At least once a term our Youth goes out on an outdoor activity, this time it was decided the outing was going to be rock climbing at the local recreation centre. Once we had arrived and got fitted with our harnesses and rope systems we were ready to climb.
The centre had various rock climbing walls ranging from a straight up and down wall through to a wall that curved around similar to the letter "C". This was geared for the more advanced climbers so most of us went to the more easier walls.
Some of the walls also had a retractable lanyard system so that instead of using a climber and a helper feeding the ropes, there was a device that fed the rope for you.
These showed a lot of courage to lean back when coming down and hope this lanyard will lock off and slow your descent down to the ground floor.
Along the middle of the walkway were various climbing systems such as the cargo net, ladder and a rope. The cargo net and ladder were easily climbed but the rope made you dig deep to reach the top.
It was the American PE class rope where it was attached at the top but not to the bottom resulting in the rope flaying around as you as you start to climb.
When climbing the rope it was important to lock your legs off so you could get some sort of holding to pull yourself up. This really made you use all your energy and at 15m in length it was a long way by the time your got 3/4 of the way to the top.
When I was about another 2 or 3 pulls from the top my muscles were burning up and I did not want to quit I did not want to waste all that energy and not reach the top and touch the roof.
By reaching down and using my last zap of strength I managed to reach the top - a great moment of relief.
This showed that in life when struggles push us down and we cannot reach the top, after all efforts have been exhausted and your strength is failing, this is when God comes in and gives us a boost to reach the top.
Just like this rope system, The Lord is always there to catch us and will be there to provide a good foothold in life.
Christopher Archibald lives in Sydney and is a Youth Leader at New Life Christian Church in Blacktown. A supporter of the Penrith Panthers in the NRL, he hopes 2014 will not be another "re-building" year.
Christopher Archibald's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/christopher-archibald.html