The two oldest granddaughters recently returned from nearly two months of summer training and adventure through the Army Cadet Camp they attended in Whitehorse, N.W.T. Then, last week and as a bonus, Elizabeth was selected to take part in an additional expedition involving rock climbing and repelling. How I admired her for accepting the invitation to attend, especially in light of her fear of heights. Though I'm glad to report she came home buoyed by her experience and her newfound confidence, I'm mostly just thrilled that she came home safely.
Over the past several years there have been a number of lives lost as folks were out enjoying either a relaxing camping trip or participating in some form of extreme sports. I cringe every time I hear of missing hikers, boaters or snowmobilers because, too often, the outcome is tragic. Whether it's high-marking on snow covered mountainsides, repelling down the side of an alpine-like summit, hiking up a cliff or boating on a lake or the ocean, the risks of adventure are unavoidable but, I'm told, worth it all when weighed against the pleasure and sense of achievement they bring. Be it in training, self-denial, pain or injury, to follow one's dreams always demands a price.
It reminds me of our spiritual journey. Even though the privilege of belonging to Christ is free, it's anything but cheap. Talk about extreme risk-taking: God made provision for salvation but gave us the right to refuse His gift.
There's a price we pay, too. Though His love is a free gift, no one escapes times of discouragement, injustice (I don't mean the penalty brought on by our own willful behaviour) and the everyday stuff of living. To keep on going demands a price.
"Let us run with endurance" Hebrews 12:1
Run - it's worth the cost!
