On the Brink: A Waterfall Story

Niagara Falls is stunning!  My family stopped at the Canadian Horseshoe Falls many times as we vacationed and visited family nearby.  The Falls always scared me.  The edge’s height, and the rushing forceful river plummeting to a deep drop below was nothing I wanted to be close to!  I feared the power and danger of it all.  Recently someone close to us shared a momentous waterfall experience.  It is deep, personal, and worth passing on to you, but I’ll not use his actual name.

Matt, as I’ll call him, told us his story of a dangerous edgepoint in his life.  He was young and making choices; temptation teased him, and he was caught in its rush.  Matt shared that as circumstances swelled around him, an older confidant reached out to him.  The mentor spared no words in confronting Matt regarding his precarious situation.  Matt said that he counselled him with words something like this: “Matthew, you are nearly at a point of no return.  It’s as if you’re headed toward a Niagara Falls.  You’re so close to being swept up and thrown over.  You’ll plunge into disaster and be dashed on the rocks and tumult below.  You’ve got a choice to make.  It’s almost too late.”

Matt reflected on the mentor’s wise words, spoken out of love and concern.  Time and proximity were opportune, so shortly after the conversation, Matt drove to Niagara Falls.  He walked to the viewing edge.   Looking over into the swirling depths far below, Matt shared that the gorge looked peaceful, something his life was not. I sensed that it was a moment of crisis: maybe he even considered taking that plunge; I was not sure what he meant.

But Matt continued his waterfall story.  The following day, alone and still contemplating his future, he turned on the TV.  In his channel surfing, he came across a preacher, who was standing in front of a waterfall backdrop – probably the filming magic of a ‘green screen’! The preacher blurted out, “Do you want to know the secret of real joy?”  Matt did not want to know what the preacher’s idea of joy was, so he quickly changed the channel.  A few moments later, Matt thought maybe he did want to hear the preacher’s answer.  He clicked through the channels again, but he found no waterfall and no sermon.  Without the TV message, the Lord brought to mind a little ditty his father had once told him.  You probably have heard it too:  JOY is found when you order your life with Jesus, then Others, and then Yourself.  It seems trivial but it is truthful.  Jesus must come first for a right life.

The rest of Matt’s story is that he edged away from the rushing whirlpool he faced.  Instead, he turned toward the safety of solid ground although we know that shoreline can be steep and rocky.  It was a victory for him because of Jesus’ victory over sin and death. We all admitted with Matt that we are always nearer a dangerous water’s edge than we realize.

This morning, I read these words in Psalm 94, “When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your love, O Lord, supported me” (v 18),  “ the Lord has become … the rock in whom I take refuge.” (v 22).  Turbulent temptations rage at times, but we can claim the calm of Jesus’ victory on the cross.  (See                  1 Corinthians 10 v 13

Author: Brenda Proulx

Wife, mother and grandmother, educator and someone who thinks about the things I observe. I am the daughter of a writer; my dad's career was in the field of journalism. More significantly, I am God's child, a person believing in Jesus Christ and in His timeless Word. Blogging is new to me but I feel like I've always had a pen in my hand. I jot notes in my planner, mark papers, underline verses, write many letters, and occasionally draft articles for work or church. When I am not holding a pen, I am probably cuddling a mug of coffee. View all posts by Brenda Proulx