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You may remember the story of Aron Ralston, the 27-year-old from Colorado who had climbed 49 of Colorado’s major peaks — each measuring over 14,000 feet. On this particular day, he was rock climbing in Blue John Canyon in southern Utah. He was going up a 3-foot wide slot canyon, and as he was climbing, a 200-pound boulder fell in the slot and pinned his arm against the rock. He tried everything he knew to get his arm from under the rock, but nothing worked. After running out of water and being pinned for five long days and nights, he realized that if he was going to survive, he would have to take drastic action. Using a small pocketknife, he amputated his arm below the elbow and applied a tourniquet. After he was free, he rigged anchors, fixed a rope and rappelled to the canyon floor. He hiked downstream until he was spotted by a Utah Public Safety Helicopter and rescued. He has written about his experience in Between a Rock and a Hard Place. He was in a hard place and he had to do a hard thing.

You may be facing a difficult decision. It may be about your health. It may be financial. It may be about your family. It may be a decision about your moral and spiritual life. It may be that something drastic has to be done. It may be painful, but it must be done. Pray for strength and get out your pocketknife.

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