A Button and a Bump...

In the summer of 2003, Duane and I, along with our Scoutmaster and 2 other adults, took a group of Boy Scouts on a High Adventure camping trip to Colorado Springs.

One of the things we did on that trip was a high adventure caving excursion in the Cave of the Winds. On this adventure, you don't access the cave by walking in, you have to climb down into the cave. This was not an option open to the general public. Of the adults, only our Scoutmaster, Jerry, and I went.

One of the things we experienced while in that cave was to go through a cave tunnel. One of the scouts was too large to go through, so he stayed behind. The rest of us went through by laying on our stomach's completely flat to the ground with one arm stretched out over our heads and the other arm flat alongside our bodies so as to narrow up our shoulder width. We laid one person in front of the other - head to toe, head to toe. We were to keep track of the forward motion of the person in front of us with our outstretched hand. There was no room to move anything but our feet and outstretched hand, we couldn't lift our knees or our butt. We moved forward only by moving our feet and pushing ourselves forward with our toes. It was way tighter than a CT scan and completely dark. We were unable to lift or turn our heads.

About halfway through, Jerry, who was wearing a flannel shirt, got stuck. He could not move forward or backwards. His son was behind him and attempted to give him a push, but it didn't help. I was behind Jerry's son and still there were more boys behind me. The boys in front of Jerry made their way out of the tunnel. One of the guides went in the tunnel toward Jerry,  grabbed his hand and pulled while his son gave him a little push from behind and Jerry was freed. We were all then able to get out of the tunnel. Whew!

Jerry was stuck only by a button on his shirt, caught on a bump on the floor of the tunnel. In normal cases, that wouldn't be a big deal, actually, not even hardly noticeable. But, in this case, it caused him to be unable to move without help. He was stuck and the rest of us were unable to move forward, as well...

Why do I tell you this story? Because, sometimes in life it seems like we are stuck, unable to move forward or backwards. It seems like we're pressed in from every side. It is scary. We can't see what is in front if us. We don't know how we are going to get out of the situation we are in.  If we allow fear to be uncontrolled, we could have a panic attack, making a difficult situation way worse.

It was impressive that everyone in that cave tunnel stayed calm, controlled and quiet throughout that entire experience. Why?

Our guide was in constant communication with us. We could hear his calm voice instructing us. telling us what he was going to do, what he was doing and reassuring us that all was well and we would be out of the tunnel before very long....and we were, all safe, sound and finally, unsqueezed!

I think about that experience often....I think about how such a small issue, a button and a bump, could cause such a problem. I think of how tight it was in there and how easily we could have come emotionally unglued - what chaos it could have been. I think of how dark it was....we couldn't see a thing. I remember the confident calmness of the guide's voice and the clarity of his instructions. I think of how smoothly the problem was solved, how peaceful we remained throughout our cave tunnel experience.

Hear the voice of our guide.....

Jesus is our guide to guide us into the way of peace. Luke 1:79

I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble  Psalm 46:1

When we find ourselves in a cave tunnel experience, remember Jesus' words to Jairus..."Do not be afraid. Only Believe"

Listen to the calm voice of your guide, "I will never leave you! I will never forsake you. I am with you always. I will watch over you. I will protect you from every evil.

You loyal followers of the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their deliverer and protector.  Psalm 115:11

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which can never be shaken, never be moved.   Psalm 125:1

But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, “You are my God!” Psalm 31:14


If we can remain calm while stuck in a dark, very tight tunnel of rock, and put our trust so completely in the words of a wise, skilled cave guide, believing that what he says is true....Most Certainly we can believe in our Almighty Guide and the Words He speaks!

So, when you find yourself in a tight spot or a dark tunnel....fix your attention on your Guide and his Word. Do not allow yourself to be afraid. Only Believe!  Stay at Peace! This is really just a bump on the path! You've got the best Guide there is and His eyes are fixed right on you! Put your confidence in what He says. He is way better than any skilled, wise cave guide. He will definitely guide you through your trouble!!!!

I sought the Lord, and he heard me; and he delivered me from all my troubles. Psalm 34:4