Below doubling as a tribute to my parents, Bernie & Judy Schlueter, on the occasion of their 58th wedding anniversary today (August 31). While particularly a "dad" story, my mom is very much woven into the meaning. When the story is written of the extraordinary impact they've had on so many, at the top of the list will be the spiritual life they've imparted to over sixty children and grandchildren.
“Devil’s Ledge” was legend. Haunting my childhood imagination. As Frodo sat enrapt before Bilbo, so we children would sit before our dad as he spun tales of his early childhood growing up in Dubuque, Iowa (usually because we were on a long car trip). Surely Devil's Ledge was only myth. Then the day came I discovered otherwise. On a rare visit to his childhood stomping ground. I was the seven-year old runt allowed to accompany uncles and older cousins. I was so excited. And nervous. Hoping my “there” would be marked by a “back again.”
As we descended down a trail amidst sheer cliffs lining the great Mississippi, I was haunted by images of my dad and his neighborhood gang spending hours here. Hiding out. Building forts. Making great adventures. The path winded and narrowed until we came to the formidable chasm. Devil’s Ledge.
It was awesome. A large, foreboding span between “here” and “there.” To get “there” required a big-person-size step. Following behind the bigger others who easily breached the chasm, it was my turn. Looking down, I just stood there. Paralyzed. Below the cliff was sheer and vast. Devil’s Ledge was way too big for me. The physical chasm corresponded to an internal chasm. Between faith and prudence. Boldness and idiocy. Mustering as much courage as I could, shivers down my spine, I took a deep breath and lifted what was sure to be my last step on this side of things….
From nowhere unseen strong hands reached under my arms and lifted me from behind. With one decisive step, I landed securely on the other side. I turned around, but didn’t need to. My dad. He must have been behind me the whole time. Watching me closely. Making sure I didn’t fall. Not a word was said. No words needed to be. What awesome, often unspoken things Dads do. Always desiring our greatest good. Allowing us to go as far as we can. Then making up the distance. Getting us where we need to go. Not just showing us the way, taking us there. With them. Across the Devil’s Ledges of our lives. To safety. Saving us.
Now the turn. Right now I think our humanity is facing the ultimate Devil’s Ledge. Revealed in unprecedented distance, depression, suicide, divorce, brokenness. A great chasm between a self-centered life and a God-entered life. Between merely professing it (only in comfortable times and places) and actually living it. Between presumption that truth is a contrivance we can create, or Someone in whom we are created. With all the difference between emaciated hunger and abundance to overflow.
This ultimate Devil’s Ledge is at the cornerstone of civilization: Marriage and family.
Here’s how breaching Devil’s Ledge might look. Consider these words of a pastor at a parish council meeting: “I’m so grateful for each of you. The gifts you bring are making a difference. Thank you. I’m so grateful for your willingness to sacrifice a couple hours here tonight. But I wouldn’t be a good pastor if I didn’t ask: ‘When was the last time you spent 30 minutes meaningfully talking and praying with your whole family in your home? How well do you really know each of their souls? Do you have a culture of apology and forgiveness? Of daily praying with, for and over one another?
"Over last week, what did discretionary time spent reveal about what’s most important to you and your family? Here’s the thing: Leadership of your family there is a much higher priority than your leadership here. If you’re not intentionally making it happen there, I’m robbing from them here. If we’re not leading in doing this, what can we possibly hope for any of our parishioners?”
Here’s the thing. Which of us are not aware of Devil’s Ledge our lives? Which of us don't deeply desire more? To get to the other side? Which of us are not looking for reliable others to help us?
Speaking truth is not meant to bash. It’s meant to profoundly bless. To breach Devil’s Ledge. It's why Christ came. It’s why the Church exists. To get us from here to there. Without which, why bother?
With eyes fixed on the best version of ourselves, on those “bigger people” saints who’ve stepped before us, as we more and more avail to the unseen Arms of the Father lifting us up and over, we will be impelled to invite all others. As our parents did for us. As we endeavor to do with our children. As our eldest daughter and new son-in-law are already doing with their unborn child. Pews will be filled. Marriages and families will be transformed. Culture will be transformed. The Kingdom will come.
Don’t wait upon popes, pastors and principals. Breaching Devil’s Ledge is ultimately the responsibility of parents.
Divine Invitation: Breach Devil’s Ledge. If any of this resonates with you, if you desire more in your own soul, marriage, family, community and world, please go to ILoveMyFamily.us. We are families engaged in the journey of breaching Devil’s Ledge. Making our homes places of ever-deepening encounter and conformity to Jesus Christ.
Accept the invitation to profoundly bless your family on a weekly basis using our fun and engaging Live IT Gathering Guide (GO). View our brand new “Live IT TV Series” episode, weekly, short videos corresponding to subsequent Sunday readings. Be supported! Join us for our Belief & Beverages Nights the Third Thursday of every month (GO). Men, receive the vision, challenge and support with other men striving to live it, beginning with this 33-Day Consecration to St. Joseph (GO).
Finally, we have so much more we need to do. So much further we need to reach. Look at all we're doing below. It is making a huge difference. Last month alone over 50,000 people benefited from ILoveMyFamily.us. 9,000 new people loved it enough to share it. Unfortunately, no new people financially partnered with us. Made the sacrifice to help us us breach Devil’s Ledge. We do need your support. Thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration. (GO)
God bless you, your family and your community! Keep bringing it!
"As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give." Matthew 10:7-8 |
