Hanging On

~

There were two hikers that were taking a hiking trip one time, not together, but they were within the same area as the other. One was a strong young man that was just getting interested in the outdoors and hiking and the other was an old man that had lived in the mountains his whole life. Neither of them knew this though. They were deep in the mountains and had to cross several large gaps and climb several different steep inclines.

One day as the one young man was hiking he heard a yell for help, he ran to the point where he thought he heard it and found the older man hanging for dear life onto a rope over the edge of a cliff. The man had fallen but one of his ropes was loose around his pack and had snagged onto a rock.

 The young man dived for the rope and took it in hand now that the rock was no longer supporting the rope the full weight of the man and his pack was suddenly thrust upon the young man who grunted with the pull of the rope.

The young man tried to pull the older man up, but the weight was too much and he couldn't make any headway.. in fact he began slipping closer to the ledge..

The older man realizing what was happening, and tangled in all his own rigging and equipment not able to get free to loose the weight called to the young man. "It's no use boy.. just let go and save yourself the energy."

The young man didn't respond focusing all his strength into trying to pull the rope up, but to no avail. He continually slid closer and closer to the edge. At last he realized he had to let go.. the weight was too much and he would surely die as well as the old man. But it was too late he was too close to the edge and he couldn't pull back out in time as he had wrapped the rope around his waist. They both fell to their deaths at the bottom of the mountain.

~

My mom has always told us while we were growing up, "It's easier to pull someone down, than it is to pull someone up." She always applied this to the friends we make. Make the wrong friends, and they can pull you down into things that go against how you were raised or make you do things that you wouldn't normally do. So she was always very careful about selecting good kids and families that she let us associate and hang out with. 

As I got older I followed those standards for the most part in choosing my own friends, I always made sure the people I called friends were people of good moral character and of similar belief so that we could support and encourage each other.

 Now that I'm older and I have entered the work force I've been exposed to many more different types of people, some I wish I didn't associate with and others I tolerate. But in all the experiences that one thing has always stuck with me "it's easier to pull someone down than it is to pull someone up." It doesn't matter how light they are and how strong you are so much. It's a simple fact. 

Have one of your skinny small friends stand at the bottom of a ledge or somewhere where you have high ground and can physically lift them up to where you are. It doesn't matter how small or how light they are, it's hard. 

This is something that's hard for me. Once I make a friend I'm with you through Hell and back. No excuses and no highway option. You got me whether or you want me or not. 

"Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character."~ 1 Corinthians 15:33

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."~ Proverbs 13:20

We need to be careful of the company we keep. Yes, we as Christians need to be there and out to be a light to those that are of the world. But that does not mean we need to always be hanging out with them, and it most certainly Does Not mean that we should make them our best friends. We need our Christian brothers and sisters for that. Someone to be there to help encourage us and help us grow stronger in God.

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."~ Proverbs 27:17

Choose your friends and the people you spend the most time with wisely. Don't let someone else drag you down just because you refused to let go. 

God Bless,

     Ryan