On the Wire

We are called and empowered to be people who trust God's Word, who speak it, and live it out.  In
Colossians 3, we can read:
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

God's Word is to shape our thinking; and through our knowledge of the Word, we can govern the words that we say.  His truth can be our filter for what we allow into our minds, what we dwell on.  The messages that we tell ourselves - in our minds and even in our mouths - can propel us into a walk that pleases God and we can develop character that shows we belong to Him.  As we place the Word into our hearts, we can allow it to flow through our actions.

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Each day, we can rely on the direction of the Holy Spirit and the resources that He has provided for
us. In Joshua 1, we read these words of exhortation:
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I remember when I was younger, growing up in Georgia, that there was a huge event that occurred in the northeast corner of the state at the majestic Tallulah Gorge - highwire walker Karl Wallenda of the Flying Wallenda family walked across the gorge; according to Atlanta magazine:

Wallenda slowly stepped along a tightrope spanning approximately 1,000 feet across and 750 feet above the ground.

It was a major event at the time, in 1970.

Nik Wallenda and his sister, Lijana, who are great-grandson and great-grandaughter of Karl, are part of that family legacy of tightrope walkers.  The family took a serious hit in 2017 when, according to CBN News, a group performance went terribly wrong in a rehearsal.  The article, referencing an earlier report, says:

...the group was attempting to complete a new world record during a practice for Circus Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida. Nik was leading the performers when they lost their balance and plummeted to the ground below. The accident had left four members of the team in critical condition and another with a traumatic brain injury. "There were angels surrounding us," Nik said of the team.

Lijana, according to the story, "nearly broke every bone in her face."  Nik's confidence was shaken.  The article says:

Nik admits that fear has caused moments of doubt during his career. He considered quitting the business until a fellow performer confronted him. "You're not the Nik that's always preached 'never give up.' What's wrong? You need to snap out of it," he said.

He admits that faith in God empowered him to defeat his fear. "It's always been a huge role in my life. …My faith is who I am."

So, this past Sunday, Nik and Lijana were back on a highwire, walking 1300 feet over Times Square.  They were able to communicate with one another during the walk, and as it could be heard during the telecast on ABC, they talked with each other - and with God.  You could hear Nik encouraging his sister during this difficult comeback, reminding her of God's presence and His purpose.  There was Christian music to which they were listening, and periodically you could hear Lijana singing along - songs such as Tremble and You Make Me Brave were on the playlist.  They started from opposite ends of two buildings in Times Square and at their meeting point, Nik walked over Lijana while she sat on the wire.  I'm still amazed that ABC allowed their running commentary to be televised - they certainly were bold in sharing their faith in Christ.

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website has a story on Nik's personal faith - it was written after his 2012 walk over Niagara Falls and republished to coincide with the Times Square walk. The article says:

In fact, he’s the third generation of Christians in his family, and going to church and talking about Jesus is “something I grew up knowing.”

Wallenda accepted Christ into his life at the early age of 4, with his Sunday School teacher leading him to the Lord. “My mother [Delilah] found my commitment card,” he said.

But as someone who started practicing tight-rope walking at the age of 2, and grew up dreaming of stunts such as the “Niagara walk,” Wallenda tried hard not to be any different than those around him.

It’s a strong personal conviction of his to not live as if he’s “better than everybody.”

The article continues:

“I believe God has given me a gift and a talent that can be used to bring glory to His name,” said Wallenda, who trains five to six hours a day. “I don’t go up there unprepared or untrained and say it’s up to God whether I make it or not. Not in any way.”

That echoes what he said during the walk over Times Square to his sister - that she was made for the purpose of walking the wire. 

There are certainly a few points to consider.  First of all, what tightrope are you walking or have you walked?  We can be prepared through our relationship with Christ and the study of His Word, we can train ourselves to be vigilant in the midst of challenge, and we can allow the Word to direct and sustain us during our times of difficulty.

As the Wallendas demonstrated high above New York City, the Word of God in our mouths can be very powerful.  The messages they were speaking were full of light and truth.  Certainly meditation on God's Word is very helpful, but when we speak Scripture, even to ourselves, we can discover the power of that truth.  What we tell ourselves can determine the course of our lives.

We can know the peace of God that can sustain us in our challenges.  Nik Wallenda, reflecting on his Niagara Falls walk said, according to BGEA, “It was more peaceful that you would imagine,” adding, “I trust in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. That’s where I find my peace, the peace that passes all understanding.”

Finally, we can be reminded of our purpose and Christ's sufficiency to fulfill it.  I think about what NBA leader Pat Williams had to say about the "sweet spot," in which we can walk.  We can be motivated to find what we enjoy and what God has equipped us to do and seek to practice in that place.