Confessions of a Caver

I ran into someone I know at lunch today that primarily knows me from my old caving days. What he may not quite realize yet is - that person he knew is what I now refer to as "the old Wade".

I'm sure I'll have additional opportunities to explain but here's a shorter attempt.

I'm 34 years old and for 33 of those years I lived mostly for myself. It was fun. It was great. It was wrong. I pursued myself, found myself and then realized I didn't like myself.



Then in an apartment complex in Kansas City June 27, 2008 I got on my knees with 2 friends and asked Jesus, who had been my Savior most of my life, to be Lord over ALL my life for the first time IN my life.

It was during this same time that I understood that the Lord was calling me to sell the pile of possessions I had amassed to glorify the altar in my life called caving. I had set this interest in my life so high that it was casting a shadow over everything else.

So piece by piece, auction by auction, buyer by buyer I moved almost every piece of equipment I had. So far I still have helmets & lights for Gina & I and a few other personal pieces. I didn't sense that He was asking me to give it up entirely at this time, though, as my witness, He knows I'm willing.

When, not much longer than a year ago, I was out of town caving almost every weekend I think I have been only a couple of times since. I have plans to go sometime before the end of this month and maybe once more before the summer's over but that's it. It's like he took that overwhelming desire away. Or maybe a better way to describe it is He's given me a greater fascination with His Son. And for that I am grateful.

- Wade Baker