TRUST IN JEHOVAH

[The Librarian]

One of the most scary experiences for a rock-climber is the first time he has to rappel down a cliff. The difficulty does not originate with the technical aspect of the rappelling itself. The uncomfortable techniques used twenty years ago have been replaced by highly efficient and very secure gear made of reliable and extremely resistant materials. The difficulty is that, to begin the rappelling, one has to lean backwards toward the cliff and let his whole body weight hang onto the rope, using the legs to push oneself away from the wall! If he tries to stay close to the wall, he will slip and fall against the wall, with possible serious injuries. Yet in such a position, the individual has no grip whatsoever on the rock and is quite vulnerable and dependent on the gear. Many say they'll never do such a thing because they're too scared by the thought of falling off due to some gear failure. So the instructor will spend time explaining that a rope is made with a triple lining, how the harness can support a weight of three tons, how the python sealed in the rock can resist to a pulling force of ten tons, how the hooks can secure a falling weight of up to five tons, until the scared-to-death candidate gains trust in the gear. The more he knows about the gear, the less rappelling down a cliff, regardless of how high it is, appears to be dangerous or risky.