Ever since last summer, our oldest daughter has wanted to go ziplining. While planning our annual June vacation with family in the Tennessee mountains, her younger sister decided that “she was scared, but wanted to try it, too.” (This from two girls whom you have to drag onto a roller coaster.)
So last Wednesday, the two girls and my husband geared up for ziplining. (I loved all thrill rides back in the day, but never had a desire to throw myself into space attached only by a small harness to a thin line suspended over the treetops.)
As we stood on the platform, ready to begin, I could tell that both girls were having second thoughts. The guide assured them that after the first time, they would love it.
I wish I could have been on the other end of the line and seen their faces when they arrived. By all reports, however, they did love it and handled the other five lines just fine, including doing one upside down.
I thought about how it’s that way with life at times. Whether it’s facing a personal fear or taking the plunge into living out a dream, it’s the unknown, the fear of failure that keeps us on the platform.
It’s often the first move that’s the hardest – the stepping off into the unknown, trusting that the harness will hold you.
Yet if God has called us to do something, He will give us the strength to do it.
And once we take that first step, we’ll learn – just like my girls – that the view is so worth it.
That's something I don't think I'd be brave enough for… 😛 Your daughters are very brave! 🙂
Very true that stepping into the unknown is difficult…
Obviously I wasn't brave enough to do it!! 😉 I was a bit surprised that they were so eager to try it – at least until we got up on the platform, and then they knew it was too late to back out!
That looks like fun…for someone else! My husband's company had a carnival-type thing this spring for its employees and their families. There was a small zipline there, and Sarah Beth and Daniel both wanted to do it. It surprised John and me, but they loved it!
Like you, that does not appeal to me. But I understand your analogy and agree with it.
Beautiful metaphor!!!
(And even though I'm "too old" for rollercoasters *barf* I think I WOULD zipline! :-D)
Love the pictures! What a fun adventure. My husband and my parents have been ziplining. I'm going to have to try it.
So true what you said about fear holding us back. I just finished reading "Start" by Jon Acuff and am incredibly aware right now of just how much I let fear hold me back.
I love this quote he references near the end of the book: "If you were meant to cure cancer or write a symphony or crack cold fusion and you don't," asserts Steven Pressfield, "you not only hurt yourself, even destroy yourself; you hurt your children. You hurt me. You hurt the planet. Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the actor. It's a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got."
It served as a reminder to me to not waste what God has given to me. He created me with a purpose. And I'm meant to live it out, not hide in fear.
Such true words!! I'm glad you let me know that you enjoyed Jon Acuff's "Start" book – I've been thinking about reading it myself.