Nails bleeding, and arms trembling from the rocky climb; I look up into the  now clear sky as I finally reach the top of the cliff. What felt like an endless journey out of a life of exploitation is over….I inhale new life as I catch my breath. “I made it!” I think to myself  lying on my back with the tears stinging my eyes. “I can now finally rest”. As I get back up on my feet, a rope appears in my hands and a clear voice whispers, “Your not done yet….throw the rope down and help my precious daughters to their freedom.

I pause for a moment. I just want to move forward and put it all behind me, but I listen to the call. I exhale a heavy sigh, shrug off the tiredness in my bones, take in a deep breath and brace myself for the task ahead. I agree, “I’m not done yet. I cannot leave them behind, for You Lord did not leave me behind.”

I toss the rope into the chasm deep, lay myself down in a secure nook in the ridge and I find a spot to anchor it down at the bottom of the ravine below.

I begin calling out to the mass wandering blindly by. They are trampling each other looking for a way out of this mental prison of hopelessness, helplessness, and trauma bonds created by abuse, broken identity and self-worth. I see the ravenous wolves in sheeps clothing devouring many. So much death and blindness I see. Barely anyone hears my call.

Some finally reach the rope and start the journey upward.

I call out and I guide them holding steady the rope.

Day in and Day out I hold it steady, calling out to the passers by, and encouraging the ones who found it and are now making the climb up.

The pain of the journey out of the chasm is too much for most and day after day I watch them fall back in before they even make it halfway. Some barely reach the top before falling away crashing even harder into their mental chains.

Over time, I begin to grow weary of holding the rope and think to let go, then I hear the still voice again. ” Not yet,” it says, “Hold on. I made a way for you. You must hold on. Your purpose is not yet finished. I have called you to this and I will equip you in it. Hold on.”

I listen again, and breathe in new strength gripping tighter to the rope, calling louder than before, and in the distance…….I see her. Shoving her way through, pushing forward faster than most. Her prayers for help echoing across the ravine. Then I see the hounds of hell closing in. They will not give her up that easily. A new energy sets in and I begin cheering her on. “This way!!” I yell to her. “This way!! Over here!!” She sees the rope and lunges forward almost missing it in her grasp. She climbs quickly up over top of the others struggling to get free. She is pushing forward ever so hard.

I hold my breath…” Will she make it…this one? Is this the one I’ve been fighting for. Than I gasp as I watch her fall back, but she manages to grab hold of someone else as they throw out their arm to her. She starts back up, and this time……she reaches the top.

Free at last, she catches her breath and looks to the heavens. After a few moments pass a rope appears in her hands and she anchors herself in the ledge by my side and throws down her rope. Scarred, tattered , and bruised, now we are both calling out. “This way!” “Over here!” A new strength fills me as I see there is indeed hope after all, even if its just a small percent that may make it out. I know I can not stop fighting for those still lost behind. Even if its for just one.