Who's holding the rope?

Rock climbing is something that I have enjoyed doing over the years.Out of all the lessons I have learned from climbing, one of the most important has been the person holding the rope for you while you climb is vital.  For those who have gone climbing before, it is critical that you know who is holding the rope for you while you are suspended up in the air holding on by your finger tips and toes. You are hoping and praying that the person who has the rope is paying attention to every move you are making.[quote align="center" color="#999999"]Who are you tied in with? Who is holding the rope in your life?[/quote]A great example of this happened a few years back. I was climbing with some friends once in North Bend off of exit 38. It was a warm Sunday afternoon. One friend started up his climb while the person who had him on belay (holding the rope) was watching. Something distracted the one who was holding the rope while the one who was climbing went to make a gutsy move…he missed the move and fell. The problem was the person holding the rope wasn’t clued into the fact that he was about to fall, so he wasn’t prepared to help. Needless to say, the person climbing wouldn't allow the other individual to hold the rope for him any longer!The good thing is no one got hurt.The bad thing is many of us are going through life and we are not really sure who we are tied in with, or who is holding the rope in our lives. We need people we can trust. People who are looking out for our best interest and wanting us to achieve greatness in life and finish the climb. We also need to be that person to someone else. We need to be holding the rope in our friends lives – watching them to ensure they make it safely.Most of us wouldn’t think of setting out to climb a cliff without being tied in with someone. We can see immediately the benefits of an individual being there to hold the rope, just in case.Though we see that importance in something like climbing, I have observed a lot of people who have missed its significance in everyday life.WHO ARE YOU TIED IN WITH?I’ve learned that you can be as alone as you want to be in life.You can also have as deep and meaningful relationship as you desire. The choice is yours.[quote align="center" color="#999999"]COMMUNITY IS A CHOICE.[/quote]Get connected in relationship. Find some people to invest in and allow them to invest in you. Jump in to a Life Group, serve in your community, get to know your neighbors and do life with them.WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER.Reach out and pursue relationship with people in your city, church and community. Don’t make the mistake of waiting for them to come to you.Don’t do life alone. Don’t set sail for that desert island of isolation. Life is not designed to be a solo act.