Many years ago, my husband deployed for the first time, serving his country in a specific way and in a foreign war-torn country.  It brings me such pride to know that he willingly walked into each of the four deployments with courage, commitment, and complete faithfulness to the duty he had vowed when he raised his right hand.  It was during the first deployment to Iraq that I recall an event that imprinted upon my mind so deeply that I can reach out and touch it as if it’s occurring today.  Go with me—back in time—to the year 2005.  See a mom & wife.  See a daughter.  See a journey east to Carter Caves & See Trust in a “real & tangible way.”

• “Be sure to wear your old clothes,” Sheila had encouraged me when we talked, so we did.
• “Be sure to say close behind me as we go,” Sheila had instructed us, so we did.
• “Be sure to look to the right, feel the space, the lack of the ground underneath as we crawled forward inside that dark cavern,” Sheila had called out to us as we belly-crawled through the tiny space that summer day, so we did, staying as far left to the cave wall as possible.

My daughter was in elementary school when we made this memory, on the day we experienced this cave adventure.  Sheila recounted her many journeys spelunking in Carter Caves, and as she talked, I thought, “We should join her.”  Those conversations with Sheila took place in the sunlight, when we were topside, enjoying a meal and conversation together.  I met Sheila because her husband was deployed too, so we shared so much then, in 2005.

Today, as I studied the Bible narrative when Jesus called Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, I remembered the way I found myself following Sheila that summer day as we crawled on our stomachs through that dark cavern.  Now, I am not a storyteller, but I want to try to take you into the mouth of that cave so you too can see the dark I saw, feel the sand that I felt, sense my fear found in the unknown, & then experience the trust I discovered.

The time was mid-day because the sun was shining high above, reminding us that summer was upon us.  We were dressed in our “old” clothing as instructed, and they were wearing those neat hardhats with lights strapped to the front, lights that revealed the way.  There were at least seven in the group Sheila was leading that day, and I am not sure where their skill-level resided when it came to spelunking.  As for my daughter and me, this was our first trip on an uncharted path such as this; therefore, we carried our flashlights that we brought from home.  Sometimes I have reflected upon this day and wondered:  Was I not afraid? & The answer remains the same:  No, I was not.

I trusted Sheila, that she would lead the way because she knew the way.

We began the journey walking into the cave opening, and it did not require many steps before the darkness settled in around us.  Thankfully, we had switched on our lights outside the cave opening, and as my hand swung my flashlight left and right, I could see a small scene in front of me, revealing to my mind that my peripheral vision was lost because the darkness permeated both my left and my right, causing me to turn my head completely left or completely right to see what I wanted to see.

Not many steps into the cave, I noticed the ground beneath my feet, sensing the loose sand as we walked deeper and further into the cave.  Sheila’s voice provided forward-direction to the group as we walked, and somehow, my daughter and I became the “end” of the line of people.  Realizing this, I made sure my daughter stayed close because it was not at all like the famous trails of Mammoth Cave with electricity illuminating the way.  No, our flashlights and Sheila’s voice were the only comforts we received.

I am not sure how many steps we journeyed before Sheila said, “Watch your head because we are going to have to crawl on our hands and knees.”  Again, I was not afraid because I trusted the knowledge Sheila had of the cave system.  This was not her first time leading a group into this Carter Cave route; she had told me she knew the way.  As we crawled, I was reminded of just how dark the underground world of a cave could really be.  As the space narrowed, we were forced from our hands and knees to our bellies as we used our arms and thighs to crawl forward in a single-file line.  One after another, with Sheila leading the group, with me at the rear, and with my daughter right in front of me, we inched further into the darkness of the cave.  It was there, while down on our stomachs that this image resides—embedded into my mind.  At one point in our journey, Sheila stopped and said, “Stay close to the left side, close to the cave wall.”  “Why, I replied,” from my spot seven places back, and her reply has stayed with me since that day.  “The floor of the cave up ahead is gone, and I truly don’t know how far down it is to the bottom.”

Immediately, I grabbed my daughter’s leg as she crawled in front of me, admonishing her to stay as far to the left as possible.  The difference in that moment—I did not let go of her.  As we inched forward past “that point of unknown,” I clung to her leg, encouraging her to go slow, to hug the cave wall, and to not move at all to the right side of the path.

Then Sheila paused for the briefest moment and said, “Nancy, if you want to stop and look over to your right, you will see the abyss that I mean.”  At that moment, I looked with only the slightest movement of my head—leaning just enough to allow my flashlight to illuminate the darkness, and what I saw remains engrained solidly in my mind.

I saw nothing but pure darkness!

I clutched my daughter’s leg even tighter!

Matt Maher & Lizzie Morgan  sing a beautiful melody titled “Leaning,” a rendition of a favorite hymn many of us sang before and can maybe sing from memory.  Leaning on Jesus.  Trusting Him.  Leaning on His Everlasting arms.  Knowing that He is guiding us, holding us, walking with us—as we lean—on Him.

Please see with me.

• No hesitation when Jesus called.
• No retort or reply when Jesus called.
• No wondering “Who will take care of my nets” when Jesus called.

Oftentimes, whenever I have studied this Scripture, my mind has focused upon how Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew to become His disciples.

Today, when I studied this Scripture, my mind has focused upon how—

• Jesus met them right where they were—on the beach beside the Sea of Galilee.
• Jesus called them—and they hear Him call out to them.
• Jesus met them, right where they were—fishing, doing their day’s work.
• Jesus spoke with authority—“Follow Me.”
• Jesus gave them a future, a new job, equipping & encouraging them with His presence—“and I will make you fishers of men.”

Today, when I studied this Bible narrative, I was reminded how these two brothers did not hesitate, (but) “Immediately they left their nets [what they knew] and followed Him [Jesus].”

Seventeen years have passed since that summer day; yet the memory remains strong.  This morning, God reminded not once but twice in His Word of His Truth.

• Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is TRUSTWORTHY.
• Jesus, the Son of God, is FAITHFUL.
• Jesus, my Redeemer, Friend, and Savior—Calls out “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Truly!

• My Obedience cannot hesitate, and neither can anyone who claims Jesus as LORD.
• My Obedience must be immediate, and so must all who calls God—MY FATHER.
• My Obedience will require my action, and so it will those who are led by the—HOLY SPIRIT.

In the Bible, we are reminded how David was a man after God’s heart.  When David was facing persecution by the Philistines, David knew he could “lean” upon the LORD. It was in that realization, David wrote these words that I found comfort in today.