Higher Ground

One of the most memorable demonstrations from Sunday school growing up was when the youth minister asked us to pair up and for one to stand on a chair and the other stand in front of his/her partner. First, the person standing on the chair was to try to pull the person below up to him/her. We all found that it was very difficult and near impossible. Then, the person on the ground was asked to try to pull the person on the chair down. All were pulled down to the floor. This demonstrated very clearly to me that it is not up to us to pull others to "higher ground." We can pray for them, encourage them, and give them tools; but we cannot lift them ourselves. That's God's job. Too often we forget the roles in our relationship with the Divine. Confusing them can cause some serious suffering.