Karo Kazungu Great Moscow State Circus

 

"Faulty Safety Nets"

 

The fear of heights is one of the most common phobias, and I have a healthy dose of it myself. When I'm asked to drag out the ladder to wash second-floor windows, I look for other urgent matters that will keep me from complying. I can't even watch rock climbers. (What are they thinking?!)

 

Karo Kazungu obviously had overcome his fear of heights (if he ever had such). Kazungu is a 22-year-old Kenyan who performs with the Great Moscow State Circus as an acrobat. He performs feats that often put him high in the air. He knows, however, that if something goes wrong there is a safety net waiting below to catch him.

 

This past Wednesday that net failed him. At the end of his performance he dismounted and plunged 85 feet, as he had done numerous other times. This time, however, the net didn't hold him. He fell through the net onto the hard surface beneath. Today he is in intensive care, and has a fractured vertebra. Officials with the circus can't explain what happened.

 

Those who work at great heights typically wear some sort of safety harness. Recently a worker came to replace light bulbs in our parking lot lights. Before he raised the lift on his "cherry picker" truck, he secured his safety belt. The lights are only about 20 feet in the air, but (as the old saying goes) "better safe than sorry".

 

There are some who will climb to high levels with nothing to catch them if something goes wrong. Most of us (the sane ones!), however, want a safety net to break our fall.

 

You may remember that Jesus faced a temptation involving heights. Matthew tells us how Satan took Jesus to "the pinnacle of the temple" and challenged Him to jump off. After all, the devil pointed out, "For it is written, 'He shall give His angels charge over you', and 'In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone'" (Matthew 4:6).

 

Satan was quoting from Psalm 91:11,12. That text says that God watches out for His people. But Jesus saw a problem in accepting Satan's proposal; He would be tempting God by deliberately jumping from that height, and tempting God is wrong (Matthew 4:7; Deuteronomy 6:16). The "angel safety net" was not called upon that day.

 

Psalm 91 reminds us of a wonderful truth: God is there to "catch" His people. When we commit ourselves to His care, He will be with us. In our time of great need, His strong and loving arms will stop our fall.

 

Before leaving this life, Moses pronounced blessings on the tribes of Israel. To the tribe of Asher he said: "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms ..." (Deuteronomy 33:27). What a marvelous thought! The old hymn we sing is true: "What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms!"

 

"So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6).

 

Timothy D. Hall.