“Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to fly through an open-air crater over a tropical forest inside an ancient collapsed cave. This is a “once in a lifetime experience.”
That was the description for the zip line excursion on our Carnival Cruise and it sounded like too much fun to pass on so I signed up. The day of the excursion we loaded onto an old bus with no air conditioning and made our way away from the shoreline and into the rain forest. The road leading out to the zip line site went from a nice smooth two lane highway to a rut filled dirt road that made we grab the seat in front of me to keep from hitting my head on the roof of the bus. I began to think that the trip from the boat to the zip line should have been the excursion. It was more excitement than I had bargained for but soon I noticed a change in the scenery and the land around me gave way to some rolling hills and a little more vegetation. Slowly we were climbing to a higher elevation. The air became a little cooler, the grass a little greener and lush. At last the bus came to a stop. I was relieved until I stepped off the bus and found out we had not reached our destination. This was just as far as the bus could go and from here we hike. The line of soon-to-be zip liners snaked their way through the rain forest going higher and higher. The next stop would be where we received our gear and some instructions on how to hang on a cable stretched over an open-air crater over a tropical forest inside an ancient collapsed cave. At this point, I am wondering what in the world I was thinking when I signed up for this and on top of that paid a lot of money. I was going to get my money’s worth. I put on my helmet and the rigging that would connect me to the zip line and then we hiked some more. Who knew the top was so far up?
We walked over swinging bridges that took us deeper in the rain forest and higher up the crater. At last I could see the steps that led up to the platform from which I would fly. One by one those ahead of me were hooked to the cable above and released to their "once in a lifetime experience." Now I was on the platform being hooked to the zip line, being given instruction about how to keep my legs tucked up so when I got to the next platform I wouldn’t whack my knees. And then…I lifted my legs and began my glide. It was breathtaking. It was worth every penny I had paid. I saw the tops of trees, I saw lush vegetation, I saw a river far below winding its way though the forest. It was almost as if I could touch the clear blue sky above as the cool breeze rushed past my face. The view from above was vastly different than the view from below. Perspective makes an enormous difference.
Here is what George Sweeting said in Don't Doubt in the Dark.
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I have discovered that it really doesn’t pay to serve God. Notice where I am …in jail, and I don’t like it one bit. To think I’ve been faithful all these years, and I end up in prison, I’m disappointed, bitter, and resentful.
Unhappily yours, the apostle Paul.
Dear friends, I want you to know this is the first time I’ve had a mission’s tour paid for by the Roman government. But more than that, they chain soldiers to me for twenty-four hours a day, and I share the good news with them. Every eight hours, they change the guards, and I have a new congregation. Some are coming to faith in Caesar’s palace…I’m having a ball’’’Wish you were here…Keep up the support.
Happily yours, the apostle Paul
Way to go Paul! Paul was living his life with the perspective from above.
One of my friends posted the following on their facebook page
- for me its not just whether or not the glass is half full or half empty. sometimes I find myself saying "what glass? I don't see a glass. Its probably broken. And I'm going to get blamed for it..."
Before you go all judgmental, let me point out we all have our bad days when our perspective is from the bottom looking up. From the bottom we are face to face with our own limitations, our own abilities, and our only options are what we can make happen. Hopelessness and despair howl at us as we stare into the darkness not knowing where to take our next step. We can’t see the path that God has already cleared for us to walk. We can’t see the big overview. We can’t see the beauty of the totality of our lives. So when I am feeling like there is no way out and nothing is working, I know it is time to head to the high places with God for a new perspective. The view from above reminds me that God dwells in the high places where all things are possible.
Psalm 18:33He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.
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