Today I hung out with campers and counselors at the high ropes course. With harness, helmet, and- most importantly!- rope safely in place, I scaled the ladder and tree leading up to the suspended log I was supposed to walk across. I got onto the log without much of a struggle but just couldn’t bring myself to let go of the tree. I knew I was safe and that it was impossible for me to fall without my belaying friends at the bottom carefully lowering me to the ground. Nonetheless, I held on, irrationally, I guess. I stood frozen up there for a few minutes before finally moving a few inches and getting lowered down. I chickened out! I trusted all of the counselors and their ability to keep me and the campers safe. The problem was that I didn’t trust myself enough. I didn’t believe that I could walk across that log, even though I’ve done it before! I let fear win.
A bit later, as I watched the campers at the ropes course and cheered on the climbers, I heard one girl remind her brother, who was wobbling a little as he moved along on the “Tarzan” course, of their dad’s favorite Bible verse. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!,” she shouted up to him. It was such a beautiful act of encouragement! Afterwards, she went ahead and did the same course. While this camper was up there, moving along like a natural, I heard her say something to this effect: “I’m so scared, it’s unbelievable! But I’m doing it anyway!” Her words reminded me that I don’t need to let fear win. No matter how scared I feel, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. And that includes trusting God, and myself, enough to walk boldly forward, no matter where life takes me. God’s grace and love will be there to meet me every step of the way.
-By Dan Bell
Christian Formation Director
Doing All Things Through Christ