In 1974, Philippe Petit
did the unthinkable –
he constructed a tight-rope
between the twin towers
of the World Trade Center.
Then, armed only with
a long balancing-rod,
he crossed the tight-rope,
moving back and forth,
between the towers
while fascinated New Yorkers
watched, transfixed
more than 1,000 feet below.

Such skill, such nerve,
such a feat!

I know a tight-rope walker.
Her name is Reshma
and she walks a tight-rope
every day.

This tight-rope is not one
carefully constructed
by Reshma
and it’s certainly not one
that she has chosen
but it’s one that she walks,
by necessity.

This is the tight-rope
of life.
It’s challenging, un-nerving
and uncertain.

And as she walks this tight-rope,
Reshma, too, has a balancing-rod –
her faith,
a faith that is deep
and strong as steel.

Armed with this faith,
Reshma walks her tight-rope,
keeping her eyes looking
straight-ahead –
at Jesus.

Reshma never takes her eyes
off Jesus
and Jesus never takes His eyes
off Reshma.

And no matter how exhausting,
excruciating, frustrating
her daily tight-rope walk may be,
one thing is certain –
Reshma is never alone.
She has Jesus before her
as her guide.

Reshma and Jesus walk this tight-rope
every single day
together.

Now that’s what I call
inspiring!

© Claire Murray, 29th January 2026