The tiny ice crystals cut through my face like shards of broken glass. The snow was coming down so hard it created a wall between me and the bottom of the hill. The wind was so strong it began to push me up hill. This is my memory of what it was like to ski at Lutsen Mountain for the first time over 7 years ago on my honeymoon. I love downhill skiing. I didn't begin skiing until after I had met Melissa (a snowboarder), and I guess we can say it's been all downhill since. (Not really). Over the past several years I have grown tremendously in my abilities, you still won't see me on the Olympics, but when I returned to Lutsen Mountain this last week, the runs didn't seem as scary as I remembered. A key turning point for me came during last year's Michigan Ski trip. I had been skiing with Greg Ernst that afternoon when we came upon a double black diamond. I had never knowingly attempted a double black diamond before, but for some reason I got the strange idea in my head that I could try this one. Greg led the way, and a few moments later I came tumbling after him. I had only made it about 20 yards or less down the hill when I crashed for the first time. But Greg was right there encouraging me on. With Greg's help I made it to the bottom of the hill, and once I made it through, I was ready to go back up again, and again, until I could finally make it all the way down without falling or stopping. We all have taken spills in life. If life has knocked you down, you know how tough it can be to get back up again. Sometimes all we can see or feel is the pain, the hurt, the embarrassment we have suffered. Rather than getting back up again, we just want to find the easiest way out. It is difficult not to give up, we may lose courage, we may lose hope. We could all use a little encouragement in life. This month we are starting a new series at Little Prairie called Down, But Not Out. Each week we will look at God's word and discover that even though life may knock us down, with God we are never out. We have someone in our corner pulling for us, the best coach we could ever ask for, God. And with God, we are never out. Down, But Not Out - Feb. 7thLittle Prairie - “Where Church Is Family”
The tiny ice crystals cut through my face like shards of broken glass. The snow was coming down so hard it created a wall between
me and the bottom of the hill. The wind was so strong it began to push me up hill. This is my memory of what it was like to ski at
Lutsen Mountain for the first time over 7 years ago on my honeymoon.
I love downhill skiing. I didn't begin skiing until after I had met Melissa (a snowboarder), and I guess we can say it's been all downhill
since. (Not really). Over the past several years I have grown tremendously in my abilities, you still won't see me on the Olympics, but
when I returned to Lutsen Mountain this last week, the runs didn't seem as scary as I remembered.
A key turning point for me came during last year's Michigan Ski trip. I had been skiing with Greg Ernst that afternoon when we came upon a double black
diamond. I had never knowingly attempted a double black diamond before, but for some reason I got the strange idea in my head that I could try this one.
Greg led the way, and a few moments later I came tumbling after him. I had only made it about 20 yards or less down the hill when I crashed for the first
time. But Greg was right there encouraging me on. With Greg's help I made it to the bottom of the hill, and once I made it through, I was ready to go back
up again, and again, until I could finally make it all the way down without falling or stopping.
We all have taken spills in life. If life has knocked you down, you know how tough it can be to get back up again. Sometimes all we can see or feel is the
pain, the hurt, the embarrassment we have suffered. Rather than getting back up again, we just want to find the easiest way out. It is difficult not to give up,
we may lose courage, we may lose hope.
We could all use a little encouragement in life. This month we are starting a new series at Little Prairie called Down, But Not Out. Each week we will look at
God's word and discover that even though life may knock us down, with God we are never out. We have someone in our corner pulling for us, the best
coach we could ever ask for, God. And with God, we are never out.
Down, But Not Out - Feb. 7th
Little Prairie - “Where Church Is Family”
