An Amazing Climbing Tower

Mary’s Monday Musings to Quilt Encouragement
An Amazing Climbing Tower

The brightly lighted colors of the plastic “tree” beckoned children to come climb. Contrary to real trees, this tall apparatus was a safe, easy climb. The little ones scampered from one big, curved plastic leaf to the next until the next thing they knew, they were two stories high from the tree’s base. Besides the closeness of one leaf to another as they spiraled towards the ceiling, a big net completely encased the brilliant invention from the bottom to the top. There wasn’t an unprotected place to fall through. And if you did tumble from one leaf the one below, it was so close at hand it caught the stumble right away.

Too bad life doesn’t encase us in a foolproof net so we can’t stumble and fall. Instead, a fall from a real tree branch as well as many other places can be quite dangerous with horrifying consequences. And the temptations can be brightly lit and attractively arranged in quite inviting ways. Youngsters knew this “tree” was safe because their parents or their teachers were there to ascertain its harmlessness. But what holds us in check for the alluring snares the world uses to tempt us,but which contain consequences ranging from unfortunate to grievous if we participate? Learning to respect those older, better informed, those wiser and holding authority is a good beginning to protection. Next, beside listening to old wisdom, we need to teach our youngsters to pray. We would do well ourselves to pray to be alert to philosophies or actions behind which harm lies. God, help us remember to consult You before we embark on new or alluring adventures. Show us where to hold back for our own good or for the good of others.