Meeting Jesus on the rocks

Mar 07, 2025

Word made Fresh - Nicholas Lye
When a friend invited me to rock climb, I was hesitant at first. It was years since I last did so, and I was not sure if my 40-year-old body was nimble enough to make the climb all the way to the top. Still, I felt the Lord inviting me to yet another adventure with Him, this time on the rocks. So, I went for it, and not only enjoyed it thoroughly, but I learnt many valuable lessons about life and the spiritual journey through it.

1. Firm Foundation
“So, then, anyone who hears these words of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise man, who built his house on rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

In my first few climbs, even though I had chosen the easier routes for beginners, I realised that my forearms started to ache very quickly. I gradually realised that I was using my arms to pull myself up rather than also using my legs to push myself up. It was only when I started consciously trying to get a good foothold to push myself upwards did I strain my arms less and eventually found myself getting further ahead more easily.

Similarly in life, we may often use our arms to grab what we want, or pull ourselves towards what we think is best. This can take the form of worldly goals or achievements that we strive for, or even prayers that we wish God to answer in the way that we think best. Yet this can tire us easily, especially from all the frustration and anxiety of not getting what we want.

But when we eventually learn to rely more on the Rock (Christ) whom we are invited to stand on, and establish a secure footing and foundation on Him who lifts us up. The Lord can actually lead us to places that give us more life and joy, which takes up ‘less energy’ once we let Him provide for us and support us in our journey forward.

2. Being More Than Achieving
“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” (St Catherine of Siena)

After a few climbs, I decided to challenge myself to more difficult routes, which involved more unusual rock shapes. There was one particular route where I kept falling halfway. It was frustrating at first, but after some time, I decided that my goal was not to climb to the top, but just have fun trying out the path and learning from the process. Eventually, I enjoyed these routes even more, not because I could get to the top, but because I was able to creatively explore different ways of holding on to the rocks, and discover more about my body and how to better let it serve me in making my way up.

Through this, I realised that life is not always about getting to the top. Sometimes the greater joy and goal is to simply learn and grow from the process and even from the ‘mistakes’, and gradually discover our true value and worth from within, our true gifts and charisms that we have already been blessed with, and simply enjoy each moment living our true and authentic self.

In my case, it was only after letting go of the need to be a priest or to figure out where my life was heading exactly, that I gradually began to appreciate the unique person God created me to be, and enjoy each moment being more of myself, and being a creative evangelist for the Lord through my love for creativity and His people.

3. Choose What’s Available
Take a step, step again It is all that I can to do The next right thing I won't look too far ahead It's too much for me to take But break it down to this next breath This next step This next choice is one that I can make (The Next Right Thing, Frozen 2)

Over time, I realised that rock climbing mirrors making choices in life. We do not always get rocks (choices) placed in the way that we want, but we can observe what is available, and choose one that seems most fitting. Even if we find that the choice made does not give a good grip, that choice is not wasted, but simply teaches us what we did not know, and helps us make better choices moving forward.

Similarly in my own journey, after choosing to live life as a lay missionary, I was initially lost and clueless as to where to go from here. I did actually try to be a corporate coach, thinking that God wanted me to serve in the marketplace. But when it did not bring me as much life as I thought it would, I changed paths, and started responding to invitations to run retreats or provide spiritual direction to individuals, and even tried running my own workshops which someone suggested to me. Gradually, through the people and opportunities that God placed in my path, I now have found a path that truly brings me fuller life and joy, even if I still have no clear picture of what exactly is ahead for me.

But as I learnt from this rock-climbing adventure, if we do not try, we shall never know. What it takes is listening to and depending on the Lord as our Rock, enjoying the process of self-discovery, and choosing the things God makes available in our lives. Through meeting Jesus on the rocks, not only shall He support and guide us on the journey forward, He shall eventually lead us on the unique path that was specifically meant for us, one that does not require us to try too hard to receive the deeper life and joy that we were chosen to receive.

Nicholas Lye is a lay missionary and creative evangelist who loves to use creativity and various art forms to share the faith and help people encounter God’s truths in a fun and meaningful way. 

The views expressed are entirely the writer’s own.