Some men on our church leadership team (our Pastor, Music Pastor, Youth Pastor, an assistant to the Youth Pastor, and myself) had planned a retreat for Saturday at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area near Fredericksburg, Texas.   Our Youth Pastor, is somewhat of an expert in mountain climbing with all kinds of mountain gear, so he had suggested that we go and do some rock repelling.  This was to be the first experience at repelling for the rest of us.

Left to Right         Trey = Youth Assistant            Harold = Senior Pastor               Jay = Youth Pastor                  Jeff = Music Pastor

    On our drive from San Angelo to Fredericksburg, I inquired of the pastor what he was speaking on the next day.  He noted that he was speaking on the words of Jesus, "It is finished", but also stated that his sermon was not yet finished.  At Fredericksburg, we turned and headed toward the park, but noticed a sign stating that the park was closed, which seemed quite odd.  We we got to the park entrance, we found that the rangers had closed the park temporarily because there were so many people that had come that day to the park.  The rangers suggest that they would probably reopen the park entrance to more people in a couple of hours after some of the people in the park left.  We were disappointed that we could not immediately enter, but drove back to Fredericksburg to eat a picnic lunch and decide what to do. We talked about going to another park, but decided that we would again try to get into the Enchanted Rock Park.  When we got back to the park entrance about thirty minutes before the suggested opening time, the rangers were just reopened the park and we went in.

The main pink granite dome in the park is some 425 above ground level and covers 640 acres.  Even once one arrives at the base of the main dome, the appearance of the dome is deceptive. It looks much smaller than it is. There are a number of people near the top of the dome, but in my photo, they are so small that they are not visible.  Only the youth pastor and myself had been there before, so the youth pastor wanted everyone to climb top before heading over to a canyon to do the repelling.  I have climbed the dome a couple of times before ... one time about two years ago with several grandchildren.   I like to hike, but also to take my time and take numerous pictures along the way.  Today these younger men had the goal of heading to the top and then going repelling. As they set a rapid pace, my legs began to cramp and freeze up.   I had to simply stop a number of times and call, "Hey, you guys, hold up a minute."   We got about 3/4 of the way to the top of the dome and again my legs began to freeze up with considerable aching.  I had to stop and squatted down some to give my legs some relief and a strong wind circled around the dome and threw be off balance.  I could do nothing but fall down on my side and shoulder.  A Japanese couple came up to help me up, but my legs were so cramped that I had to wait several minutes before getting up.  My pastor came back to help me and insisted on carrying my rather heavy camera to the top for me.
 

    After making it to the top of the dome, we headed down the west side and toward a canyon where we were to look for a place to do some repelling.  A short way into the canyon, the youth pastor headed to the top of a rock cliff which he suggest was about 50' to 60' feet high and set up his gear.  He instructed several guys and they repelled down the face of the rock.  Meantime, I was trying to get the cramps out of my legs while taking some photos before I tried anything myself.  Finally, I got some relief and climbed up the path to the top.  The youth pastor tried to encourage me by telling me how strong the ropes were.  I really wasn't concerned about the strength of the ropes.  My concern was what to do when I got out to the edge and began to repel backward down the cliff.

    The problem was that it was not a flat area leading to the edge. It was more of big V better than chest high with a deep crack at the bottom of the V.   Trying to closely follow the instructions of the youth pastor, I put one foot upon one side of the V, but was is a squat position.  He then told me to put my other foot on the other side of the V.  Sorry, but that was impossible for me to do in a squat position.  I tried to stand up, but that was also impossible with my weight already pulling against the rope at almost a right angle and the safety rope weighting down the toward the bottom.  I can do a number of full squats, but not in this position with my legs already cramping.  I tried to get my left leg back through the crack, but my shoe was too wide.   I don't have a picture, but I was stuck in a very painful squatting  position with no way to go back up or to go down.  The youth pastor hurried to his pack and pulled out another rope and made a loop out of it to put under my arms, then helped pull me back off the edge.  My legs were cramped, trembling, hurting, and weak.

    I don't think the guys thought that I would even try repelling the first time after having so much cramping with my legs. Now, for sure, Basil would call it quits.   However, I prayed and asked God if should try again.  It would be nice to say that I repelled, but I didn't want to kill myself in the process.  By the way, rough granite rocks are hard and and sharp, when you bump into them.  I was needing to have an answer from God.  God's answer was to give me "faith" to try again.  About this time the pastor came up to repel and I watched how he stood up to get started rather than squatting as I had first done.  I thought, "Maybe I can do that" and followed his example.  Although my legs were still cramped, weak, and hurting, I was able to make it to the bottom.  Everyone gave me a cheer.  Actually, God deserves the cheer.

    Sunday morning, the pastor did preach on the last words of Jesus, "It Is Finished" and how Jesus had accomplished the work for our salvation, but added that we must also "Finish The Course."  Without, consulting me, he shared my experience and showed some of the pictures of my repelling which became to object lesson for the sermon.  We could have given up when we found that the park was closed, but didn't.  I could have turned back when my legs began to cramp, but didn't.  I could have returned to the bottom of the dome after being blown down by the wind, but didn't.  I could have not tried to repel at all with my legs so stiff and in pain, but didn't.  I could have thrown in the towel after getting stuck on the ledge and the guys would not have blamed me for giving up.  However, when I prayed and God gave me faith, then I was able to finish the course.

    Again, I must emphasize that we can only face the trials that are set before us by the GRACE of God.  God will not put us into a situation where He will not give us GRACE to walk through it. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it"  (I Corinthians 10:13).  Our own determination is not enough and our own power is not enough to finish the course.  "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure"  (Philippians 2:13).  However, if we have Jesus as our Lord, then we have the Spirit of God living and abiding in us to enable us to do whatever He would ask.  When we submit our will to His will and live by His power, we will finish the course.

I shot the photo left as a beautiful conclusion to the event.    It reminds me of the the Scripture, "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God"  (Acts 14:22).  The reality is that we all go through tribulation!  The question is, "How do we respond to it?"