The Carpenter's Apprentice

Jeff Phillips' Messages

(click on the month to view the messages for that month)

  • July 27, 2025

    Day Camp is in full swing and although it is pretty warm, sunscreen, water and plenty of fun keep our attention off the heat. Furthermore, no one has had to spend any time in the whiney circle! You may be aware, rule #3 in the youth group is “No Whining.” I have conceded one exception to this rule, at Day Camp only. There is a four-foot circle that was inadvertently painted in the parking lot and has been designated and decorated, “The Whiney Circle.” If you are unfamiliar with Day Camp, campers are in K-5 th grade and the counselors are the middle and high schoolers, so nearly the whole youth group is there! We play lots of games, mostly as teams and they are usually modified from the classics like kick ball. Often the games are silly but always, they have a point. Sometimes, like today, the point is awesome and totally unexpected. Today we played a relay game. It involved rolling a lemon, without lifting it, down one of the parking space lines and back using only a tongue depressor (aka, fat popsicle stick). Because of the difficulty, we quickly evolved into two tongue depressors. If the lemon came off the line, you had to start over. There were many different strategies attempted and I was impressed with the creativity and persistence under pressure. Then Noah C. stepped to the line for his turn. He’d made a V with his depressors and slid them down and behind the lemon. He then proceeded to walk very quickly from one end of the line to the other. When he finished, pretty much everyone had stopped to watch the ease with which he accomplished the task. The silence that had overcome us ceased as everyone tried their best to remember and emulate his method. His team came from last to win the relay by following his example. As we debriefed in the shade, I called Noah up and gave honor where honor was due. I asked everyone if any of them had thought of his method. Several, and then most, claimed they had thought of doing what he did and the lesson hit me. I asked them, “So most of you thought about doing the right thing, but you didn’t do it because you didn’t think it would work?” The older kids got it. The younger ones needed more, but a seed was planted. I then asked how many copied Noah’s technique after they saw it in action. They unanimously admitted following his lead. I told them, “Now I hope you see the importance of doing the right thing. There may be others that need to see it successfully done in order to follow.” I want our children to be the ones who know the right things to do and then do them! It will only happen if we both tell them and show them. “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin."

    -jeff


    July 20, 2025

    Faith, according to Hebrews 11:1 is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Some still struggle with the application of this definition to real life. Simply stated faith is this, you can’t see ‘it’ but you know ‘it’ is there. The key word here is ‘know’. If you don’t ‘know’ then you don’t have faith. Without knowing you are left with something you think might be true; therefore, you go with it. You go along with it because going along is easier than not going along. Faith however demands more than going with the flow. In fact, true faith means you will likely go against the flow. Jesus said, “the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many” (Matthew 7:13). Faith not only determines the direction of our life it dictates our actions during our travels through life. True faith answers the “why” of life but also gives us the “how” of life dictating our response to life’s curves and Satan’s deceptions. Certainly, the level of our faith can be seen in the fruit of our lives. Faith is not and can never be a game of chance. We aren’t hopeful of a winner; we are certain of a winner. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field Matthew 13:44. This man is certain, convicted and refuses to be denied. In this one-line parable it is easy to overlook the giving up of everything for one thing. He sold all he had; all he’d acquired and worked for in life to gain one thing he knew without a doubt he could hang his hat on. Jesus said I go to prepare a place for you, in my father’s house are many mansions and when your room is ready, I will come and get you (John 14:2-3). Do you believe that? Do you believe it enough to live it? I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Mark 9:7). I believe he left glory to come and walk as a man (Philippians 2:6-8). I believe He will come again and gather those whose lives demonstrated their faith (2 Thessalonians 1:5-12) in Him through their unselfish love (John 13:34) and obedience to His Word (John 14:15). I believe it is my duty as one who has faith in God and His promise to share the good news of Christ with all who will listen (Matthew 28:19) because I believe there is a judgement day coming (Hebrews 9:27). I also believe Jesus came to save the world (John 3:17). I am fairly positive most people who read this will agree and believe almost exactly. So let me pose one question for thought; Is the refusal to share God’s word and the love of Christ, for any reason, anything more than a demonstration of true faith?

    -jeff


    July 13, 2025

    In 1946, to raise awareness and morale, Admiral Chester Nimitz, Chief of Naval Operations, formed the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, known originally as the Blue Lancers. The “Blues” flew their first show in Jacksonville, Florida in June of 1946. A month later, however, one of the pilots saw an ad in the New Yorker magazine for the Blue Angel night club and at a show in Omaha, Nebraska, in July of 1946, they were first called the Blue Angels. This morning, I was privileged for the umpteenth time to watch the Angels fly one of their pre-show practices. Their shows bring back many memories for me and always - always make me cry. As I watch them fly incredibly close together, I am reminded of many things from Beau’s first sighting of the Angels at the age of two to taking Sophia, Olivia and Levi to their first air show. I also think of the sound they make. I think the “sneak pass” is my favorite part of the show because when you hear the jet engine, the plane is already passed you by. I can only imagine a platoon of pinned down troops who are anxiously awaiting the called for air support that will give them life, and how glorious that sound must be when it finally arrives. On the flip side, the same sound is not one of hope and salvation but the dawning of realization, finality and doom. I cannot help but think of the day Jesus comes back. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52). What a day that will be for those who have obeyed the Gospel, endured to the end and anxiously awaited the crown of righteousness promised and the words of our Lord, “Enter in my good and faithful servant.” As amazing as the Blues are to me, I also cannot help but notice, nearly every time I see them fly, the number of people who just do not seem to care. I am sure if you mentioned the planes to them you would get an array of responses from, “Yes, they are incredible,” to “they are too loud and annoying.” This too reminds me of judgement day. While many know it is coming, they are just too caught up in daily living and life to care enough to stop and marvel at God’s power, love and righteousness. “When the trumpet of the Lord shall come and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks eternal bright and fair; when the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore and the role is called up yonder;” will the sound of the trumpet be one of salvation or one of condemnation for you?

    -jeff


    July 6, 2025

    It is always interesting to me how many will recite Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” They will insist there is nothing we can do to deserve or earn salvation and the mere suggestion something like baptism is required has them crying, “FOUL! Works will not get you into heaven!” While I agree works will not get us into heaven, I can’t help but wonder if obedience counts as a work. Surely no one would think all we have to do is, well – nothing. Ephesians 2:10, obviously the very next verse following “saved by grace,” even says we are created for good works and we are to walk in them. Somehow though, verse ten seems casually overlooked. It is not just verse ten though. Chapter 4 starts with Paul imploring or strongly encouraging the church at Ephesus to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called” (Ephesians 4:1). The implication here is very plainly, take action on your belief. The message is made clearer in verse 2, we are to walk “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2-3). There is a way in which we, those who believe in God and that He sent His only son who willingly came and died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, was raised on the third day, ascended later into heaven and will one day return to gather all of those who in Christ to himself, there is a way in which we are to “walk,” or live life, and it involves doing something. Furthermore, doing anything is actually doing a “work.” Strangely, hearing is something you do. Believing is something you do. Repenting and confessing are things you do, but baptism is the only “step” in what we commonly call or refer to as the “Five Steps to Salvation,” baptism is the only step that we cannot DO, rather it must be DONE to us. We must be willing to submit to death, that is dying to self, to be buried by someone else, raised from that burial by someone else and cleansed from all sin by only God. After our “resurrection,” we must go back to the “work” of “walking in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The “free gift of God” (Romans 6:23) is actually free, undeserved and unearned, but acceptance of the gift – well, that changes everything. If nothing changes; if no one can see the difference in the way I live and the way the world lives; if I fail to live in such a way that brings honor to the God who offered the gift of His son, then guess it would be pretty clear, I did not accept God’s offer. Oh wait, is acceptance a work too?

    -jeff

  • June 29, 2025

    A day and a half into camp and my step total is already approaching 40,000! What a week this is shaping up to be! Sunday night we were divided into teams and each team given a mascot and a team color. We were tasked with coming up with a name and then we compete in a number of challenges during the week for points and a chance at being inaugurated into camp immortality as the best team of the week. Our mascot is a brown stuffed rabbit, now named Gilbert. As part of last night’s challenge, all the mascots were collected and “hidden” and teams that found them during the activity received an extra hundred points. I assumed our mascot had been found by someone, but this morning I learned I was mistaken. As I followed three cabins worth of boys to the flagpole, I stopped by one of the teaching pavilions to pick up a few small pieces of trash around the pavilion. As I bent over, I saw the brown rabbit, seemingly staring at me, about three feet from my head. Realizing he was a leftover from last night’s game, I picked him up, but before I moved him, I took a look around wondering why he wasn’t already found and picked up. From his placement, I could understand why he wasn’t found last night. He wasn’t out of bounds, but he was off the general path of the game. Amazingly, though, he was in plain sight. All three cabins of boys had passed him by. Despite being easily seen, no one saw him. As I picked him up, I realized this is another example of how the drudgeries and weariness - and sometimes the excitement and expectations of life - keep us from seeing the obvious. Maybe not obvious, but obvious if we are looking and definitely something you would think we would notice – if we were paying attention. I mean really, a stuffed animal sitting all alone at a teaching pavilion far away from any girl’s cabins? How much more out of place could something be and yet almost no one notices?


    Galatians 6:10 says, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” and Hebrews 13:16 says, “And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” As Christians, I don’t think there are many of us who neglect opportunities to do good, but I know I sometimes get so caught up in God’s blessings and maybe even my own struggles, I fail to see opportunities right in front of me.


    Lord, make me a servant. Lord, make me like you. You are a servant, Lord, make me one too. Open my eyes, Lord, so I can see the opportunities before me.

    -jeff


    June 22, 2025

    The video came through around 2 AM. As Jennifer played it, I heard Jedidiah encouraging, “Come on, Lu! You can do it! Come on!” I woke up to watch Lucy leave the safety of the couch and walk three steps to her daddy. The next video was similar but the words were for Big Al. As my eyes focused on the video, I could only see Alice’s back, but standing with her back to the couch, grinning through her pacifier, I could see Lucy, looking from sister to daddy and she was clapping. Encouragement and excitement filled the video – and some cuteness. It reminded of a text I got from my brother last week asking for encouragement for my nephew as he ran a race around Lake Tahoe. You read that right. My brother and his son are ultra runners. Eighty-one miles in, (you read that right too) Riley was in the midst of climbing a mental wall and Chad was asking for encouraging words to help get him “over the hump.” He reminded us how long-distance running could easily be compared to our walk as Christians. In possibly the best shape of his life, Riley is more than capable of finishing the race. But like Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Doubts and fears are some of the tools Satan uses to distract us from our abilities and purpose. I am reminded of the song, Higher Ground. These are the words: 1. I'm pressing on the upward way, New heights I'm gaining every day; Still praying as I onward bound, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. (Refrain) Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on Heaven's table land; A higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. 2. My heart has no desire to stay, Where doubts arise and fears dismay; Tho' some may dwell where these abound, My prayer, my aim is higher ground. 3. I want to live above the world, Though Satan's darts at me are hurled; For faith has caught the joyful sound, The song of saints on higher ground. 4. I want to scale the utmost height, And catch a gleam of glory bright; But still I'll pray till Heav'n I've found, Lord, lead me on to higher ground. The truth is, we need to be reminded we have been given all we need and the abilities to finish the works for which we were created. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

    -jeff


    June 15, 2025

    Two brothers started a business as painting contractors. For a while, business boomed, but a downturn in the economy forced them to make hard decisions. Even after letting people go, they still struggled with fewer jobs coming in than they needed to stay afloat. Something had to change or the business would tank. Nearing the completion of a job, one of the brothers realized they would not have enough paint to finish. Ordering another gallon when only a fraction of it would be used seemed a senseless waste with such a tight budget. He decided thinning the paint would stretch out his product and he could finish. It worked, soon, both brothers began regularly thinning paint to save money. When business picked back up, they continued thinning their paint, keeping profit margins high and customers in the dark. The following spring, a Gospel meeting was held at the local church of Christ and one of the painter’s wives was invited by a co-worker. During the meeting both the painter and his wife obeyed the Gospel. The next day, the new Christian called his brother into the office to tell him the great news of salvation and to explain to him how his belief in Christ was going to change many things in his life. For starters, he could no longer support the paint thinning scheme; it was dishonest and they both knew it. Furthermore, something had to be done to make things right with the customers they had duped. As one might expect a spirited debate broke out. Nearing his breaking point, the unconverted brother shouted, “So what exactly are you telling me?” The zealous new convert shouted back, “You need to repaint you thinner!” This humorous story reminds us of Paul’s words to the Romans, “How shall we who died to sin still live in it” (Romans 6:2)?


    In Luke 13:1-5, there were some who suggested to Jesus certain people were “worse” sinners. In His response, Jesus makes it very clear that sin is sin and, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5). The word repent is a verb. It means, according to Mirriam-Webster, “to feel sorrow for one's sin and make up one's mind to do what is right.” Sometimes, doing what is right is a complete ‘about face,’ but other times it is a simple course correction. Every time, it involves action and change. Jesus talks about repenting repeatedly saying what John the Baptist said (Matthew 3:2), “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Paul spoke to the church at Corinth about the Godly sorrow brought about by repentance and how it produces more than just regret, but regret that leads to change and ultimately, salvation (1 Corinthians 7:9-10). Without repentance, we cannot be saved. Simply saying, “I have repented” is not necessary for true repentance will be seen in the “fruits of your labor.” Just as they will know we are Christians by our love (John 13:35), they will know our repentance by our changed behavior.

    -jeff


    June 8, 2025

    As far as haunted houses go, this one was pretty lame. Halfway through, even the anticipation of being scared had turned to disappointed amusement at the feeble attempts at invoking fear in patrons. I really just wanted it to be over. The next set of curtains led to an empty black room. I stuck my head in to survey the scene, turned to the others in our group and said with obvious disappointment, “Come on, It is just another empty room.” As I turned to renter the room, suddenly it was no longer empty. Inches from my face, two small red dots appeared; just one set of eyes, and they blinked twice. Instantly, maybe faster than instanly, simultaneously, my brain, already programmed not to strike out defensively because it was just a haunted house, gathered the other resources my body had available and funneled them into an ear piercing and sustained primordial roar of terror as I launched myself backward into the group of friends behind me in hopes they would help restrain the “hands of death” I could feal rising at the end of my arms, ready to tear my mortal and yet unidentified foe to pieces. Truthfully, fear often invokes either the fight or flight mechanism, and this was full scale flight.


    “Psychologists define fear as a protective, primal emotion that evokes a biochemical and emotional response. Fear alerts us to the presence of danger or the threat of harm, whether that danger is physical or psychological. Whereas the biochemical changes that fear produces are universal, emotional responses are highly individual” (Fear: Definition, Traits, Causes, Treatment). Fear is amazingly complex, involving measurable and predictable physiologic responses including increases in sweating, heart rate and adrenaline. On the other hand, the emotional response is widely varied. The same chemicals released by fear are also the chemicals often released when we are happy and excited meaning sometimes fear is fun; like in a haunted house. It is important to understand fear is a natural emotion and often a survival tool. On the other hand, fear can sometimes get the best of us and cause a complete loss of self control. There are trauma based fears. There are fears based in our lack of knowledge and understanding. There are rational and irrational fears. Sometimes the awareness of being controlled by our fears helps us overcome them. At other times, the same awareness leads us further and deeper into fear. At VBS this week we have seen how fear affected the armies of the living God and those who work for His purposes. In all honesty, we have also seen how fear affects our service to God too. Unfortunately, quoting scripture like 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline,” doesn’t always do the trick. Sometimes we need a little help. Fortunately, there are many ways to overcome the fears that keep us from serving our God, so let’s commit to getting them back under control and back in His service!

    -jeff


    June 1, 2025

    I usually do not follow basketball except in March during the NCAA tournament. I think there is a level of excitement that comes to any sport when stakes are “win or go home.” I love seeing the underdog win and usually pull for the underdog, but I also like to see greatness. Greatness often happens when the stakes are high. Sometimes it comes on an individual level, sometimes on the team level and sometimes a team becomes greater than they are supposed to be because of one person. In the eighties, I think Michael Jordon brought the best out of his team mates and helped make them greater than they were supposed to be. Today it appears Caitlyn Clark is having the same effect on the WNBA that Jordan had on the NBA some 40 years ago. She is an outstanding player and she is confident in her abilities. Confidence in your abilities seems somewhat taboo in our world today if you actually have abilities. It is not that people don’t talk about themselves all too often on social media where the “humble brag” is king, but if you are really good at something, it is almost like you are not allowed to admit it. Bragging of any kind is unbecoming and Proverbs 27:2 cautions against it, but not against being your best. It almost seems people are offended if you are successful. What sets Clark apart is her remorselessness for being good. I heard her say in an interview the other day, “I will not apologize for being good at what I do.” The interviewer was taken aback and seemed to struggle for words, possibly realizing an apology was exactly what he expected from her. A few days later, this quote came across my desk, “I’m not intimidating, you’re intimidated. There’s a difference. I am not mean, not aggressive, I am honest and assertive and that makes you uncomfortable. And it is not ME that makes you uncomfortable, my PRESENCE challenges your comfort. I will not be less for you to feel better about yourself.” The quote reminded me of what Clark had said in the interview. I agree with her. We all need to stop apologizing for being good. We need to stop saying we are sorry for following God’s word and teaching it to our families. We need to quit feeling bad for standing up for the truth. Paul encouraged the Colossians, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23). We are all different parts of the body, which is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23) and we all have different functions (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Romans 12:4-5). We should never be ashamed of the part we are, only strive to be that part to the very best of our abilities. Never should we be intimidated by, or be jealous of, another part of the body of Christ. Our job is to work, grow and be, the very best we can – unapologetically – for we have been given a spirit of power, love and self-control – not timidity (2 Timothy 1:7).

    -jeff

  • May 25, 2025

    If someone came up to you and asked you, what is your defining characteristic, the one thing that makes you unique or different from the rest of the world we live in, what would you say? I think I would say, “I am a Christian.” I can only think of three responses to my answer. The petitioner will either agree, disagree or wonder what a Christian is. Regardless of his understanding and knowledge of what a Christian is, there will likely be some follow up questioning and explanations. For instance, how do you define what a Christian is. Webster says, “one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ.” Let’s face it, that is a pretty broad answer. How many people do you know who profess to believe in the teachings of Jesus? A lot, right? This prompts the follow up question/observation, is profession of belief enough? I think James may be tackling the same line of conversation in James 2:14-26. Clearly, faith and belief are interchangeable here and when I read verse 14, “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” I hear it like this, what good is it if you say you believe but your life doesn’t reflect your belief, do you really think that level of belief is going to get you where you want to go? I love coaching and through the years I have asked different athletes the same question, “Do you really think that level of effort is going to get you where you want to go?” I recently heard a coach give out an award to two of his players who showed up to practice! I could not help but think, “the award my coaches gave me for showing up to practice was letting me keep my jersey and stay on the team!” My, how times are changing. Are the times changing that way for Christians too? Is there a noticeable difference in the lives of those who profess to be Christians and those who don’t. Paul exhorted, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). He told the church at Rome, if you profess to be different (and we do), then we must look different we must be different. Not belligerent, not different for the sake of being different, but different in that our lives are intertwined with and a part of His purposes. As our Lord and savior said in the garden, “yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).


    Consider today, does your profession of faith really make you different in the world we live in? If God is most important in your life, is your statement of belief confirmed by your actions and your life?

    -jeff


    May 18, 2025

    Oxford Languages defines entitled as, “believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment,” and while I don’t think James and John would have described themselves in this way when they went with their mother to make a request of Jesus in Matthew 20:20, it is highly possible “entitled” is exactly how the other ten felt as verse twenty-four tells us they became indignant with James and John. The truth is, though we often find ourselves on the entitled spectrum, none of us want to be described as entitled. I am not saying it is not nice to get special treatment. I remember we got pulled over for a fast-driving award one evening shortly after I’d had the honor of speaking at Mr. Charles’ or Ms. Doris’ funeral. While I was not driving, the officer, who was apparently at the funeral, asked for all of our IDs. He turned to go to his cruiser as he began perusing them. When he saw mine, he abruptly stopped, returned to the driver’s window and handed our IDs back saying, “Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Phillips, I did not know that was you. If you guys could slow it down and be safe that would be great. Have a great night.” Even though saying the special treatment was nice would not have been prudent at the time, I was thinking it. Understand, receiving special treatment is not wrong and, in some cases, even expecting it is not wrong. The problem with entitlement lies in the words “inherently deserving.” This means you actually do nothing but have the expectations of someone who does everything. It would be kind of like asking the officer, “Do you know who I am?” Or, Do you know who my (fill in the blank) is?” Certainly, Jesus addresses entitlement in the verses that follow, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). As the end of the school year approaches, we attend countless award and promotion ceremonies, baccalaureates, luncheons and graduations where people talk about accomplishments, expectations and opportunities lying on the horizon. Our young people are encouraged to reach for the stars and told no dream is too big. And as I watch people struggle to take out their own garbage and clean up after themselves, I wonder if anyone is teaching our young people about true greatness or just what the world sees as successful. The greatest man that ever lived took on one of the dirtiest jobs of His time and upon completion said this, “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you” (John 13:15).

    -jeff


    May 11, 2025

    “Take on!” rings in your ears as for the first time in your journey up the wall, you realize the belayer who has the rope is still holding on even though you can’t see him and the harness you are wearing actually works and despite the restrictions and uncomfortableness you felt wearing it before and during the climb, actually feels good now; holding you securely in place. You are safe in the hands of the belayer. This is exactly were Abby found herself three quarters of the way up the wall as the physical and mental demands of the climb began to wear her down. As we discussed the climb later, she revealed an unexpected truth. With the realization and absolute assurance she was securely held, her doubts and fears subsided and her physical strength and confidence returned more quickly than she’d anticipated, almost as though neither had existed in the first place. She not only finished the climb, but looked with confidence at the next challenge she would face. As a parent and youth worker, I see so many parallels between belaying a climber and both raising and working with children. The belayer is taught to keep his focus on the climber and the climb. While the climber is climbing and the belay is “on,” there are no distractions that will cause the belayer to lose focus. That doesn’t mean they won’t talk to someone passing or listen to others watching the climb, the good belayer is fully aware of his surroundings, but his focus, his main concern is his climber. There are times in actual rock climbing, the belayer may not be able to actually see the climber but through experience and communication, he learns to read the rope he is holding to gauge the climbers progress and needs. Sometimes, our perspective as parents tells us to hold on so tight to the rope, pulling out all the slack to keep our child safe, we end up limiting their ability to navigate the climb. Inadvertently, we can transfer our fears for them to them and take away their opportunity and chance to really be successful, confident and learn from their mistakes while growing as they overcome challenges. Just knowing we have their back, can give them the courage they need to climb on, push through and be successful. Obviously, no analogy will ever be perfect and none of this is meant to say parents need to hold on forever. In fact, what we are really trying to teach is that life is not meant for us to climb alone. While there is a time and place, we can and have to climb alone, what we learn from climbing with someone belaying is called experience and that experience teaches us we can accomplish more together than we can alone. There will be a time when we hand the rope and belay device to someone else and they will learn to climb together and we can enjoy watching them work together.

    -jeff


    May 4, 2025

    Last week I learned to belay. While the word has its roots in the sea, meaning, “to fix (a running rope) around a cleat, rock, pin, or other object, to secure it” (Oxford Languages). Today though, the term is associated with rock climbing, and the definition still fits, we were securing the climber with the rope attached to his body. The kids were climbing, Jonathan and I were belaying. Inherently, rock climbing is dangerous. While there are degrees of danger in rock climbing, most are often mitigated by common sense and/or fear. Common sense is one thing, but fear is another. Paul told Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). The word for timidity can also be translated as fearfulness or cowardice, and fearfulness and cowardice should never control us. That being said, there are some kinds of rock climbing where fear is present for a reason and cowardice and intelligence are often confused. But climbing done with a partner who can belay you, is different. Someone belaying as you climb is a game changer. While their perspective, encouragement and guidance are all helpful, their main job is to catch you if you fall. In the old days, belaying was none by wrapping the rope around your waist in what is called a body belay but today there are several “gadgets” that are more efficient and effective with less effort than the old way of just holding on tight! Climbers will argue about which one is the best type to use, but most will agree it is the device the belayer is most comfortable with. I learned on a mechanically assisted belay device called a grigri (pronounced GREE-GREE). It has a cam that rolls back when held in the right position to lock the rope in place with very little effort. Regardless of the device used, a good belayer will pay attention to his climber, communicate with his climber and never take his brake hand off the rope. Not just from a climbing perspective, working with someone who you are confident will always have your back, gives you the freedom to push the boundaries of the limitations set by your perspective. By that I mean this, forty feet in the air, holding on with your finger tips and standing on tiptoes that are wedged onto a ½ inch protuberance, forearms burning, legs beginning to shake and you can’t see your next move. To this point in the day, you have not needed a belayer. The climbing has been all you. He was something you took for granted, but never tested. Now, sweating, exhausted and suddenly afraid of heights, you cry out, “TAKE!” It is the universal communication to pull all the slack out of the rope because you need a rest, you are getting ready to fall or you quit. As your strength leaves you hear the reply, “TAKE ON!” and realize you are not holding on. You are not falling. You are safe in the hands of the belayer … TO BE CONTINUED

    -jeff