Outward Bound is an outdoor, educational organization that strives to foster personal growth through challenging expeditions in the outdoors. The fundamental belief of Outward Bound is that when people are confronted with difficult challenges in the wilderness, they will rise to face those challenges and discover a level of strength and greatness that was lying dormant within them.
John Ortberg tells about a time when he was participating in an Outward Bound experience that involved climbing down a high mountain cliff. John was hooked safely into his harness, he was holding firmly to the rope, and yet, he was totally terrified. Even though the instructors assured him that he could make it down the mountain safely, John began to have doubts. He was about halfway down the mountain when his fear and uncertainty caused him to stop. He was frozen with fear. He was unable to move. It was as if his mind told his body to quit. But no one was coming to John's rescue. The instructor told him that he had to figure out a way to keep going. He had to face his fear and still take positive action.
John explained that he didn't want to move. He didn't want to take action. He was stuck. And that's when his instructor told him to remember the slogan of Outward Bound: "When you can't get out of it, get into it." When you are stuck in a difficult situation and you can't get out of it, embrace it, get excited, and get enthusiastic about it. Get into it.
I love that slogan. I say it to myself sometimes. When I'm encountering a problem I would rather ignore, I remind myself, "If you can't get out of it, get into it." When I have a day full of chores and activities I'm not thrilled to do, I say to myself, "I can't get out of it, so I might as well get into it." When I'm facing a difficult conversation with someone I would rather avoid, I say, "It wouldn't be right to try and get out of it, so I might as well get into it."
One of the things I love about the Christian Faith is that it calls us to face our challenges, deal with our problems, and fulfill our responsibilities with the courage and confidence that comes from our trust in God. That doesn't mean there won't be difficult mountains in our lives, but it does mean we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). Far from being a protective bubble that shields us from the painful realities of life on a fallen planet, our Christian Faith provides us with an inner strength that allows us to confront those painful realities and grow from them.
I am wondering if there might be some folks from Ebenezer Church who are facing some difficult mountains these days? Perhaps a struggle at work, perhaps a strained or broken relationship, perhaps physical illness, perhaps pressure at school, perhaps financial concerns. When we consider those issues, we are tempted to become frozen with fear or stuck in discouragement. But that is the time to remember the inner strength our Lord has given us. Our harness will hold us secure. Our rope will not break. We can keep moving because the God who loves us will also empower us. The next time you find yourself stuck on the side of a mountain, frozen in fear, remember the words of Outward Bound, "If you can't get out of it, get into it." And remember the promise of our Faith: "I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength."
I hope to see you at worship this weekend. Pastor Chris and I will be having a dialogue about how Faith gets expressed in our workplaces. Holy Communion will be served. Worship is a gift we give to God, so I hope you will get into it!!
