To illustrate the problems frequently faced by leaders doing urban youth ministry, imagine you are a rock climber facing a very difficult climb. You know the challenges before you, but you are determined to get to the top. You lead the climb up the mountain with another person who is attached below you by a long rope. This person is called the belayer. You both feel confident about your own abilities so you take different paths to the top. After making consistent gains halfway up the mountain, you come to a vertical crack that must be scaled in order to get to the top.

You move into the vertical crack only to realize it will be more difficult than you thought at first. Fear grips you, but you shake it off and dig your fingers and hands deeper in to find a tighter hold. As you struggle upwards, you force yourself deeper into the crack, wedging yourself in because it appears to offer the most safety. Fear grips you again, this time stronger than before. You move deeper into the crack, but your ability to see the face of the cliff decreases. You can only see the crack. Your partner is quite a distance below you and has to wait for you to come out of the crack. So you work harder, struggling and exerting yourself. Your muscles tense up, but you hold on tighter, all while moving deeper inside the crack. The fear of falling returns, but this time it lingers. You’ve cut your hands on the rocks, which makes it even more difficult to find a good hold that will free you from the situation. You are faced with two options: Continue the cycle of struggle and fear or pause and take a deep breath.