Smith Rock - God's Country

It's great to be back in Oregon again! This is my third summer in Redmond, and I'm enjoying the familiar faces of Solid Rock members, the Outward Bound community, and City Center Church.
My "welcome back" to Smith Rock was a prayer walk one evening with some local Solid Rockers before the Smith Rock Spring Thing. What a refreshing perspective for coming home to Smith (the place God called me to move to almost three years ago.)
The Spring Thing is an annual trail day where climbers (and hikers) come together to do service projects to improve trails, prevent erosion, and clean up the park. Most of the climbing trails and staircases around the park have been created and maintained by volunteers over the years. It was fun to come together, get dirty and do some heavy lifting with other folks from all over. Solid Rock Climbers for Christ had the privilege of providing and serving dinner for all of the volunteers.I managed to climb while having my shoes sent off to be re-soled (one foot from each pair)... it made for some interesting climbing!
This summer I will be working for Outward Bound doing some logistical work in Redmond and some instructing at Smith Rock and on the Deschutes River. I hope to spend any free time climbing at Smith, guiding at Smith, and planning for another fall season on the road with Solid Rock.
Travis, Brian and I climbed the Monkey Face last Thursday... yup- that's us just under the color change on the Monkey (below). What a great climb! You can see a photo and description of the route we climbed on my friend's website: http://www.smithrockclimbingguides.com/Guiding/MonkeyFace/default.aspx
I've done it once before, but this was my first time doing any aid climbing (I led the one short pitch of A1 - a bolt ladder just above where we are in the photo).
I was talking to a friend who owns the yerba mate shop in town about how great it is just to be out in such wild and beautiful places. Similarly, at church we have been exploring science and the reality of intelligent design. This truly is "God's Country," and I am blessed to be able to explore and share it with people of all faiths and all walks of life.

Mt. Rainier

I think the photos speak for themselves...

I'll be back!

Falling

Have you ever been at the end of your own strength, where you know you've tried your hardest and it's just not working?

It happened to me while climbing last Friday. I decided to lead a climb that would push the edge of my ability. The first 3/4 of the climb went great. I got to the first crux (tricky spot), and worked right through it. Then, already well above the bolt, I attempted the next crux move, and I fell... and I screamed... and the rope caught me (15 ft later) just as it's designed to do. I was fine. I got back on the climb and fell again (and screamed again), got back on and fell again (and screamed again). Then I rested there, hanging in my harness, frustrated and shaking. I couldn't remember the sequence I had used before (on toprope), and simply couldn't figure out the move. I knew that the fall would be good- the rope had already caught me three times- so why was I still scared? I prayed.

God showed me a metaphor for my life: oftentimes I'm afraid to really go for something if I can't see how it will work out, or that I will be successful. Life is full of risks: stepping out into a new job, moving, falling in love, and the list goes on. However, if you don't take those risks, sometimes you miss out on really living.

God challenged me to get back on that climb one more time, and really give it all I had, to dyno (jump) for that next hold, even though I wasn't sure I'd be able to reach it or even hold onto it. This time I was ready to really give it my all, for the climb and symbolically for my life. I got back on the rock. I did the first crux move again, then moved my feet around this time for optimal positioning to crouch low and then spring up for that next hold. I rocked down, let out a tarzan yell and sprang up for that hold with all my strength...

...and I fell (and I think I screamed). I failed. I couldn't do it. I tried my hardest and didn't make it. So what about my great metaphor, did it go down the drain? Absolutely not. I learned that I could fail, and that was perfectly OK. The rope still caught me, and I was safe. In my life, I often fear failure and get disappointed in myself easily. However, last week I was reminded that it can be more rewarding and strengthening to take risks than to walk away from the uncertain and remain safe on the ground. God was not disappointed in me that day. He always loves me, no matter how much I mess up. He protects me from harm and encourages me to give life my best, no matter the outcome.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1