Over this past week, as I stepped into new territory on my faith walk, I was reminded of my first zip line experience of many years ago. The corporation I worked for at the time was focused on leadership team building. This major corporation, one of the top Fortune 500 companies, was interested in improving business outcomes. At that time strategies employed by Asian businesses were beginning to create a tremendous buzz and we were about to plunge right in to the midst of this trend.

My employer informed upper and middle management that we would have the opportunity to participate in a program designed to improve our work teams and our work product as well. We were told that many successful businesses had taken part in this program and they shared the evidence supporting these claims. We were not provided with other specifics about the program. We were told we would need to go out of state to New Mexico, spend several days in a remote area and work together to build our teams. We were further informed we would be paid our regular salaries have meals, transportation and lodging paid for by the company. While it was not specified – in writing anywhere – it was understood to be mandatory for everyone to go, in order for us to get full benefit from the endeavor. Well we all signed up!

Upon arrival in the winter we found snow on the ground, and on the first full day at the wilderness-based encampment we were led onto something that resembled an obstacle course, where we would engage in numerous group physical tasks. After participating in a trust fall where we stood about 10 feet above our team members and fell backwards into their waiting outstretched hands (very difficult for me at that time) we moved to a wooded area where we climbed up for about 10 minutes or so. When we all reached the top, one of the facilitators talked about the 170’ drop on the other side of the mountain that we would descend using a zip line. Now the trust fall looked like a cakewalk!!

As we gathered and listened to our facilitator discuss all of the safety features in place there was an uneasy silence. She spouted about, the carabiners, the harness, the test weight of the line, the number of participants that had without incident zipped across this line; while impressive these statistics did not seem to remove my fear. After several moments a few of the males in the group stepped forward and zipped down.

Then a woman, one of the handful of female participants took her turn. Jo Ann Kelly (we called her Jo) was my roommate on the trip. I was very comfortable with her and already admired her for being a beautiful, smart, trailblazer. Jo had taken little coaching to move forward and advance down the mountain with seemingly no effort. She then cheered on the ground waving us on. As each person moved to the edge of the precipice she and others would give encouragement. As the line of participants moved forward the coaches would speak to them up close and talk them through taking the first step. Some took the trek back down the way we came up and refused to tackle the zip line challenge.

Then came my turn. Very much afraid of heights, looking down the one hundred seventy feet to the ground, Jo and others looked a little like ants. The line was about an inch in diameter. I thought, “What have I gotten myself into?”  Although I was already in my harness, a device that went around my shoulders and around both thighs with a connection at the back, I had not ruled out the possibility of walking back down the trail to my room. The coach placed the connection to my harness from the zip line somewhere on my back then motioned for me to come forward. At that point there was nothing in front of me to hold, my lifeline, my literal lifeline was out of view, the sheer drop was ahead.

I was coached to the very edge of the rock on which we stood. There was only room in that space for the coach and myself. All I had to do was to take one step afterwards my body weight would carry me across the zip line to its furthest point. I would then move backwards for several feet until the forward momentum stopped, then be removed from the line as I had already seen Jo and about ten others do. This was like jumping off of a cliff! I was unable to move. I was so afraid I was paralyzed. I heard the coach. She was asking me about my fear, reminding me that it was safe and giving me a verbal nudge to go forward. I could also hear my heartbeat, it was deafening.

After several moments I stopped listening to her and decided to take that step. In that moment I ceased to see the ant like people on the ground. My focus moved to the very sharp rocks below me just off the ledge, which I was unable to see moments before. The quickly approaching ground and trees were no longer a blur. I had taken the step, moved off of the steep cliff, I could feel the air race over my cheeks, I saw the beauty of my surroundings, and with exhilaration I began to wave my arms and legs!! I felt like I was flying! So free!! When I was able to land my feet on the ground I looked back up to where I had come from and I was stunned. I had actually done it! I overcame the fear that crippled me. I willed myself to press beyond my limiting belief. I used truth and faith to move beyond where I had allowed myself to venture in the past. I will never forget that experience.

I was elated to have shared that experience with Jo. She told me that she knew that other women needed to see her take the risk and that’s why she decided to be the first woman. I will always remember Jo.

Now as I am on the obstacle course of my life’s journey I again am facing the ground beneath. Over this past week I thought about the Jo Kellys and the zip lines in my past. I heard the coach asking me what my fear was about. I went to the truth of God’s word and had faith – yet again – that I would have a safe landing. Well this week I am in the air! I have seen the sharp edges of the jagged rocks, which were a threat beneath me, yet I soar over them. I am swinging my arms now. My legs will be in motion soon! As I remember the past leaps I also remember God’s promises. One that has a place of prominence with me as I now step is found in Psalm 119:105. In the King James Version it reads, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Equally as powerful in the Message Version, “By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path.”

I thank God for His light! I pray that whatever you are experiencing now be it the climb up or your zip line decent, that you will have your path illuminated by God’s words too! Take Inventory and Take Action! Where are you on your path, maybe you are someone’s Jo Kelly. Let me know how you are doing with your challenges, your mountains, and your zip lines!

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”