After this year’s Pennolife week, the church kindly gave Jess and I tickets to Jenolan Caves for our own Cave Quest adventure.

2.5 hours later, 170kms from Pennant Hills and after a pitstop at the famous Leura flowerpot scones, we got to the Caves. It was magnificent inside the caves - much more spectacular than I could have ever imagined. Stalactites hanging in clusters; Stalagmites in various sizes and even Helictites (which are sideways growing stalactites). God’s handiwork could be seen throughout the whole cave. Of course seeing and appreciating its enormity and beauty was only possible with the installation of lights, otherwise we would have been in complete darkness. As I gazed throughout the cave, I was reminded of the main message taught during PennoLife - Jesus is the Light of the World.

But, there was another important lesson for me to learn that day. We had left Pennant Hills with less than half a tank of petrol. Not wanting to stop the flow of conversation on a nice scenic drive and also constantly thinking that there would be another petrol station coming up soon; I foolishly thought the small amount of petrol would have been able to get me to the caves and back. However as we reached the caves, the gauge had reached empty and the warning light shone bright red. There was definitely no way the amount of petrol left would have been able to get us back to town.

God is gracious in giving us many “petrol stations” to fill up in our spiritual walk with Him. He has given us ways to help us keep running the race and persevering in our faith - His Word to mediate on, His ears to listen to our prayers and walking alongside Him in following His commands. However in our easily distracted and stubborn nature, how often do we trust in our own abilities and likewise foolishly think; “not now God, I’ll be able to get there by myself.”