Encouragement
School was out for the spring holidays and I was looking to some rest and relaxation. Juan and Angelica wanted me to go with them to walk the “barranca.” Now you need to know something here. Juan is my age and runs marathons. This should have been sufficient warning. Then, the barranca is a huge canyon north of Guadalajara that descends at least three thousand feet to a river bottom. After hearing their excitement I said to my self, “I can do this, I can do this.”
Before leaving the house that Wednesday morning Judy reminded me “now honey remember you’re not 25 years old. Be careful.” An hour later Juan, Angelica and I were beginning our decent into the abyss with scores of other people. As we started our journey it was easy. I bounced down the path trying to show my youthfulness and vigor. I thought, this is going to be a cinch. Then I noticed the people who were climbing headed back to the top. They didn’t look so good. One lady was sitting on a rock with an eight year old fanning her. A man was climbing very slowly clutching his chest while several others had this far away stare in their eyes. No one looked too happy. I would ask them if there was a first aid station at the bottom and most just chuckled. One man said, “No, but there is a cemetery!” It was not looking good!
The view was spectacular and I even took out my camera to take a couple of pictures but my tranquility was interrupted each time I saw someone coming up the hill. Then I had an epiphany, one of those profound revelations. “For every step I take going down this mountain I have to take one to come up.” That’s when I started to get nervous.
Before long we had reached the bottom and then started our journey upward, and upward and upward! The first two hundred yards were not so bad but then it happened. My mouth started sucking wind like a fish out of water. I was listening to Angelica talk about a testimony she had heard but I didn’t hear anything. Each step became more and more difficult. I saw a farmer coming down the mountain leading two donkeys. I was tempted to offer him money to take me to the top, but my reputation was at risk. I had to make it to the top on my own! I didn’t care how long it would take but I HAD TO DO IT!
Finally we made it back to the top! I collapsed in a chair while Juan bought us a round of fruit juices to drink as we savored or conquest.
I learned some valuable lessons from this excursion. One is don’t let a marathoner convince you to do what he does. Whenever some one tells you something consider the source.
The other thing I learned is equally as simple. For every step you take going down a hill you have to take that step going up. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand this, yet the church is filled with people who have not captured this simple revelation. They stand on the edge of the grand canyon of sin admiring the lure of it’s beauty and decide to just take one step. Then another and another until they are on their way to the bottom. They even stop and take pictures as their flesh enjoys the vista. They may even be guided by people who have gone this way before. They think all is well, but as they continue their decent into the valley of sin and rebellion they notice those worn souls who are making the trek back to the top. Their struggle alarms the tourist but not enough to make him turn around. So he continues, deeper and deeper. Then he reaches the bottom. But the bottom is not all that it’s cracked up to be. It’s hot and muggy and your family, your car, your life is at the top of the hill from which you descended. This is not the place you want to build your house. You don’t belong here! There is only one solution, climb out! Now comes the task. Now comes the sweat and struggle. Yes, there is forgiveness in the valley. His mercy can reach you no matter how low you get but recovery requires effort. It’s time to escape the valley of sin and unleash your efforts to reach the place your journey began.
While we walked down the trail we were met by a park ranger. I asked her if anyone had ever died on this trail. She told us that she had seen six people who died while climbing the path from the bottom of the canyon. So it is with sin. Some will make it back to the top and others won’t.
The lure of sin will always be there. We live on the precipice of destruction looking out over the “barranca” of life. It looks beautiful but there are hidden dangers. Sin just isn’t worth the trip!
On my way back to the car I saw others starting their decent into the canyon. They were dry, eager, and …. foolish. I think the next time someone invites me to the barranca I will just bring my binoculars and stay at the top. After all, that’s where I belong, at the top!
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Reading your article, I was reminded of a reverse situation; climbing Mount Marcy in the Adirondacks many years ago. It's the second highest peak in the Appalachians. I was the oldest of the group, but in the best shape. Coming down was a lot easier than your ascent from the bottom of the cavern. The humorous thing was that my friend's large Airdale, who was so frisky on the way up was so tired the next day that he wouldn't get up to walk over to his food dish. My friend had to bring the dish to his dog.
There's certainly another message there....
Jerry
Pallachians.
Just plain Jerry