Those Who Pause See Beyond Their Fears

by Eric Elkin

“God won’t let your foot slip.
Your protector won’t fall asleep on the job.”

— Psalm 121:3

There is a small cave all the children used to explore at Camp Shalom. Calling it a cave is a little misleading. At best, it maybe fifteen feet in length. I'm not sure one can "explore" a cave so short. It was more like a brief adventure in the middle of a nature hike.

Camp Shalom is a Christian camp with a Jewish name. It is a densely wooded property with deep ravines on the shores of the Maquoketa River. Not far from the camp is Maquoketa Caves State Park. The park offers visitors a network of more authentic caves to explore. Each week the camp would take the older campers to explore these caves.

Geologists believe that the entire area around Maquoketa, Iowa was once an extensive network of caves. Remnants of the ancient days when Iowa was a tropical ocean. The ravines at Camp Shalom were most likely part of the collapsed caves system. This one little cave was just a piece that forgot to go away.

The staff all called it the "L" cave. It was the perfect description. You entered it at the foot of a cliff overlooking the river. After crawling five feet, the cave turned upward. The remaining ten feet were straight up the side of the cliff. At the top of the cave, where you exited, was the path continuing up the side of the hill.

When my children were too young for camp, we went exploring the woods of Camp Shalom. We found ourselves at the entrance to the "L" cave and decided to crawl through it. It had rained earlier in the day, making the cave a little more damp than usual. What I was not expecting was how the rain impacted the trail above the cave.

“Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.”

— Rudyard Kipling

As we exited, the trail was muddy and slippery. It wasn't easy to keep your footing. Thankfully, my children were too light for it to have much of an impact. The grabbed exposed roots and effortlessly pulled themselves up to the top. I, on the other hand, had great difficulty.

I was wearing Chaco sandals. They made traction impossible. The exposed roots my children used were not anchored enough to bear my weight. Each time I grabbed one, it would pull out of the earth and cause me to lose my balance. I was sliding back down into the cave and could not stop myself. If I didn't do something quick, I would fall down the side of the cliff or back into the cave. Neither was a particularly good option.

This morning I thought I would write a reflection on the first words that caught my attention. When I read, "God won't let your foot slip," immediately my mind went to that hike at Camp Shalom. If God would let a pastor's foot slip at a Christian Camp with a Jewish name, what chance do any of us have? I mean, I had all the bases covered, right? How then can I believe the psalmist?

That climb remains one of those memories that invade my sleep with a feeling of fear. It seems to filter into my subconscious whenever my conscious reality seems unstable. Then I can hear myself asking the same question as the psalmist. Where will my help come from?

Reflecting this morning, I realize my help comes from the maker of heaven and earth. I was saved by a series of trees all deeply rooted in the soil. However, if I had paused long enough to consider the event, the fear of it may not haunt my dreams.

Those ravines at Camp Shalom should remind me even though ancient caves collapse, life continues to flourish. Ancient seas dry up, but it is not the end of life. Those dead seas become fertile soil for some future farmers. The maker of heaven and earth has a way of showing us new life always emerges out of despair.

My story is more than one moment of fear, and so is yours. Our lives are filled with moments of joy, love, and relationships. Only those who pause to see the bigger picture understand and appreciate it. They can see the blessing of each day. I hope you can find time today to pause to see the good in your life.

Click to read Psalm 121