Canyons - Run for LIFE 2013 Devotion #2

Less than three weeks until the Pinhoti 100.  The past two weeks I have been dealing with some leg pain that has made training difficult.  In fact, I have missed several days of training in an attempt to rest and recover.  The pain started after I had the unique opportunity to run a double-crossing of the Grand Canyon, called the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim (R2R2R) in late September.  The experience was amazing, but while I was able to finish the journey it is clear I did not walk away without harm.

The R2R2R begins on the South Rim (elevation 7,000+ feet) of the Grand Canyon.  Andon Briggs and I began by descending 4,400 feet on the South Kaibab Trail 7 miles to the Colorado River at the base of the Grand Canyon.  We crossed a bridge over the river and even met a mule train leading travelers out of the canyon floor. 

 

 

From there, the North Kaibab Trail snaked through and up the canyon floor for roughly 8 miles before climbing over 5,400 in 6 miles up and out of the canyon floor to the North Rim (elevation 8,000+).  We then turned around and went back the other way back to the South Rim via the Bright Angel Trail.  The total distance was 46 miles with a ton of climbing and descent.  A perfect training run for the upcoming Pinhoti 100.

The run itself was an amazing, tough and beautiful experience.  Our pace was slow due slightly to the tough terrain, but mainly because we were in awe of our surroundings.  Picture opportunities were everywhere, so we indulged. 

I had briefly visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon when I was a teenager, but viewing the Canyon from various vantage points was breathtaking.  From sunrise in the canyon to after sundown when the full moon was reflecting off the canyon walls, each vista and part of the day provided evidence of the creativity of our creator. 

The high temperature at the south rim was 74 degrees…perfect weather.  The high at the north rim was even a bit cooler.  At the start the temperature was around 50 degrees.  However, the high on the canyon floor was in the upper 90’s, and the heat index was well over 100.  With very little cloud cover, the canyon floor felt like an oven.

Running downhill was easy, but, not surprisingly, the toughest parts of the run were the climb to the North Rim at the halfway point of the run and the climb to the South Rim to end the journey.  The climbs began in the heat of the sun exposed canyon floor and proceeded relentlessly up several thousand feet in a short time span.  These climbs were also quite exposed, with one edge of the trail hugging a canyon wall and the other edge falling hundreds/thousands of feet straight down.  The picture below shows an example of this…the trail is there if you look closely.

Reaching the top in both cases brought a sense of relief and accomplishment.  To physically look back from the top of the rim at the canyon below and think about how far we had come was encouraging and rewarding.  It made the cool temperatures and rest all the more enjoyable.

To me this mirrors struggles in my own Christian walk with temptation and sin.  Giving in to temptation and repeatedly sinning is easy, similar to the descents in the canyon.  In the canyon it was easy to ignore the danger of exposed cliffs and rising heat because running downhill was effortless, just as in our spiritual lives it is easy to ignore sin and separation from God because the sin feels good in the moment.  However, before long, we realize the damage that has been done, not just to ourselves but to those around us.  We are far removed from God and have only our own actions and decisions to blame.  In a short period of time we find ourselves thousands of feet into a canyon, with the heat on full blast, dehydrated, looking up at the canyon walls wondering how will I ever get back up and out of this.

The good news is that God provides us a way out of temptation so that we can avoid the descent to the canyon floor entirely.  Sure, with God’s help we can climb back up, but the climb back up is much tougher than the way down.  Plus, just as I am dealing with aches and pains after the run, we are left with scars from our own descents into the canyon of sin.  Many times we leave scars on the ones we love most.  God’s desire is for us to stay on top, finding comfort, fulfillment and satisfaction in our relationship with Him.  When we are tempted, and we all will be tempted, we can find strength in Him to resist and turn from the temptation to avoid sin.   You can resist.  You can fight.

LIFE Ministries works directly with couples who are in the depths of their own canyon.  The ministry is committed to helping hurting couples who are facing crisis or potential divorce. LIFE Ministries also walks with couples who need a "tune-up" and want to take their relationship with God and one another to a deeper level…to avoid the canyons entirely.  Please be in prayer for the ministry and I ask that you consider supporting LIFE Ministries financially through the Run for LIFE effort.  Your contributions allow the ministry to continue to work with couples to climb out of the canyons and later look back from the top to see how far they have come and the beauty of what lies ahead.  To contribute or for more information please visit www.runforlifenow.com

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.