Typically, heights make my (as Borat would say) "anoose" tingle. I'm not comfortable there and just don't like the whole deal of being up high. And yet, last Saturday morning, I found myself being the first person from TSCC on the rock at Torrent Falls. That was significant to me, for the rest of the day. Being first, I had no one to coach me or share what they'd learned to help me out when I would come face to face with a particularly challenging spot on the rock. So it was just me.
Usually, I analyze. A lot. But there were places - one in particular - that broke me of that a bit. There was a transition point where we went from walking on a ledge, to swinging down off the ledge onto rebar rungs. Except that the rock was not vertical; the ledge extended beyond the vertical face of the rock, which ran back under the ledge a bit. So I couldn't see the rung that my foot was to (had to!) hit. I tried three or four ways to make the transition, and kinda panicked a little. Thoughts of "Now what do I do?" all the way to "I can't hold everyone up!" to "I'm scared, pretty freaked out, and may crap my pants right here."
Finally, I simply had the thought to just step out and go for it. I don't know if I subconsciously remembered that I was double-clipped to the cable, or what, but I remember thinking "take a step of faith." So, I grabbed a solid hand-hold, swung off the rock, found the foot-hold and was treated to my favorite section of the climb.
I learned a lot last Saturday from a rock. A learned about analysis, rhythm, trust, safety, connection, being hurt, bravery, fear and courage. Over the next few days, I hope to be able to share those lessons with you - most, but not all, stem from the step of faith that I shared this morning.
Until then . . . Peace.
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