Rock Climbing...for God!

Okay, I don't actually know what it means to "Rock Climb for God!" but I thought it sounded cooler than "Rock Climbing." I think you would agree.

I got to go rock climbing this weekend with some great friends. And it was awful! Actually, it was great, but the next day was awful! I was sore sore and my body was fatigued. I couldn't even write! Crazy, right? Anyway, below is my deep observation of rock climbing and how it relates to the Christian faith, enjoy!

Well, for those who don't know when you're rock climbing (this is indoor rock climbing, I would never trust myself to go rock climbing on real rocks) there are two roles you are in. You are either the climber or the belay-er. The climber climbs. And the belay-er belays. The last one may need more explanation. This person is anchored to the ground to act as your lifeline. If you fall, or get tired, or reach the top and need to come down, you look the belay-person to help you. They are your support.

Now I had always thought that the person climbing did the all the work and the person standing as belay just got to stand there. Boy was I wrong. The belay-er does just as much work as the climber. I mean the life (or at least health) of the climber is literally in their hands. As the climber climbs, the belay-er must tighten the line to remove all slack. This is so the climber doesn't get tangled in the rope and so if they fall, they don't fall all the way. If the climber is exhausted, the belay-er has to hold the rope tight while the climber rests. And when the climber gets discouraged (as I often was when I climbed the wall) the belay-er acts as a coach and encourager, sometime giving the climber a little extra lift to make it to the next step.

So it got me thinking. I could write a whole post about what it means to "climb the wall of faith" and to not give up. And to reach for the top. But that is typical. And I think that we put too much emphasis on the person doing the climbing sometimes. Sometimes, our role is to be the encourager. Barnabas, if you will. Note I did not write "Barabas", but "Barnabas", BIG difference. :)

The supporting role is so often looked down on. But after this weekend, I which it wasn't. I wish I didn't look down on it so often. Let me tell you after you have climbed a wall and assume the role of belay-er, pulling the slack tight is at times more difficult than the climb itself. Encouraging the person who is doing the visible work is tough. Cause in the end, they accomplished the task, not you. They reached the top, while you held them there. I don't know how deep it can go, but I definitely want to give a shout out to all those people who take the role of the belay-er. Who struggle through that and ensure that their friend makes it to the top.

Who yell out to their discouraged friend "Right next to your right knee is a yellow one you can stand on!" Who wont let them off the wall till the complete the task they set out to complete. Who love them and give themselves for them. Thank you friend. Though I may not say it enough, you are a blessing to all.

(as a side note, I think that we often see marriage and the woman's role like the belay-er. it isn't glamorous and some may point to the wife and say you're not actually doing anything. but how far from the truth that is. The climber would fail without the belayer. That is a fact. Both are so important to the success of the climb and neither role is easy to fulfill. We may get frustrated with the other role from time to time thinking they are not doing enough or that they have it easy. But we all will struggle on the climb. And we all need one another. If this last part is encouraging, take it and be encouraged. If not, ignore it. It's in parenthesis anyway.)

you forgot the cheese!

i got off work early this evening. actually i got off on time, just for the past 6 weeks, though, I have been working late...so it's pretty much early. that has nothing to do with my story, but i just thought i would share. :)

my little sister came home with my mom and was excited because she had convinced my mom to make mac n' cheese for dinner. she loves mac n' cheese. anyway, my mom puts the macaroni on the stove to allow the noodles to cook. after about 5 min, she was in her room doing something and asked my sis to stir the noodles. my sister opens the lid and cries in anger and frustration: "mom! you forgot the cheese!"
my mom responds with "i'm not done yet, the cheese comes later"

That's the end of that story, now comes when i over spiritual-ize the story:

how often do we look at what God is doing in our lives and respond in frustration "God! You're forgetting the best part!"  We think we know how it should work. We think that we know how God's blessings need to work, and when He needs to bless us.

what if we choose to stop and listen. what if God is responding like my mom: "i'm not done yet, the best part comes later. i know it looks awful now, and nothing like you expected, but in the end, your reward is so much better than you could ever imagine."

in the end, my sister  informed me with joy that the mac n' cheese was really good! and i'm glad.

Even Process Engineering?

This morning as I was having my quiet time, I began to write about how everything points to God. The passage was talking about idol worship and I was combating that by saying that giving glory to anything other than God is wrong, because everything points to him and exists for his glory. Not crazy deep, but true.

Then I wrote out a questions that I have been struggling with for a while : "Even Process Engineering?"

That is what I do. I am a Process Engineer. That means that I engineer chemical-type processes. This includes everything from the chemistry of the plant, to determining how big a pump needs to be to get fluid from point A to point B, to meeting with other types of engineers to work out issues and questions. I have only been doing this for 5 weeks now, so my role to this point has been determining the size of pumps and tanks in the plant...Don't be fooled, it isn't as crazy fun as it sounds. No really, I know it sounds comparable to a week at Disney World, but trust...it's not.

Well, in this mundane role I have begun to question how God gets any glory from this. How does my work here, now, sizing this pump, give God any glory and advance his Kingdom?

Well, this morning when I asked myself this question, here's the answer I wrote out:

Yes. We are creating, like God. We are using the physical laws of our Lord to create a process that works every time. We relate with other people, who were made in the image of God, and who are loved by him just as I am.  So yes, even Process Engineering points back to God.

I'm not going to say that everything makes perfect sense now and that all is great! But I do feel more at peace. I do acknowledge God's ways more. And I think I can work with more purpose and joy knowing that God does receive glory from even the simplest tasks.