What do you think of when someone says to you, “You’re walking on thin ice there”? My mind goes to risky business and touchy subjects. With that in mind one might say that I have been doing my share of thin ice walking this past week.
Psalm 124 starts out with the question, “If the Lord had not been on our side – let Israel say – if the Lord had not been on our side” (Psalm 124.1-2) … and then continues to describe multiple disaster scenes. Such were my thoughts as I walked down that thinly iced trail, “If the Lord is not on my side, this is going to be a disaster.” Thankfully, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker or heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124.8) And, in this endeavor, he was on my side (or should I say, he seemed to confirm that the party was a good idea). If there were any hitches, I did not notice. And, as far as I can tell, my mission was accomplished.
It all had to do with the wonderful woman God have me decades ago. She was about to celebrate one of those “decade” birthdays and I wanted to be sure that she felt treasured and honored. So, with great help from our two sons and one daughter-in-law, I organized a surprise birthday gathering (rather than “party organizer” I am more comfortable in filling a supporting role). Keeping it a surprise was not easy, but even more difficult was my role as main organizer and planner. From who to invite (I know I missed people) and how, to food and beverages, and on to responding to questions I never imagined. For those two months I was walking on thin ice. And I hope that never again will I be in that position.
Later in the week, I found myself serving as a mediator between two friends. Whenever I am in thin ice situations like this, I know that the list of potential disasters is long … such as losing one friend, two friends, or more … or making things worse than they were before … or just being a total dud! While the jury is still out on how beneficial our time together was, we were all still smiling and hugging at the end of the conversation (so at least it feels as though I have not yet fallen through into the icy waters).
So, then the question arises in my mind, “What is the purpose of walking on thin ice?” (And, perhaps, the real question is, “When is it appropriate for one to risk relationships and/or reputation?”) Well, do you agree with the statement “no risk, no gain”? Generally when facilitating a Bible class, I will take multiple risks in teasing people, questioning them, or even asking them to stop talking (If you doubt me, talk to someone in the group I met with yesterday). Recently I even told someone else in the group, “You are walking on thin ice there.”
For me, these actions come under the theme, “Test everything; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5.21-22) This sounds like risky behavior to me. Yet the rewards can be mighty good … like the incredible blessings God is working in that Wednesday gathering taking us through our “stuckness” into hope-filled anticipation of the future. And, while I am using a crazy made-up word like that, I may as well offer another phrase I have quoted multiple times lately: “A crisis / danger / opportunity is a ‘fork in the road’ occasion for re-organization and redevelopment and renewal.” I hope I am not walking on thin ice with you when I say that!
The fact is our entire life’s journey would be walked on thin ice “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side!” (Psalm 124.1) The psalm goes on exploring that “if” scenario by stating, “We would have been swallowed up alive … the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; over us would have gone the raging (or, I’ll say icy) waters.” (Psalm 124.3-5) However, the psalm concludes, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124.6-8)
Now, while the Lord is always on our side, he does not always side with the positions or decisions we make. Before Paul tells us to “test everything” (see above) he writes, “Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. … Pray without ceasing. … Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies.” (1 Thessalonians 5.13-16). God promises to guide and encourage us in his word to wisely and lovingly walk on thin ice in seeking to help one another. His promise, in fact, goes so far as to assure us that even when we fall through (and we will) he will not only rescue us, but also work on turning our disgusting failures into blessings. In other words, the reality is, as long as we are walking with the Lord on our side, we are never really walking on thin ice.
Thin Ice