Caving...an activity for the well-bodied, in-shape person...NOT a writer-mom, completely OUT of shape, celebrating a fifty-something birthday!! But you guessed it--that's what this crazy woman did to celebrate! Well, I was entertaining a California guest, and where do you take these sun-tanned, beach surfin' and smogged-out friends, but to the lovely Ozarks hills--in, around, up, down, and UNDER them!! And that's exactly what we did.
Part of the delightful Ozark scenic attractions in Branson, Missouri, is Silver Dollar City. And part of that great park is Marvel Cave--an exploring experience better "felt than telt"--except for days following, when every muscle in your legs pulls and hurts, and you wonder why in the world you ever took your Ozarkian hospitality to such a LOW level indeed--like 20 stories below the earth's surface!! Awww, it really WAS fun, and if I got inspiration for a devotional out of the whole experience, and entertained my friend at the same time, it WAS worth it. And now YOU get to tour the cave without all the moans and groans, aches and pains that we endured. You are SO blessed...grin...
But hold on before you descend! This kind of caving isn't for the light-hearted; it's not in the tour book, and you won't find it on the descriptive map either! It's hidden deep within the recesses of the heart--NO one else may even know it's there, but the Lord of ALL caves knows exactly where it is--and best of all, He knows what to do about it. So let's meet Him at the cave--I mean, the Well, and find out!
A Helping Word...or Two!
Caveless?
No! We're all either IN a cave right now, about to enter one, about to leave one, or sitting here writing about one! Caves are a part of the human experience. It's been the delight of adventurers to discover wonderful caves hidden under the earth's surface. It is NOT our delight to discover them in our personal lives--but they do exist. Life is not always a sunny, bright adventure, even for the Christian. There are dark times and dark places, deep holes we find ourselves in--emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally. And ironically, that's where we get to know the Lord--not in the sunlight, but in the dark--the cave places of our lives--for He IS there, waiting to teach us lessons we would never learn in the light!
Ageless?
No! Marvel Cave is very old, and historians cannot pinpoint its exact age, but like other natural wonders, it is an aging part of our earth. Aging is not my favorite topic, especially on a fifty-something birthday...grin...but I am learning that God is there at EVERY season of my life! He's led me through dark places at EVERY age level--for HE is ageless--He's been there from before my beginning breath...and will continue to guide me through the nooks and crannies of ALL of life...some spots are slippery and treacherous; some low-hanging rocks could HURT, but He is there, through it all, to lead me by the right path. I must believe it! He's Lord of the caves. He knows the way through every cave of my life, at every stage of my life--and yours too!
eVerlasting?
No! Marvel Cave had an ending, after a LONG hour of torturous climbing down, around, in, out, and up--we finally, with some end-of-the-line help from a tram, reached ground level once again! Whew! Were we glad the tour ended at last! Life is like that--for just as the natural cave tour ended, there IS an end to the pain--it's not forever. Our Guide watches--and no step will be too steep, too slippery, or too painful that we cannot make it! It may seem an eternity of caving to you--but it's all in His plan, and when the time is right, there WILL be an end. There WILL be an exit into the sunlight once again! Believe it--don't cave in! For He's Lord of the seemingly endless caves! He KNOWS--you can trust Him!
Illuminated?
No! Marvel Cave was dark--were it not for electrical wiring which made lighting possible. The original explorers used candles or lanterns to pierce the darkness so they could carefully make their way through the cave. Darkness--total darkness--is not fun. They turned off the lights so we could "see" how dark it was--it was DARK, trust me! And that's how it is many times in our spiritual caving experiences. Pitch black! But--look carefully around, for in the darkness, you will see the LIGHT of the world walking with you--you will know you are not in that dark place ALONE; He is with you, and it is going to be all right! Believe it--don't cave in! For He's Lord of the darkest caves and He will light the way--you can trust Him!
Noiseless?
No! At various points, you could listen closely and hear water trickling; at various times of the year, you might even hear the flapping wings of bats--(wonderful, if you like bats!), AND, if you would speak, you'd hear an echo. Have you ever heard one--spiritually? Do echoing words of hurt and pain jab at the silence of your heart, echoing back and forth until you are ready to explode? DON'T--for if you listen closely, within the stillness of your heart, you will hear His gentle voice whispering peace to your soul. His whisper is powerful enough to drown out the loudest voice of your accuser or your unkindest enemy! Believe it--don't cave in! He's Lord of the noisy caves, and you can trust Him!
Go on--WITH GOD!
Deep within the cave, as we hit bottom, and moved slightly beyond, was a lovely ceramic manger scene, lowered into the cave, with great difficulty, for the coming Christmas season. We were told that Joseph, weighing 300 pounds, would probably be left there forever! Funny thought--but I know Someone else who will be there--in YOUR cave--and never leave nor forsake you. He goes WITH you on the journey, through the journey until its end.
So what to do? DON'T cave in--Go ON, for HE, the Lord of the Caves, is there, caving right along with you--surrounding you, above you, beneath you, beside you. You are never alone--He walks the darkest, deepest cave with you. Why? Because He is God Immanuel--God with us--and THAT includes the caves of our lives! He knows the way out of the cave you are in today--so please--DON'T cave in--CLIMB OUT--with HIM--He IS the way, and you can trust Him!
