What if, when you were 12-years-old, an old man, say, this man —>
had come up to you and said, “I have the power to decide how the next 30 years of your life will look. I’ll give you two choices, you tell me which one you want, and so it will be.”
- You’ll live a good life – a fairly average life. It’ll be predictable, but safe. For the most part, you’ll be in control because there’s nothing important enough going on that, if it went out of control, it would matter. Playing it safe is your motto, and keeping everything within arm’s reach is your game. You won’t earn a whole ton of respect, but you won’t be hated, either. You won’t really like or dislike your job, but it pays the bills. You like your family a whole lot, too. You believe in Jesus. You know that guy on the Dos Equis commercials? Yeah, you’re not close.
- Sometimes things are looking up in your life, other times not so much, but you love every minute of it. Every day is a new day, and there has been times when there was nowhere to turn but to God. He’s never hung you out to dry. You’ve questioned, wrestled, and sought out God with all your heart. Because of that, you’re faith is deep-rooted and unshakable. You’re not searching to find out if there’s something more to life – you already know. But every day, you’re finding out just how much more. You know that status quo thing? You’re not close.
At age twelve, which do you choose? Which would you choose now? So far, which one have you chosen?
There’s something in us when we are young that isn’t afraid. Something that dreams of being free. Something that wants to take a risk and something that wants to trust everything to a Provider. At what point in our lives does the fear set in? At what point
did we give in to a 12 step destiny – to a near life experience?
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8
I was scared of heights and possibilities.
When I was 15, I refused to climb a ladder to clean the gutters. Dad climbed and cleaned, I stood at the bottom and held. In hindsight, I guess it was a pretty nice deal for me. So that’s about how it went when it came to heights, until the summer of 2008.
The fall was 450 feet, but you wouldn’t know it. I stood in the door of the gondola, trying desperately to see what I had gotten myself into. But there was nothing. White nothing.
The hanging gondola swayed back and forth, and the count began. A million thoughts ran through my head. One! (No way I’m doing this) Two! (It’s not too late, just suck up your pride and say you’re too scared) THREE!! (!*&$ %!&#$ @! @&! @*#& !*!&#)
Earlier that day, I (over) confidently walked into Alpine Raft, one of a dozen outdoor adventure companies in the small town of Interlaken, Switzerland. It was the last few days of a month-long trip around Europe with two college friends. I decided to end the trip by doing something crazy to end a crazy trip. We just so happened to be in Interlaken, the city often called the ‘Adventure Capital of Europe’. Time to conquer my fear.
The highest bungee jump in the United States is located in Oregon, at an impressive 191 feet above the ground. The Interlaken bungee jump is in the heart of the Swiss Alps above a gorgeous lake – 450 feet above a gorgeous lake. A small gondola rises up on wires above the lake, and – according to the brochure – the Alps can be seen for hundreds of miles.
After a half-hour drive with a dozen or so other adventure-seekers, I noticed the temperature had dropped about 20-degrees, and there was snow on the ground. At the same time I stepped into the gondola, the clouds began to roll over the lake. The gondola creaked, and I began the ascent.
There were no breathtaking Swiss Alps when the gondola came to a stop. I couldn’t
see any lakes or trees, either. There was no sky. Impossibly thick, blinding, white clouds had overtaken… everything. The door swung open. It was time for a leap of faith1.
I’m of the opinion that you can’t scream while falling through clouds at terminal velocity. I can still see The White Nothing rush past me. When I emerged from the clouds, the lake was clear and approaching fast. With eyes shut and knuckles white, it was time to start slowing down. I had the pleasure of writing a story in Cigar Press Magazine about what happened next:
“The rope around my ankles tightened up, but before I could stop I hit the water. My entire body submerged; it was all over. To avoid lawsuits, Alpine Raft would probably just cut the cord and leave me at the bottom of the lake to never be seen again.
But the bungee cord extended, and I flew out of the water and into the clouds. I didn’t have time to gasp for air as I dove back into the water, and the cycle repeated two more times. Somehow, I was pulled into a canoe by an Alpine Raft employee. ‘That had to be cold,’ he said. ‘The lake was covered in ice until about a week ago.’ “
I was scared of heights and possibilities.
Have you ever taken a leap into the unknown? A completely abandoned blind step of faith? Ever jumped into something that was absent of your control? Ever stepped out into nothing and relied on God to catch you?
Really – Have you? This is not rhetorical.
As I leap into the unknown, there are no bungee cords to keep me safe. When I signed up for the World Race a few months ago, I probably looked about the same as I looked walking into Alpine Raft for the first time. Confident, full of faith, and no fear. But now, training camp begins Saturday, and the gondola has made its ascent.
“Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I go with you now? I would die for you!” “Would you really die for me?” Jesus asked. “I tell you for certain that before a rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t even know me.’ “
How easy it is to have faith before the blinding clouds arrive. As I stand in the doorway of the gondola and look down into nothing, fear has set in. My last freefall lasted a few seconds, this one will last 11 months. Blindness and the same doubts are back.
“What was I thinking? How am I going to find partners to help support me? You can’t really do this. Living on $3 a day? You don’t even have a bungee cord!”
On Saturday, the count hits three, and I take the leap. With eyes wide open and knuckles white, blinding fog will begin to rush past me again at terminal velocity. But this time, when I emerge from the clouds there will be no cold, dark lakes. Instead, I’ll plunge headfirst into perfect love, sincere faith, and unwavering hope. Instead, I’ll be submerged into a better understanding of Free Grace and Sonship.
“Right away, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don’t have much faith. Why do you doubt?” When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!’ “
That’s a possibility I could never fear.
One… Two… Three…
No parachutes, or safety nets here
One foot in the water to face these fears
Coming out strong like I can’t be wrong
I said, hey, I won’t fall in the middle
– Mat Kearney2
1 I’m often reminded of Indiana Jones in many ways. My dad likes to remind me of when I was a little kid and we would watch Indiana Jones. I would put on a hat that resembled Indy’s, and say, “Look dad – I Inyanna Jons!” However, I was not reminded of Indiana Jones in 2008, when rumors for a new Indiana Jones film emerged. I was not reminded, you see, because it never happened. Though there were rumors, the idea of a fourth film was quickly extinguished by men with integrity and honor. The last Indiana Jones film was called, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Because ‘Last’ is final, and there cannot be 2 lasts, anybody that says there was a fourth film is a liar. The same can be said for the film Wall Street and Dumb and Dumber, two more American film classics. Sequels never happened. You may ask, what do these three films have to do with each other? I’ll tell you. There is a thief out there that comes only to steal, kill and destroy… great movies. His name is Shia LaBeouf, and there were rumors (and only rumors) that he was involved in making terrible sequels to these three movies. Though they never happened, keep your eyes out for future terrible sequels involving LaBeouf. I’ve already heard rumors for Citizen Kane II and Casablanca II: Exit Visas Never Sleep.
2 I was a sophomore at Oakland High School when a guy from Oregon named Mat Kearney played a few songs on old, crappy speakers in the auditorium for about 25 kids at an FCA meeting (or some club like it). And by played, I mean rapped, as he had just moved to Nashville and was pretty much only a Christian rapper at that point. No one knew who he was at the time, but I appreciated his music then just as much as his popular songs today. I’m sure this won’t be the only blog I write over the next year that includes his lyrics.
New Reader? Thanks for visiting – Feel free to add your e-mail address in the space provided on the left to receive blog updates. Also, if you’re interested in partnering with me, please contact me, or Click Here.
