Twelve Step Reflections

Too Grown Up for a Hand? – Steps 1, 2, 3

September 1, 2008 by Nannette Wiggins Leave a Comment

Madeline is apparently four going on fourteen. Maddie recently and suddenly announced her own coming of age. Just before an ordinary mother/daughter crossing of a busy street, Kendra, completely unaware of Miss Madeline’s growth sprit, reached down to take her hand as she traditionally does. But this time the little paw was claimed back quickly by its owner with this confidant announcement, “I don’t need to hold your hand. I’m almost a teenager.”

I don’t know how old I am on the eternal growth and development chart, but I do know that I’m Heavenly Father’s little girl. It’s difficult to acknowledge that in some respects I probably am just four and it’s a great challenge to resist the mistaken notion that growing up somehow means growing away, growing out of need for my Fathers hand, becoming independent of Him. Truth be told, the greatest sign of growth, of being four going on four-ever, with Him, is the yearning for and taking of God’s hand not only at life’s busy, scary crossing but on the little seemingly innocuous park paths as well.

I want to seek out His hand and grip it tight and not draw back and roll my eyes in disgust as a sign of growth and independence, even if I am “almost a teenager.”

By Nannette W.
Posted Monday, September 1, 2008

Copyright 2008 by Nannette W. All right reserved.
Making or sending copies is permitted if the page is not changed in any way and the material is not used for profit.
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Coming Down The Mountain – Part 6 Final Chapter

August 31, 2008 by Nannette Wiggins Leave a Comment

As the snow on the path started to become more sparse and there were just little patches here and there, he stuck with me. One time, feeling a little independent, I let go, only to fall right down on the path. When you think you can “go it alone now, thank you very much,” you usually fall right down on life’s slippery path too. Independence is quite a touted virtue today, but you must resist the temptation to become independent from God!

After hours of this exercise, the snow on the path came to an end. The rest of the path was lovely, I’m sure. But I hurt so badly. Every step forward was painful. Even to take the smallest step down from one rock to another took the gathering of all my willingness. My legs shook. I felt like I had the flu. Something in my knee started to pull tight with pain at every step. I wondered if it was possible to break your knees!

Think about the people you meet in life that “ seem” to be on a pleasant enough part of the path, and yet they struggle so. You might wonder now what mountain they have just traversed. How many icy steps on the mountain have they taken? How ill equipped were they for what life dealt them? And who has helped them to this point? Always remember that on the pleasant part of the path you were exhausted by what had come before. I felt sick to my stomach, and all I wanted to do was lie down on the path and go to sleep. I imagined people seeing me on the path for the first time at this point saying, “What is her problem?” I vowed to have more sensitivity toward the travelers I meet on life’s path.

As in real life, there was no “wimp wagon” to rest on like I had experienced on mock pioneer treks. I just had to keep putting one foot in front of the other, knowing there would be an end. Finally Mel and I found ourselves driving home in a toasty warm car, visiting and rejoicing. We had come to this experience in the dark and now it was dark again. What would have been a half-day bit of creative exercise for her had taken us all day. Your friends willingness to walk you, the novice hiker through this experience with enthusiasm and patience, with never a condescending word, speaks more than any sermon. Be more willing to go the distance with others!

I slipped into a nice warm bathtub that calmed my chills, and then onto the living room couch prepared by my daughter Jenny with pillow, blanket and heating pad. Marv warmed my dinner. I was home safe and I had learned some remarkable things about “coming down The Mountain.”

The End.

By Nannette W.
Posted Sunday, August 31, 2008

Copyright 2008 by Nannette W. All right reserved.
Making or sending copies is permitted if the page is not changed in any way and the material is not used for profit. This notice must be included on each copy made or sent.

Coming Down The Mountain – Part 5

August 30, 2008 by Nannette Wiggins Leave a Comment

As we left the shed and started to descend the trail, I was feeling very frightened. As I looked down the trail we had come up and thought of the steep inclines and slippery snow, I could imagine how I would keep from falling and possibly being seriously hurt. How could we ever make it down? Back down the mountain we started. This is how it went. Step, step, fall. Hold Mel’s hand. Step, step, slip. Step, step, fall. We did this little exercise long enough to realize that our return journey was going to be even longer and harder than our hike up.

All of a sudden, I became aware of a man standing just below me on the trail. I didn’t notice where he came from, but there he stood, holding his hand out to me. I remember thinking, “What a friendly person.” I looked at his mountain-wise attire including his high and dry hiking boots. “How kind of him to shake everyone’s hand as he zooms down the mountain decked out in his ‘four-wheeling’ boots.” I took his hand and shook it, smiling. As I tried to withdraw my hand from his grasp, he refused to let go of it. “Hold on. I’m going to help you down this mountain. You’ve taken more steps on this mountain, today, than anyone.”

For the next several hours we inched our way down the steep, icy trail. Often we were side-stepping. Always, he was ahead of me, planting himself and allowing me slide my slick tennis shoe into the side of his big boots. Sometimes I just held onto his backpack and skied down behind him. At other times I held onto his back pack, looked down at the small patch of snow covered ground between him and I, and put my feet carefully into his footprints. Over and over again, step after tedious and often dangerous step, he supported me. From the moment he took my hand and for all the hours it took for us to work our way down the mountain, I kept thinking, “I can’t believe he’s really doing this for me!”

In humility, I heard the Spirit of Truth whisper to me: “I can’t believe he is doing this for me!” How often in life, when people are struggling do you simply give them a hearty handshake and a good wish and send them on their way, when what they really need is constant, painstaking, time-consuming help getting off the mountain, whatever that mountain is for them. With each step I hoped that I could become more prepared and willing to go the distance with the people the Lord brings into my life.

This next message, I suppose, was the most profound message that came to me during this experience. The spirit spoke, “This strong selfless man who somehow knows your need and is willing to sacrifice himself in your behalf is doing for you what the Lord Jesus Christ will do for you at all times, if you allow Him. He knows you. He knows how many steps you have taken on life’s treacherous path. He knows what your handicaps are, and He loves you. He loves you so much that he bled from every pore to receive the power from the Father to bring you down life’s mountain, not just having survived the ordeal, but changed and prepared for Eternal life.

Nannette, everyone is ill equipped to conquer this trail alone. Your savior on the mountain was capable of helping you down a trail miles long, but your Savior Jesus Christ has the love and power to help all who come unto Him. You who are aware of His love and power must direct other strugglers to Him in word and in deed. You can bear testimony of His assistance by telling others how He is helping us. You can move ahead each day with enthusiasm and faith in Him, so that others may “see your good works and glorify” not you, but Him. Finally, you can literally be empowered by Him to help others who cross your path. He often uses others as his hands and feet and voice. If you want to help Him you must know, like your friend on the mountain knew, that giving someone a hand, a real hand, requires the gift of self.”

To be Continued. (one more time)
By Nannette W.
Posted Saturday, August 30, 2008

Coming Down The Mountain – Part 4

August 29, 2008 by Nannette Wiggins Leave a Comment

Despite the added strain of walking on slippery packed snow, we kept going. We kept hoping the sun would grow warm enough to melt the snow. We kept hoping that each one of numberless bends in the trail would be the last before the lake. Hours passed. My legs were so shaky, by this time, I could hardly put one foot in front of another. With a bit of sarcasm in my voice, I suggested that Mel run up the next hill and see if the lake was just around the next bend. She did. She ran up the trail and turned to wave back. The lake was finally just ahead. Slowly, I hobbled up. It was 1:00 p.m.

We sat down and evaluated our situation. It was still quite cold. There was no hope of the snow melting. My exhaustion and the reality that we could never reach the top and come back in daylight finally pushed us to a decision. We would not go on to the top. Right here, only half way. This was “the top” for me! Again, another humbling thought came into my mind: Nannette, your “top” will always just be somewhere higher than you have ever been before, not as high as anyone has ever gone. Be grateful every time you out-do your old self! That’s the only standard you need to achieve to feel like it was all worthwhile.”

To Be Continued.

By Nannette W.
Posted Tuesday, August 29, 2008

Copyright 2008 by Nannette W. All right reserved.
Making or sending copies is permitted if the page is not changed in any way and the material is not used for profit. This notice must be included on each copy made or sent.

Coming Down The Mountain – Part 3

August 28, 2008 by Nannette Wiggins Leave a Comment

About half way to the summit, there is a beautiful spot where most people pause to rest. It’s appropriately called “Emerald Lake.” Well, we weren’t even half way to the lake, when we found the trail covered with snow. I hadn’t expected snow and neither had any of the people who advised me that my old walking shoes would be sufficient for my needs. These were the shoes I’d worn around the block hundreds of times on my daily walks. Comfortable, yes. Tread, zero.

Another lesson appeared in my thoughts: Nannette, comfort and familiarity do not mean safety when it comes to the equipment you choose to help you along life’s path either! Taking the easier, more comfortable way today may actually hinder your progress later. Choose carefully!

As those words passed through my mind, I had no idea how true they would prove in the hours ahead.

To Be Continued.

By Nannette W.
Posted Thursday, August 28, 2008