I watched two younger graceful women take the knotted nylon rope that hung carelessly from the large tree bent over the crystal clear lake. The men eager to coach as each woman took a deep breath and gracefully swung into the air then let go slicing the water as gracefully as they had sailed through the air.
The knot in my throat as big as the knots in the old frayed rope, my turn, it doesn’t look safe what if it breaks I questioned in a panic? Nonsense replied my husband, all of us had our swing and it’s held strong. Sensing my fear he coached me, hold on to the top knot tightly, back up as far as you can from the edge to get a good run at it. Remember -let go after you pass the sharp rocks that line the shore- aim at the hole just beyond the edge of that shallow shelf.
What shallow shelf? Peering down I realized the water looked no deeper than two feet deep until sloping into blackness fifteen feet from the cliff edge.
My heart pounding and my hands sweaty I backed up, thoughts of Joni Eareckson Tada flashed across my mind.
How do I narrow all life events down to one that’s above the others in the emotional change it made to my life?
Leaving home at sixteen, choosing my own journey and faith, falling in love, getting married, having children, going to college after raising children. A mission trip into the jungle of Dominica were formed amid great emotion yet none of these challenged me in the way swinging off that rope into the icy waters of Lake Kagawong did in 2005.
It was early one July morning, my husband/best friend was up at dawn and came to report his morning events which included meeting friends, started a cycling club, and organizing a schedule to explore the back roads and trails of the island. I was invited to come along but first I had to pass the initiation test.- go to the cliff prove my courage and good spirit of adventure by taking the rope then swing off and dropping into the lake.
A group of gang members gathered on the cliff, two other female recruits among them. This was not the kind of experience I relished. I am a grounded person; I don’t participate in dares or take actions that might threaten my life having an audience increased the tension Terrified I volunteered to go last…
I could hear the gang cheering me on, you can do it, don’t be afraid, go for it they shouted-the sweat of my palms lubricated the rope, as I thrust my weight over the ledge my body slid over one knot after another. Drop now, quick let go I heard the group shout, so I did!
The knot in my throat as big as the knots in the old frayed rope, my turn, it doesn’t look safe what if it breaks I questioned in a panic? Nonsense replied my husband, all of us had our swing and it’s held strong. Sensing my fear he coached me, hold on to the top knot tightly, back up as far as you can from the edge to get a good run at it. Remember -let go after you pass the sharp rocks that line the shore- aim at the hole just beyond the edge of that shallow shelf.
What shallow shelf? Peering down I realized the water looked no deeper than two feet deep until sloping into blackness fifteen feet from the cliff edge.
My heart pounding and my hands sweaty I backed up, thoughts of Joni Eareckson Tada flashed across my mind.
How do I narrow all life events down to one that’s above the others in the emotional change it made to my life?
Leaving home at sixteen, choosing my own journey and faith, falling in love, getting married, having children, going to college after raising children. A mission trip into the jungle of Dominica were formed amid great emotion yet none of these challenged me in the way swinging off that rope into the icy waters of Lake Kagawong did in 2005.
It was early one July morning, my husband/best friend was up at dawn and came to report his morning events which included meeting friends, started a cycling club, and organizing a schedule to explore the back roads and trails of the island. I was invited to come along but first I had to pass the initiation test.- go to the cliff prove my courage and good spirit of adventure by taking the rope then swing off and dropping into the lake.
A group of gang members gathered on the cliff, two other female recruits among them. This was not the kind of experience I relished. I am a grounded person; I don’t participate in dares or take actions that might threaten my life having an audience increased the tension Terrified I volunteered to go last…
I could hear the gang cheering me on, you can do it, don’t be afraid, go for it they shouted-the sweat of my palms lubricated the rope, as I thrust my weight over the ledge my body slid over one knot after another. Drop now, quick let go I heard the group shout, so I did!
 |
| Granny Swinger |
Enclosed in icy water sinking deep into the black hole, relief washed over me, I did it and am alive! Kicking my feet I bobbed to the surface to congratulations and cheers- Something changed in me. As I nursed my rope burned hands I was aware of a sense of fearlessness.
Now I am up early, eager to face whatever challenge set before me with adrenalin not fear, yes rope jumping became one of my favorite things to do. My husband comments on the courageous woman I have become.
Since then we have recruited several others, now I am one of the cheerleaders offering gloves to every new comer while recounting how this simple act of courage changed me forever.
Linda Thiessen
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Growing old gracefully, what does that mean any way.
I want to grow old with passion and adventure.
Life has innings much like baseball. The games not over until after the ninth, some are luck enough to go into overtime. Win or lose I want quality time no matter how long I'm in the game.