Without scary, you don't get to be brave

It was a Thursday afternoon in 2012. The sun wrapping it's long rays that stretched like arms around my bare shoulders. Holding me snug, whispering to my soul. 

Being startled out of my sun bathing bliss by the explanation of the expedition we were about to embark on.  I remember hearing something about the strength and safety of the little thread of a rope that I was about to be tethered to as I would be flung across a canyon....8 times. That the "brakes" and by brakes I mean an apparatus that slows, not stops were very important to know how to operate accurately. How we were to run and jump off the miles high platform that should belong in a circus. If we didn't run and jump off the platform we wouldn't make it all the way across the canyon below. We then would be dangling a million miles above the earth as the guide shimmied across the line to then retrieve you. All this happening while the rest of the expedition watched and waited and waited and.....

Watching each person ahead of us bravely trust the bouncy, long zip line as they, without hesitation, just ran and dove into the air! 
What was I thinking...how do I get out of this...they said it would be fun. This life threatening, treacherous adventure that we paid hundreds of dollars for, was supposed to be fun. I threw up a little in my mouth just watching what was soon going to be the death of me. 

Trying to quietly find a way to embrace my fear and let the sun melt me into Flat Stanley so I could just slip out of sight and back to the comfort of that beautiful resort we left, but no sooner was I navigating in my mind a quick exit, my harness was jerked to the edge of the platform by the guide. Truth be told, I cried, I peed my pants a little and before I knew it I was thrown off the platform into thin air. 

Ok, spoiler alert. 
I didn't die. 
Not once. 
No. 
I died about a thousand times! 

But, then it started to be fun. Just like they said. By the end of the adventure I was going upside down, dangling like a fall leaf just waiting for a gust of wind to blow me to the ground. 

Many times since that terrifying day I have felt those same feelings looking at the complexities of life. Wanting so bad to be brave and fling myself into life, fulling trusting without fear that the harness apparatus will hold me up. Even against those big storms that are so eager to blow me to the ground, I try to fear not. Not to just act brave but to be brave. To have faith and trust, fulling knowing who to draw my strength from. 

What I've learned is to step off the platform with faith first, then enjoy the adventure. Hang upside down; life has a completely different view that way. A perfect view of the heavens.