Keep On Climbing!

Since being diagnosed with Terminal Stage 4 Prostate Cancer 2 1/2 years ago with a 3-6 month life expectancy, I’ve had many friends and family ask me how I can be so at peace, so joyful, so embracing of cancer and so — how shall I say — “rather cavalier and seemingly reckless” in my response to something so serious and life-threatening (and not a few of you actually thought I was losing my mind -- you know who you are)!! 

As I was considering this question, I immediately thought of one of our recent family rock climbing adventures at “Garden of the Gods” in Colorado Springs guided and led by our son, John. 

Though I am clearly, at best, a novice rock climber, I am, nonetheless, aggressive in my climbing style — one might even say, “rather cavalier and seemingly reckless”! Subsequently, I can navigate intermediate/advanced level climbs with relative ease and with absolutely no fear whatsoever!! 

“How is this possible?”, you might ask. The answer is self-evident once you understand the following realities:

1. John is a very skilled and knowledgeable rock climber. He knows better than I what I am capable of with his support, guidance and encouragement — and I know him well and trust him with my life!

2. John‘s rock climbing gear is unquestionably reliable, trustworthy and safe!

3. John is my “belayer” (a climbing partner who uses a safety rope anchored above and controlled below in order to ensure the safety of the climber) and, should I lose my grip, he is there below holding the rope to prevent me from falling more than just a few feet. In other words, barring an unlikely and catastrophic failure of John, the equipment or my harness, I am virtually invincible!! 

The combination of these truths free me from the crippling fear of heights, harm or injury and enable me to embrace and thoroughly enjoy the adventure, climb beyond my ability and, to the casual observer, look much more experienced and skilled than I actually am!

So, what does all of this have to do with my “rather cavalier and seemingly reckless” approach to cancer??” (I’m sure you’re already ahead of me here!!) LOL

1. The Lord is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent— my Creator, Savior and Friend! He knows better than I what I am capable of with His support, guidance and encouragement — and I know Him well and trust Him with my life (Proverbs 3:5-6)!

2. The Lord has provided me everything necessary for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), including His perfect, flawless and trustworthy Word (Psalm 12:6), which, like great climbing gear, is tested, unchanging and totally reliable as I navigate life’s challenging “climbs” — including cancer!

3. The Lord is my “belayer” and, consequently, “though I may stumble, I will not fall, for the Lord upholds me with His hand (Psalm 37:23-24)! And to my surprise and absolute delight, “He makes my feet like hind’s feet and sets me on my high places” (Psalm 18:33)!!

The only thing I have to do is:

1. Make the decision to harness up by embracing everything, including cancer, as an opportunity and platform for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom!

2. Ensure that I am securely tied in by maintaining a lifestyle of intimate fellowship with Christ!

3. Climb whatever God puts in front of me — knowing that no matter how challenging, difficult or daunting — He will enable me to scale the heights!

I’m not sure what daunting challenge you might be facing right now but, from one “novice climber” to another, I want to encourage you to:

1. Put your life and faith fully in the Lord — He will NEVER fail you nor EVER leave you!

2. Trust in and obey, WITHOUT RESERVATION, His inerrant, unchanging and unfailing Word!

3. Make the decision to harness up and tie into both the expected and unexpected challenges that come your way WITHOUT FEAR of falling, without complaining and without hesitation!

4. Keep On Climbing — to the glory of God, for the advancement of His Kingdom and the EPIC joy of summiting and taking in the SPECTACULAR VIEW!!