Getting Off Your High Ladder

I was climbing up a giant ladder, its height comparable to the St. Louis Arch. In my mind, I was doing this to prove to the Lord that I could do it. It was as if I were trying really hard to make Him proud of me, to show Him my strength. Meanwhile, I was more aware of my weakness than ever.

Sweat and fear consumed me, and I knew I didn’t have much time left. But the higher I climbed, the more scared I became, the wind grew stronger, and the ladder swayed more. I was SO close. Almost there... just a few more bars. I reached out, suddenly lost my grip, slipped, and fell 600-some-odd feet to my death... or so I thought.

All of a sudden, there was water beneath me. When I hit, it felt like a cloud or a safety net wrapping around me. I felt relief, rest, as if a burden had been lifted from my shoulders. Time stood still in that moment.

I swam to the surface, looked around, and saw a dock. I climbed up onto it and started walking. Then I turned around, looked back at the ladder, and a thought slithered through my mind: Maybe I should try again. But I said, “No way,” and with determination, I walked away.