jesus. (I didn't start ziplining, ropes courses, and rock climbng until I was 50, but I love it). We're never too old for a new adventure and this applies to following our Lord, too.