Lesson 1: You can depend on God’s love---1.1 View from the Top

I can remember my first ski trip like it was yesterday.  Never having been much of an athlete, learning to ski was a big challenge.  (In fact, the only organized sports team I'd ever been on was a girls' softball team: “Colleen’s Klutzes,” an aptly named squad). I had moved to Colorado a couple of months before to work with a Christian campus ministry.   Over Thanksgiving weekend, I joined a group of single staff members from our organization at Breckenridge ski resort. Normally, I would be the person who opts to sit by the fire drinking hot chocolate all afternoon.  But in this work environment, not skiing was never an option.  Everybody skied.  Everybody loved it.  You will love it too!  So reluctantly I decided to give it a try. 

After the first day of skiing, I felt like I was more than up to the challenge.  Maybe I'm not a klutz.  Skiing isn't so hard.  Winter Olympics here I come.  Look out, Jean-Claude Kiley.  Leslie, the other novice in the group, and I had spent the day taking a lesson then practicing on the bunny slope.  We had a fun time and looked pretty spiffy in our new ski clothes. 

Unfortunately, my gentle introduction to navigating the snow didn't last.  Leslie had to go home early, and the next day I would be bunny hopping by myself.  That hot chocolate was sounding pretty good about now.  But I let the peer pressure get to me.  “You don't want to miss out on all the fun.”  "I'm sure you've learned enough to tackle the beginner slope; it's not so hard."  One of the guys, Tom (name changed to protect the guilty) promised to ride up with me on the ski lift and accompany me down the beginner's slope.  With this ski veteran at my side, I was willing to brave the unknown. 

I managed to get on and off the lift without mishap (an amazing feat considering I had two six-foot planks strapped to my boots.)  As we skied on the trail, I thought: “This is the life: sun, snow, the smell of pine trees.”  That reverie lasted for about two minutes.  Then we reached the top of the slope.  This was the beginner's slope?  The beginning of what? Suicide?  It dawned on me we were in the Rocky Mountains.  And this was the rockiest, most mountainous terrain this little girl from the Midwestern prairie had ever faced.  Then I remembered I had an expert at my side so maybe I wouldn't die. 

Just then Tom spotted one of our group about a third of the way down the slope.  “Hey, Connie,” he yelled loud enough to cause an avalanche. “Why don't you ski down with Leecy. I'm going on the black diamond hill with the rest of the guys.” And with that, he vanished.  I couldn't believe it!  He lured me up the mountain with promises of companionship and aid.  Then he abandoned me.  I faced the mountain alone. 

Now I apparently survived and with the help of Connie learned to ski.  I even went on to ski again and loved it.  But what I never did again was trust Tom.  He had given his word and taken it back.  I had depended on him, and he had proven unreliable. 

Tom was a nice guy, but he was human.  Humans are a notoriously undependable bunch.  Everyone knows the pain of broken promises, of abandonment by family, friends, and lovers.  And each of us has been disloyal to those we care about.  That's just the way we are. 

God made people in his image, and we have returned the favor.  We imagined that God thinks and acts just like us.    God insists, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways.” (Isaiah 55:8, NIV), yet I still think God will let me down the way people do.  Even though while growing up I was taught all the “right answers” about God, I had my doubts.  Was God going to take me up to the top of a mountain and just leave me there?  Would I have to face the Rocky Mountains of life alone?  He promised to love me.  He promised to be with me.  He promised to watch out for me.  But did He mean it?  Could I rely on His love?  I decided to believe in a God of love but have a backup plan just in case. 

Learning the Lesson 

Take some time to ask yourself the following questions:  

Do I judge God by human standards? 

How have disappointments and betrayals by friends and family colored my view of God’s faithfulness? 

Do I depend on God’s love or do I have my own backup plan?