Josh Medlock, Director of Student Ministries
You find yourself standing in front of the tallest wall you have ever seen.
You were told by everyone around you that you needed to scale this wall and perch yourself on top of the highest point so that you can see what is on the other side.
The wall has some places here and there that you could possibly fit your hands and feet into.
There also seem to be some large cracks that look like you could really get a great hold on to pull yourself up.
You take a deep breath and start to climb.
Quickly, your body reminds you that you aren’t as young as you used to be, or that you are not in the shape you thought you were.
Probably should’ve used that gym membership you’ve been paying for but never actually use.
You climb back down.
Each time you try to climb, every place you put your hands and feet, it all seems to be too much.
Each time you tire quickly and must come back down.
You almost slip and fall so many times you’ve lost count.
Struggle as you might you just can’t seem to get there.
You begin to wonder and dream about the sights on the other side of the wall.
What will the world look like?
How much beauty are you missing because you can’t see what is there?
Is there a large lake or perhaps a beautiful frozen glacier that seems frozen in time?
You try again. No luck.
You are drenched in sweat and your muscles ache.
Your body is yelling at you to stop and rest.
But everyone told you that you HAD to get to the top, that what lies beyond the wall is something that MUST be seen.
How long would you try to climb?
How long would you push yourself past the point of exhaustion?
Wait! Did you bother to look to either side?
The wall doesn’t go on forever. If you walk a ways you can simply go around.
So you walk.
The walk seems to take forever but eventually you can see the end of the wall.
Your pace quickens.
Even though your lungs start to burn from the effort and your already shaky legs are about to give out, you find yourself inspired and full of hope because there it is!
The end of the wall.
You slowly and cautiously creep around the corner to view what is beyond the wall.
I find that there are many times I feel as though I am climbing that wall.
What I have to remind myself is that there are other ways of getting where I need to go.
The walk that I am on is not one that I journey alone.
I am surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who mentor me, guide me, and encourage me.
But most importantly, I walk with Jesus. I never walk alone.
The walk may be longer than expected and it might seem like it will never end.
But it will, eventually.
We don’t always need to climb the wall. Sometimes we just need to walk around it.
My prayer for you today is that you won’t walk alone.
That you will look to either side of you and recognize the cloud of witnesses that walk with you.
If you don’t see them, don’t look up at the wall.
Instead, look deep inside and know that you don’t ever walk alone.
Blessings.
First Reflections 