I’ve been out of town conducting training for Mountain View Backcountry, Young Life’s Beyond Malibu, Wilderness Ranch, RMR Backcountry, and Ute Trail programs this past week. So I asked several guest bloggers to post while I’m catching up a bit. This is a guest post by my friend, Edy Sutherland. You can visit her website and follow her on facebook.
Spiderman on Ice!
A Legion of Superheroes?
Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.– Galatians 6:4
Spiderman – a character out of a comic book, right? That’s what I thought until one day, in the sun deprived canyon east of Vail, Colorado, I witnessed Spiderman run up a wall of ice.
With ice picks in hand and crampons secure to his mountaineering boots he stood in quiet reflection and prayer. In a sudden outburst, he took off in a sprint toward the glistening frozen waterfall. His stride was long. His pace was rapid. I’d never seen ice climbing like this.
The event happened so quickly — a flash in my memory. It almost seems unbelievable except for the fact I witnessed the death-defying climb. Now consider, he was on-belay, only at the speed he was progressing up the vertical ice wall, no one could keep up with pulling in the slack. He was at the top clipping in to the anchor before the person belaying took his next breath.
For the sake of protecting his reputation as a wilderness guide of impeccable safety, Spiderman’s identity will remain anonymous. I too climbed the frozen waterfall that day. Only, as a beginner, my travel time was more than 30 times longer.
Appreciate Others’ Abilities Instead of Comparing Yourself or Competing with Them
If I were to make the mistake of comparing myself to Spiderman, I would invoke feelings of inadequacy or self-condemnation. But, I’m reminded in our journey of faith, God wrote a unique superhero story for me and you too (Matthew 10:30). We’re not to feel defeated or discouraged when God’s comic book storyline does not meet our shortsighted expectation. We must continually remind ourselves He pens the words and colors the pages of our unique life as well as we use our gifts and talents for His glory (Hebrews 12:2).
The HUMBLE Role of Outdoor Leaders… Like Behind the Scenes Superheroes Yet Really Making Heroes of Others…
As outdoor ministry leaders, we become a legion of behind the scenes superheroes (Ephesians 4:4-6), by infusing God’s peace (Isaiah 26:3) to the hearts of those entrusted in our care. Our testimonies proclaim the good news of God’s sovereignty (Revelation 1:8). My story may not include running up a wall of ice but, God will certainly use my redeemed life and yours too for His glory (Matthew 4:19). We have to be faithful to know God and experience God as a passionate disciple so that we GO and make disciples (Matthew 28:19).
Let us not compare ourselves to one another but rather test our own actions (Galatians 6:4).
How Do We Stand up to the Following Test?
T – Are you truly a disciple who follows Christ? Study and consider:
- Do you truly love God (Matthew 10:37-39)?
- Do you love others as Christ loves us (Matthew 13:34-35)?
E – Are you continually seeking the Lord to examine your heart? Study and consider:
- Do you ask God to search you and lead you in His everlasting ways (Psalm 139:23-24)?
- Do you live by faith to please God or men (1 Thessalonians 2:4)?
S – Are you working out your salvation with awestruck wonder of God? Study and consider:
- God is holy and we are not (Psalm 99:5)?
- Do you offer your life in service to God (Romans 12:1)?
T – Are you continuously thankful? Study and consider:
- Do you offer God praise and thanksgiving before you enter His presence (Psalm 100:4)?
- Do you let all you say and do bring honor and glory to Christ’s name (Colossians 3:17)?
