(John 20:24,25 NIV) The other disciples told Thomas, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hands in his side, I will not believe it."

My love of adventure extends to the spiritual realm. I want a full experience of God's goodness—there's always something new on the horizon. I once believed that doubt was evil and we should just accept things by faith. But some of my leaps of faith with this notion were comparable to jumping off a cliff. In my eagerness I was gullible, but after many falls I became sceptical and, like Thomas, wanted hard evidence.

I still wanted to be open to grow but how could I safely leap into the unexplored realms of my walk with God? Bungie-jumping gave the answer. It was supposedly the ultimate exhilarating experience but the photo of a failed bungie-jumper's body was a powerful deterrent. Secretly I wished for courage—but didn't want to die.

One of the many bungie companies had an unblemished safety record and an excellent reputation. They set worldwide safety standards for professional operators and each well-trained crew member jumped at least once daily. They definitely made sure their gear was safe. This company could be trusted.

Enthusiastic leapers shared with me the joy of the sport, and how to do it right. Some learned quite painfully what not to do—their advice was worth remembering. Observing the bungie-jumpers in action finally had me convinced.

Fear made its final attack only moments before taking the plunge. Had I really made the right choice? Seconds later I knew. Wow! What a heavenly feeling!!

A leap of faith with God is like a good bungie-jump—but far more heavenly! Not everyone who wants you to jump can be trusted even if they mean well. It pays to do a reality check first and find out what works. Learn from other people's mistakes, and make sure that what is promised is for real.

If you are reluctant before you step into the unknown, take heart. Thomas was too. Jesus understands because after Thomas cried out for evidence He gave him what he needed.

Be spiritually adventurous. Who knows—when you jump you might fly!

—Graeme Frauenfelder