Have I left you?

Have I left you? 

Today was a wonderful day in one of the most beautiful place in the world Vail Co. Beaver Creek Ski Resort was where our adventure was today. I took a group of students that are in my mentor program up snowboard today. For many of the students it was there first time going to beaver creek and also learning how to snowboard. Our first task was to get them equipped and on the the mountain. As many people begin to do something new, you need to start with the basics. We begin our day on a very small hill to get the basic idea of being on a snowboard and how to maneuver on it. Learning how to turn, slow down, transfer weight all things that are essential to riding a board without seriously hurting yourself. 

Many students took their falls with courage and anticipation of getting better as the day went on. Full of eagerness to learn from their falls along the way. One after the other, we spent 2 1/2 hours on this small hill, taking the falls and getting back up in hopes to not have stay here to long and move on to the bigger hills, or to learn enough from the instructors to go ride on their own. But, like anything being learned for the first time you need a person how is an expert at whatever it is you are learning. Someone you can trust, how has put in the time, or has the experience to be a good teacher and someone that makes you feel more confident in what you are learning with each step.  

I was so excited as I saw my students getting better each time they went up and down this small hill. It came time where the instructors said, " Okay, we feel like you guys are ready to move on to the next step." This was the real mountain slope. Some students immediately felt fear, anxiety and insecurity in their ability to go down a real mountain and it showed. The interesting part was they all knew they were going to learn how to snowboard today, so this was not a surprise that they would actually go down the mountain.  But, actually seeing what they were up against brought a whole new level to, "going down the mountain".  These feeling of fear quickly was surpassed by an encouraging word and a helping hand by the one person who knew the course, knew the ability of the student, and knew their potential. 

You see today for me was not just taking students on a snowboarding trip. For me, it was so much more then that. Toward the middle of the day as i was ridding the lift back up, I noticed a group of young kids learning as well.  this was more of a one on one instruction. In this case the instructor would ski right next to the little kid. One, to offer comfort, safety but also correction if needed. The little girl was making her down and begin to lean back to sit down as he called it, then would fall over almost giving up when it got hard or scary. This happened a few times and as the instructor noticed it, he simply says to the little girl, "I'm right here, have I left you?" The obvious answer was no. But, for whatever reason she felt as if she didn't have to confidence to do it on her own. So he continued

 and said, " okay then, let's get up and do it right." 

It stuck me like a gust of the cold wind hitting my face, (literally). This is how God is with us all the time. As we walk through life we are learning and experiencing new challenges along our own mountains, getting up and falling down over and over again. We know that life is not easy and that obstacles will come, stipe hills are bounds to find us in this journey of life. We allow fear, anxiety, and insecurity to just weight us down as we just throw ourselves down and give up. Often times we are looking for the instructor, the expert, the experienced one to just be their with us each step of the way, speaking encouraging words, seeing who we are, seeing our potential and helping us, "To get up and do it right".  

However, so many times in my own life I have operated out this same idea that maybe the little girl had. If I can't see you (instructor) right here then you must have left me. At times when I can't see The Instructor (God) leading, guiding, encouraging, and feeling his presences or plan unfolding right next to me, I panic and make choices and decision accordingly. Which ends up coming out fear, anxiety and insecurity and I fall down. Even if i believe or know that I'm capable, but just not confident. 

I think the Lord our Father asks me in those times, "Have I left you?" Almost as if i have convinced myself by my actions or thoughts that he has, he simply asks, "Have I left you?" The answer is obvious NO! Then He says with all expectation, "Then let's get up and do right." The truth is that God says in His word that he will never leave nor forsake his us.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9

We can see throughout scripture that God continues to affirm his people that he is with them and not going to leaving them. 

The question becomes: Will I live another day as if the presences of God is not with me? 

Am I going to do things out of fear, anxiety and insecurity in disbelief of who I am and who the Father knows that I am, or will I let The Instructor God lead me each day down the mountain?