BOULDERING OR BELAYING?

Romans 15:1-7
1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on Me." 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Through my teenage son Steven, I've been introduced to a new sport and a whole new vocabulary. The sport is indoor rock-climbing, which Steve can do all day long. (Of course, the mystery of how he can climb up and down walls all day without tiring but grow bone-weary after 15 minutes of helping me paint a room in our house still baffles me, but that's a topic for a different time.)

Not long ago, I didn't know a carabiner from a caribou. I thought a hex was something you'd see on pro wrestling. Now I know that a carabiner is a metal loop that you use to attach safety devices, and a hex is something you can put in a crack to keep you from falling when you're climbing outdoors.

And then there are these two terms: bouldering and belaying. Bouldering is climbing rocks freestyle--without a rope to stop you if you fall. Belaying means that you are climbing with the help of a rope, and a companion is holding the rope for your safety. One is solo; the other is done with assistance.

It seems to me that this is a good way to examine our spiritual lives. Are we using the bouldering or the belaying method? Are we trying to make it by ourselves in our walk with Jesus, or are we seeking the help of others? Just like in rock climbing, the danger of falling is much greater if we are bouldering our way through life.

When you go it alone spiritually, you run the danger of coming up with some very bad ideas about the Christian faith. You also run the risk of growing tired and falling spiritually because you have no support system. Even if you have dozens of others bouldering with you, you're not connected and can't really help each other.

The belaying method is the way to go. Find a trusted brother or sister in Jesus to support you spiritually.

It could make the difference between a successful climb and a disastrous fall. --Dave Branon

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I prefer to go it alone spiritually? If so, is it because I don't want to be accountable to others who might challenge me toward higher spiritual goals? * What areas of my life are dangerous if I go bouldering? What could happen if I fall? * When have I been rescued while belaying? Is there someone else I can help in the same way?

bottom line: Going it alone leads to a lonely end.

soul journey