Standing on the Ledge

"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live life to its fullest potential."

-Mary Anne Redmacher

Last night, I rappelled off a bridge in the middle of downtown Lafayette. Wait, stop! Did I really do that?! What is going on? That's so out of character for me... I think this is okay.

I grew up throughout high school, being taught the importance of being cautious. Often I would find myself on a ledge, but I would never actually jump because all I could see were the possible risks involved. A lot of that I regret now. There are many opportunities I passed up growing up because I didn't want to jump off the ledge. I appreciate what I was given in life, but now I think it is time to live a little and not be so reserved. Instead of standing at the ledge, thinking and backing off after lengthy deliberation, maybe I should take a leap at times. A leap through which one can learn through experience.

Anyways back to the story. Last night Allyson and I were at a Bible study, and our small group was going through a passage in James 3 filled with metaphor so we decided to perform an interpretive dance as part of our presentation of our discussion to the larger group. In the past, never would I have stood up and improvised a dance in front of a group of 30 or so people. I don't know what has come over me, but I did it. Normally what held me back in the past was being judged by other people. But you know what? I don't care what they think. Life needs to be lived.

After the study we headed to one of Allyson's co-worker's houses for a celebration of free strawberry puree, complete with deep fried onions. Later in the night one of the guys brought out rappelling gear and asked who wants to rappel off the bridge overhanging the railroad down the block. A few of us sprung to the challenge. At first I didn't intend to participate, but after thinking I decided. I would do it! I am tired of standing on the edge being cautious and backing off. I want to jump. I want to live. While I did bang my knee slightly on the way down, I do not regret the experience. It wasn't on my bucketlist, but I wish I could still line it off. Perhaps I have learned something from this. Maybe I am finally putting aside my cautious ways and learning to take that leap of faith off the ledges we encounter in life.