Risk Ski Business

It took me a good hour just to get to the ski school. I fell so many times I wondered if it might be better to wear the skis on my rear end. The frustrating part was that it would take only a split second to fall. But then the fall was followed by twenty minutes of trying to get back up˜writhing, whining, squirming and thrashing around. I'd never in my life looked so ridiculous. Of course, the day wasn't over.

Our instructor taught us a few of the basics, then she said we would be traveling to the bunny slope. I had never heard of any ski-related deaths occurring on a bunny slope. It sounded safe enough. But then she said we would travel across a "little tricky spot" to get to the bunny slope. We had to ski through a cavern she called a "dip" and over a cliff she called a "hill." Gulp. 

I pushed off in pretty good form, but somewhere near the crater my skis took total control. I knew if I fell while trapped in the chasm, I could writhe there for the rest of our vacation. Don't fall, I told myself.  Just don't fall. 

By God's grace, I made it over hill and dale, but as I was nearing the instructor, my skis crossed. I missed her by inches (I think it sparked a spiritual revival in her life) and came to the most inelegant stop you've ever seen. The top half of my body fell forward, but sheer determination kept me upright from the waist down. My knees were about two feet apart, skis still crossed, my gloves were in the snow, my rear in the air. I looked so outlandishly absurd that someone I didn't even know took my picture! Really! 

When I finally made it back to the lodge (otherwise known as "paradise"), I gave my friends a good laugh with my tales of danger and agony on the slopes. The next day, of course, I learned that the agony of defeat had a lot more to it than just a big dose of humility. Somewhere in that one day of skiing I had managed to use muscles I didn't even know I had. My friends laughed about that too.

Isn't it interesting that every difficulty becomes instantly more bearable when you share it with a friend? For every humbling Kodak moment, God makes possible a moment of closeness with a bud.

Need a friend? Try becoming one to someone else. We're instructed all through scripture to actively love others. First Peter 4:8 says, "Above all, love each other deeply." (NIV) "Above all," it says. It's one of the most imperative commands we have! Above all, we're to love each other deeply˜deeper than any snow chasm. 

Yes, friendship can be risky business. But the rewards? They're mountainous!

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Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.comRhonda Rhea writes for dozens of great Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her new book, Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site atwww.rhondarhea.net