Patrick, a 29-year-old, bright and athletic civil engineer who spent his spare time climbing mountains, cherished a special dream: He wanted to climb 14,411 ft. Mt. Rainier. In preparation for this adventure, Patrick had spent many weekends climbing in the Adirondack Mountains.
Some months later, the long-awaited day for his climb to the top of Rainier arrived, warm and sunny. To many mountain climbers, however, the bright, warm sun was not a welcome sight. They knew its warmth—as great as 80 degrees near the summit—could create very dangerous avalanche conditions.
But Patrick and 15 other student climbers (who had spent the previous 5 days training in climbing school), along with 7 guides, started off in high spirits. Hours later, tired and happy they reached the majestic summit of Rainier.
During their descent, Tyler, a new guide in Patrick’s group, was moving across a particularly dangerous ice face called “Disappointment Cleaver.” Without warning, Tyler’s foot slipped, triggering an avalanche of melting ice and snow.
Some who were not caught in the avalanche yelled warnings to Patrick and others who were further below. But they were unable to get out of the way of the onrushing snow. Patrick and three others were swept 100 ft. down the mountain towards a deep crevasse. Even though the lead climber in his group was able to use an ice pick to break their slide towards certain death, Patrick, the last on the rope, ended up dangling over the edge of the crevasse.
Rescuers were soon on the scene. After several hours, all of the party with the exception of Patrick were safe. By the time the rescuers had reached him, hypothermia due to the torrent of icy snowmelt which had continually poured down on him from above the crevasse had taken his life.
Later, a sorrowful Tyler was only able to say, “My foot slipped, and I triggered the avalanche. My world is all turned upside down.”
The Bible tells those who are believers in the Lord Jesus to “make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way” (Heb. 12:13). Let’s be careful not to stumble other Christians by the way we live our lives (Rom. 14:13)!
The Lord Jesus described the Jewish religious leaders of His day as “blind leaders of the blind” because of their hatred and rejection of Him (Matt. 15:14). What sad consequences resulted in the lives of those who followed these blind “guides.”
Paul, the beloved Apostle, tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:1 to be “followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” We can only be good guides for others as we are faithfully following the Lord Jesus ourselves.
D. Thonney (adapted)