Slab Cabin Sledding

I am finally settled in to a routine here in Pennsylvania! Back at work at Pure Freedom, I am beginning some amazing projects. In February and April I will be on tour with Secret Keeper Girl again! Also, I'm teaching a high school Bible class at our sister ministry, Grace Prep. Daily I am in awe of what God is doing in my life and the random ways in which He is bringing me joy. 

For the past three weeks, I have participated in a ministry-wide media fast. Did you know that the average person spends 15.5 hours each month on Facebook? What would happen if we spent those 15 hours with the Lord? A lot, I tell you! I have unplugged from Facebook and honestly haven’t missed it a bit. Before, it was the first thing I’d check in the morning and the last thing I would do before I went to bed. Now, that time has been reclaimed for Jesus. If your spiritual life is at a standstill, I dare you to unplug. At least delete the app from your phone… watch what happens!

Here in State College, it is incredibly cold. I was excited when it was 25 the other day if that tells you anything! I don’t recall seeing the ground since I got here one month ago; all this white stuff...

When the wind chill is not in the negatives, it does make for great sledding weather! My host dad, sisters and I bundled up and headed to Slab Cabin Run for sledding lessons yesterday afternoon. The girls took time to carefully explain to this desert rat how it’s done. 

The most important rule of sledding was: Stop. You see, the hills at Slab Cabin roll down into a creek. If you miss the important step of STOP, you will find yourself in the icy water. (We watched it happen!)

Because of this little fact, the girls could only go down the big hill if Dad or I went with them. As strong and fiery as one might think my five-year-old, blonde, blue-eyed sister is, she is not strong enough to stop the speeding sled before it careens into the water. This is where I, the super-experienced sledder come in.

If I am on the back of the sled, I am capable of throwing my heels into the snow to slow us down – I was also incredibly determined to not fly into the creek!  If worse came to worse and I couldn’t slow us down, I would have lovingly thrown my sister off  before we came to the water’s edge!

Truthfully, the first time Kierstin and I headed down Big Hill, I was slightly nervous! Our green saucer continued to pick up speed… I  questioned my ability to keep us both safe. But, I threw down my heels and wrapped my arms around her. We slid to a stop comfortably ten feet away from the edge of the water. The laughter of my little sister blessed my racing heart.

She was not afraid. She was completely and totally confident in my ability to protect her. To Kierstin, that was the “best ride EVER!” After she could catch her breath through the belly laughter, she looked at me and yelled, “AGAIN!!” And we marched back up the hill. (I realize I make this sound like a terrifying place to sled but it is completely normal to people here – just not to a girl who doesn’t know what a creek or snow is!)

My life has been much like Slab Cabin Run lately. Has your own life seemed like a sledding run too? Steep, cold, slippery, dangerous, moguls… Like Kierstin, going down the hill alone is an option. Just not a great one.

How much safer are we when we allow the Lord to climb into the sled with us?  We know that His plans are to give us a future and a hope – not to harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11)  He is far more capable than we are of steering the sled past obstacles, holding on to the bottom when we fly over a jump, and slowing us down when we feel like we are careening out of control toward an icy lake.

 

God desires us to have that child-like faith. To get on and brace for the ride of our lives. Not counting the cost, not concerned with the what-ifs. Rather, belly laughing as snow sprays our faces – playfully rolling in the snow at the bottom – ready to yell, "AGAIN!"

On the way back to the car, Alayna stumbled upon what appeared to be a down telephone pole. Snow-covered, one could barely see the nail sticking from it. Immediately my seven-year-old sister’s memory was jogged to recall Jesus – with the nails – on the cross.

He took the nails for you and for me because he wants to go sledding with us. If you find yourself discouraged, fearful, tired, weak… I might encourage you to turn around. Is He sitting there? Did you invite Him into the sled? 

Your ride will be so much more fun if you let the Protector and Giver of Life come with you!