The Monkey Bars of Life

"Because I know you're struggling. You may not even know it, but eventually you'll realize...there's that one thing. That one thing holding you back, keeping you in a cage. It's eating at you slowly...don't let it kill you. And no matter how much your grip weakens,Just hold on." Sammy Longtin Dec./2006

This quote was written as part of a blog entry by one of my youth here in Kentucky. I have been staring at it for the last week and have allowed the power of the words to wash over me. There is a lot of truth in this quote and the fact that a 15 year old had the maturity to put it down onto paper is even more inspiring. Let's jump in and see where this will take us...

What is holding you back?

I remember as a young child staring at the world out of a car window. It was a gigantic place that was filled with possibility and intrigue. There were so many people that I didn't know and I can distinctly recall wanting to meet them all. It was the pipe dream of a 5 year old and yet at the time it seemed plausible. I never stood at the screen door of my house and wondered what was out there...no...I flung open the door and burst into the world ready to encounter the new and exciting. I wanted to know about the world and was willing to explore to find my answers.

That all changes at some point. The world doesn't seem as big anymore and when the door is opened I don't have the same excitement flowing through my veins. I look out into the world and see evil, anger, hate and a myriad of other famous entities. I look over my shoulder and see bad decisions, mistakes, regrets and many other residents that have moved in over the years. I have lost the power to explore and it has been replaced with a debilitating fear. What has happened to me?

What has happened to you?

When Mr. Opportunity comes knocking at your door are you able to open it? What is holding you back? What is causing the bile to rise up in your chest? What is allowing the indecision's to come out? What is standing in your way? What is blocking your view? What has grabbed a hold of your mind and refuses to let go?

Is it fear of failure? Is it an addiction that has been kept secret from everyone? Is it a regret from the past? Is it fear of the unknown? Is it loneliness? Is it the fact that nobody understands you and just once you wish somebody would notice that you exist?

So many questions and yet each one can dig deeper than a knife ever will. Sometimes these statements become overwhelming and it is then that we feel our grasp on reality begin to slip. The easy way out becomes enticing and the fact that all of this pain would just go away is a wonderful antidote. The fact that you could block out this world generates a feeling of contentment...because at least then you wouldn't have to keep answering the door. We feel our fingers begin to loosen and we close our eyes in preparation of the final fall.

"Just hang on."

Have you ever watched parents help their children with the monkey bars? Usually the younger children will insist that they can play on the equipment themselves. They hang onto the bars and begin to cross to the other side. At about the half way point they begin to panic. They don't want to give up but their muscles override their mind and the grip begins to loosen. It is at this time that an alert parent will swoop in and offer their support to the child. Typically, they allow the child to continue but they make sure to support the child and not allow them to fall.

This is how God works in our lives. We have no choice but to grab onto the bars of life and start to swing. As children, we swing with a purpose and each success is a moment of joy. Then we get older and begin to tire, our heart begins to lose hope, and our fingers begin to let go. It is at that moment that the loving arms of God is made known. He wraps us with His love and encourages us to continue with the journey. We may be tired from the tribulations of our life but with God's help we can swing again.

We just need to hold on. Read the passage once more and allow the pain to release and your grip on Life to strengthen again.

"Because I know you're struggling. You may not even know it, but eventually you'll realize...there's that one thing. That one thing holding you back, keeping you in a cage. It's eating at you slowly...don't let it kill you. And no matter how much your grip weakens, Just hold on." Sammy Longtin/Dec 2006