But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
(Check back tomorrow for pictures-I can’t get them to load tonight)
When you want to run like a young person, you have to act like a young person. And when the young people go zip lining, so do you. Even if you are so scared of heights that once upon a time when your husband took you to the top of a Wyoming mountain, you refused to move beyond a rock at the edge of the tramway until the next tram down came along to take you to safety. When I thought about signing our family up for the zip line canopy tour, I kept reminding myself of the one in Guatemala. Two trips across the canyon and all I had to do is close my eyes and let one operator push me off the platform and another apply the brake and bring me in on the other side. And how happy it would make my son for me to do it again with him. I studied the website carefully, before I made the reservation. I realized that this company offered more than two crossings. In fact, there would be ten lines to traverse. I also saw that it had two swinging bridges and two rappel ropes. I figured by the time I got to those, I would be numb. So, I filled out the form, pushed the send button and tried not to think about what I was doing. I wasn’t even nervous on the trip to the zip line site, but as they suited us up in our harnesses and helmets, I started to question my sanity. When I found out that we would be doing the braking with our own hands, I was really worried. But, it was too late to change my mind. The first couple of zips were more like practice runs and I was okay as they were short and not high. All except for that first step off the platform. But, as the tour progressed, the platforms got higher and the lines longer and it was harder and harder for me to move to the edge of the platform and propel myself into space. No friendly Guatemalan man to shout, “Smile! Open Your Eyes!” and give me a push. This time, I had to choose to go because others were coming behind me. The waiting for my turn was hard as well. My family and the guides got used to me heading immediately for a tree to hold on to. They nicknamed me the tree hugger and in fact, many times, I was so attached to the tree that it took incredible will power for me to let go and be hooked to the zip line again. The worst were the two “sky bridges”, wooden steps strung between rope railings. They took us over in family groups so each time, there were four of us on there together. When one person took a step, the whole bridge twisted side to side. And then, there was the rappelling, being hooked to a rope, stepping off into space and having to lower myself down to the ground. I learned to look straight ahead and not around or down. To focus on one thing, the guide or the platform ahead of me. And I survived, grateful for the three hours and ten zip lines, two sky bridges and two rappel ropes to be behind me. My family had a great time and I think I even earned their respect though a few times they said I looked pretty pale! The one thing I kept thinking as I floated across canyons and through the trees was why do I do these kinds of things? Why do I think I can conquer my fears? Why do I want to? At one point, the guide laughed and said he was amazed that I had paid money to scare myself so. But, I wanted to fly with the young people. In life as well as in zip lining, it is important to rely on your guide for instruction and wisdom. And even more importantly God provides power and strength as well. Completly focusing on Him is the only way to run or fly like a young person. Still and all, I think that this is my last time zip lining.
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