Slow Fade

“It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white are turned to gray
And thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade” (song lyrics by Casting Crowns)

Every time I hear this song, it brings tears to my eyes. Every little choice we make is a step—either uphill, away from the abyss--or downhill, to the edge of a cliff. Uphill steps have to be intentional; we can’t rely on momentum. Every step up takes a lot of effort and it is tiring. Going downhill, on the other hand, is much easier. It doesn’t require much thought. We almost have to hold ourselves back so as not to slip head-long too quickly. As we descend, we build up momentum. Before we know it, our little choices have led us to the edge of a dark abyss, and we can’t stop ourselves from tumbling over the edge.

These daily choices are so subtle—we rarely recognize their significance as we make them. We choose between truth and half-truths, pride and humility, selfishness and selflessness, worry and trust, fantasy and reality, greed and generosity. We choose to numb our minds with alcohol, numb our pain with drugs, and numb our boredom with distractions. We pursue a life of ease and accolades. What starts off as a gradual descent, builds up speed and snowballs down the hill. By the time we see the edge of the cliff, we have little control over the momentum, over ourselves.

How can this slow fade, this down-hill slide into darkness be prevented? First of all, make a conscious decision to face upward toward the light. Know that the climb is tough and exhausting. Rest when you get weary, or else you’re likely to slip. Strengthen yourself with trust in God. After each break, get up and resume the climb. You will encounter many who are skipping merrily downhill. Don’t envy the ease of their descent. It’ll just sap your strength and determination. Instead, focus on where you need to place your foot next. The climb is steep and treacherous and requires great concentration and stamina. Yet, because you are headed in the right direction—toward the Most High, you can be assured of protection.

“If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
 no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
 For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.” (Psalm 91:9-12 NLT)