My Son Fell off a Cliff!

     Last night I decided to take my son Isaiah on our first father/son camping trip.  We went to Pallisades state park.  We set up our tent, and then went on our first hike.  We went down to the river and skipped stones till dark.  We came back and started a fire and ate our supper.  Then we got in our tent and laid under the stars.  We told stupid "scary" campfire stories, sang silly songs, and laughed a lot together.  Then we went to sleep.  I was quickly reminded of how difficult it is to sleep on the ground.  I know I tossed and turned all night.
     We then woke up, ate our breakfast and decided to go on another hike.  The sun was shinning, and the weather was perfect.  So far the perfect weekend.  We were walking down the "Cedar Cliff" trail and Isaiah asked why it was called that.  I replied "probably because the cedar river is on the left and cliffs are on the right."  There are all these mini trails that diverge from the main trail where people have climbed up and back down the cliffs.  We decided to give them a try.  We climbed up one trail and then Isaiah decided to climb back down another trail.  I said, I don't know about that trail it seems pretty steep and dangerous.  Isaiah gave me his typical reply, "Oh it's fine Dad I won't fall."  No sooner had he said that when to my horror I watch him slip and fall off the cliff.  
     I began to run back down the other path as fast as I could to get to him.  After stumbling a few times and injuring myself in the process, I got to him.  He was standing up screaming, "I need to go to the hospital!"  I quickly began to survey his injuries and replay in my mind what had just happened.
     If their is a perfect way to fall off a 12 cliff, my son some how managed to do just that.  He fell flat on his back on dirt.  As I looked back to where he fell from, I realized he could have easily hit his head, and got a concussion or worse.  He could have broken his arm or leg, but instead he falls flat on his back.  I then carried him on my back to our car and returned home.
     What is interesting to me about this story is that just this week, our family was at the same park and Dianne and I had multiple confrontations with our son about being safe on the trails.  He refused to listen to us and was quite defiant about the matter.  I was very disappointed in the way he acted and realized something had to change.  That was the impetus for us to go on this camping trip.  I cleared my schedule and decided to take him camping.  I wanted to once again reinforce in his mind how important it is to listen and obey his parents.
     After my son had calmed down from his near death experience, I asked him if he now understood why Mom and Dad were so "strict" about being careful around cliffs.  I also asked him if he now understood how important it was to listen to us, because we really just want to protect him.  His reply was "definitely Dad!"
     I find that this story parallels so many principles in our relationship with God.  1. Just like my son we are often ticked off at God for how strict he is.  We live in a culture that basically tells us that it is time to drop all of the archaic, antiquated standards of the Bible, and just talk about God's Love.  The reason God put these principles and boundaries in the Bible is because he knows that nothing but pain and destruction live on the other side of those boundaries.
     Number 2, Many times God protects us from the worse consequences of rebellion.  God definitely protected my son when he fell off that cliff, but trust me he is feeling the pain of that bad decision.  How often have you and I been mad at God because he didn't protect us from all of the consequences of our poor choices?
     Number 3, God can even use the pain of our life for our good.  My son will definitely be more careful around cliffs now and hopefully will be more attentive to his parents.  I wish my son didn't have to go through this, but he learned a very valuable lesson today.
[DISCLAIMER]  I do not believe that every bad or painful thing that happens in our life is the result of our poor choices or some how God's punishment in our lives.  But I do firmly believe Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose."
    Number 4, as I watched my son fall and get hurt, my heart was broken.  No good father wants to see their children experience pain.  God is no different.  He is a loving heavenly father and his heart is broken when he sees us experience pain.  Also my leg is bleeding now because of how quickly I had to get to my son when he was hurt.  God also is close to the broken-hearted.  He promised to never leave you or forsake you.