Base Camp • 17,000ft
“It’s the job that’s never started that takes the longest to finish.”
The Lord of the Rings
Your core climbing tools
Breaking the Cycle: LifeLines after Inner Circle
Breaking the Cycle: LifeLines in Preoccupation
Facing your Addictive System
Welcome to Base Camp. This is where you start with core climbing tools and how to use them.
Base camp is where we start the work to climb. This is amazing that you have come this far… the work will be hard but the view at the top of Mt Everest is amazing. Evil has had a grip on your story for a long time, and now it’s time for us to as questions and through Courage, Commitment and Curiosity we can begin to learn and believe things about ourselves we never thought was possible.
This stage is all about learning to use new tools. None of these tools are magic bullets. None of them replace Jesus and his redemptive work in your life. But all of them have beauty and truth in them and are worth learning. Not all the climbing tools are going to be tools that you use or relate to. Everyone is different. Imagine you are going into a store to try on a suit. Not all the suits are going to fit you nicely, but some of them will. That is how these climbing tools will work. You may like them all, or just some. But they are valuable in learning how to climb on this journey.
Base Camp 2.1
Base Camp 2.4
Goals of Base Camp
The Goal of Base Camp is to give you tools you will need on this journey. Each tool is carefully planned and timed. This elevation is one of the longest and one of the most foundational.
The best way to describe this elevation is like we are going to load you up with lots of climbing tools. Some of them you will like right away. Some you will connect strongly with over time. Others you won’t connect with or understand their importance. But all of the tools presented here will be used in time on this amazing journey.
We will learn new words to use to describe our acting out
We will learn about what makes us go back to acting out
We will learn about ways to keep us safe
We will learn about a new kind of accountability
How long does Base Camp take?
This elevation of the Climb takes about 6-9 months depending on the work you put in.
When are you ready for the next level of Everest?
When you and your Sherpa agree that everyone understands all of the tools, everyone is using the tools appropriately and the group regularly reaches out for LifeLines (to be explained later) during preoccupation.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. “All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish. Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Isaiah 41: 1—13