This fall I worked at a camp running the top of a zip line. I was in charge of connecting the campers to the line itself. God placed me there not only for the campers but to show me something, and He showed up big time. This experience really parallels faith. Let me tell you what I mean. The kids would walk to the top of the zip tower holding their harnesses in their hands, the one thing that would hold them secure along the ride down. When they got to the top of this tower far above the ground, I would connect them to the line and check everything to make sure they passed the safety checks. Even though I went through all of the checks, a lot of the campers’ fears remained. They would wrestle with this unknown and the “what ifs” standing on the edge of the platform until they would just……jump. 

 The harness, I see as my faith in God, and the walk to the top of the tower is resembling our walking with Jesus. When kids got to the top, standing on the ledge, they were faced with the realness of trusting their harness (their faith) or turning away and going their own way. As they chose to commit to going down the zip line, it shows complete faith. They decided to trust their faith and go where there was an unknown of what could happen. When God calls us to follow him, we have a choice to jump and trust that he will hold us safely along the ride or to turn and head back down the stairs of the zip line tower. 

 Over the summer I heard the phrase, “You are blessed to be a blessing”. Hearing this opened my heart to really see how much God has blessed me in my own life. I wasn’t blessed because God favored me over the next person. I was blessed simply to go out and spread the knowledge and love I’ve learned from Jesus to others. When I felt God calling me into this mission trip, it didn’t come without fears.  I had a tug at my heart to go be Gods hands and feet, but I was comfortable where I was. I could stay where I am known and loved in the comfort of my community, or I can go where the Lord is calling me regardless of the situation. 

 I had a friend recently share something that she had heard at a college ministry group she attended. It was out of Matthew 14 when Jesus calls Peter to walk on the water with Him. Just as Peter doubted Jesus and started to sink in the midst of the storm, we would do the same if we take our eyes off Jesus in our storms. I feel like we start to sink when we focus on how big our storm is instead of focusing on how big our God is. He is the one who calls us on to the waters, not after the storm and the problems of life cease, but during them to test our faith. 

 So, to respond to this call, I am going. Eyes fixed on how big my God is. Taking this leap into the unknown and trusting that his love and strength will hold me above the waves I will face on this journey. There is no doubt that I will face them, but he will be there every step of the way. 

-Drew