"Jesus' Tree."

Humbling, humiliated in front of another man, and fear, the three things that came into mind as I adventured with a friend to the so called 2nd waterfall in Eaton's Canyon.

As I got into Cali, I asked a friend to take me climbing on this trail that he's done so many times. I thought being the MAN I am, that this was to be nothing, but as the climb got steeper, (with no ropes,) and basically the only thing holding me up to the terrain were my fingertips and feet planted into the crevices, I let fear creep in. I don't have a problem driving 125 mph on the highway. Roller coasters, eh I can tackle those as well. Swim with and feed exotic fish, great! But for some reason the legs began to shake uncontrollably, as I tried to get around the (coined by friend), "Jesus' tree." Ironically, all the passages that refer to God as our Rock, gosh-they didn't make any sense until I tried to get around this one corner and the only way was to hold on to this "tree." It was a tree firmly planted in the rock that was pointing out. Well my friend had no problem getting around it. Me...ha: never freaked out like this before. It became a reality of possibly falling and possibly meeting my maker. After getting around it. And making it to a point of rest. It was decided that the shaking of legs and the climb getting harder, it was wiser to live longer than to possibly see God.

It was like a veil was lifted from my eyes in pushing my limits of fear. A veil was lifted in all the passages that reveals God as our Rock. If it wasn't for this 'holding on to dear life' moments I don't think I would have ever really grasped, how God can truly be our rock in life. And trust me if you saw me, and heard me, you would have thought life was going to be over.

But let me tell ya, I'm returning to the tree (its in the picture above) one day. Better equipped, in a better mindset, and ready to humbly try again. God had something in mind when He inspired His Word to relate to us! Meeting the "Jesus' tree," was a window to how life is. It was sad because I turned my friend's hand down several times as I tried to get around the tree. But pride and lack of trust in him took a hold of me. Doesn't that look a lot like our take on God? Seriously!

Ara Astourian, thanks for being the "man" who was with me on this momentous day in my life. Can't wait till the next time!