I’ll never forget a staff development day at my high school in the early ‘90’s. Team building was the emphasis because the buzz word in industry and education was synergy – the power of group effort, which is more productive than individual effort. A select group of our teachers had gone to a weekend training to learn the power of working together. On this particular training day, they were sharing with the rest of us a variety of activities to lead us into teamwork.
Trust building was one of those lessons, but the activity to learn it was more than I would risk. We were taken to the gym. The bleachers were extended, and the trust building was falling from the side of the bleachers (about 8 or 10 feet up) into the arms of the trained team below who would catch each person who fell. Now, I knew those people who were the “catchers,” and I had worked with them for more than a decade; but I never seriously considered taking a dive from the side of bleachers into the arms of other people. Many others did, and I watched a few take the plunge; however, I had a sincere fear I would meet hardwood flooring in a whole new way if I fell from those bleachers. I had never been much of a physics student, but I had learned about the force of gravity. It was a proven fact. I would fall, and I could splat onto hardwood. The law of gravity was a trusted fact. A group of teachers catching me was just a theory. It had not been tested; it might fail.
As a widow, I have faced many times when I needed to make a jump and trust my “catcher.” However, I have found in my real life I can fall into the arms of my Savior. His ability to sustain me is not a theory; His “catching” power is verified by the Word of God: “Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust Him and not be afraid, for Yah, the Lord, is my strength and my song.” (Isaiah 12:2) Never should I fear; He is my salvation. He is presently all I need to save me no matter what I am facing. I have no reason to fear hardwood floors or anything else: Jesus will never let me fall.
Come on and join me. Let’s take a dive of trust into the arms of Jesus as we face the limitless possibilities of a whole new year. I know diving into the unknown makes us all fear for safety. Nevertheless, let’s put our fears aside; there is nothing safer than being in the arms of Jesus! I’m going to take a plunge!
Trust building was one of those lessons, but the activity to learn it was more than I would risk. We were taken to the gym. The bleachers were extended, and the trust building was falling from the side of the bleachers (about 8 or 10 feet up) into the arms of the trained team below who would catch each person who fell. Now, I knew those people who were the “catchers,” and I had worked with them for more than a decade; but I never seriously considered taking a dive from the side of bleachers into the arms of other people. Many others did, and I watched a few take the plunge; however, I had a sincere fear I would meet hardwood flooring in a whole new way if I fell from those bleachers. I had never been much of a physics student, but I had learned about the force of gravity. It was a proven fact. I would fall, and I could splat onto hardwood. The law of gravity was a trusted fact. A group of teachers catching me was just a theory. It had not been tested; it might fail.
As a widow, I have faced many times when I needed to make a jump and trust my “catcher.” However, I have found in my real life I can fall into the arms of my Savior. His ability to sustain me is not a theory; His “catching” power is verified by the Word of God: “Indeed, God is my salvation; I will trust Him and not be afraid, for Yah, the Lord, is my strength and my song.” (Isaiah 12:2) Never should I fear; He is my salvation. He is presently all I need to save me no matter what I am facing. I have no reason to fear hardwood floors or anything else: Jesus will never let me fall.
Come on and join me. Let’s take a dive of trust into the arms of Jesus as we face the limitless possibilities of a whole new year. I know diving into the unknown makes us all fear for safety. Nevertheless, let’s put our fears aside; there is nothing safer than being in the arms of Jesus! I’m going to take a plunge!
