May 29, 2003
Lean Back & Live
The arid west Texas sun beat hard on the sandstone caprock of Dickens, TX. The short drive from the cabin to the canyon was mainly short because I asked my new friend Warren, “Is this as fast as this thing can go?” He then of course set out to prove just how fast and furious his Jeep really could be. The forty-foot cliff had been in the back of my mind all morning. Forty feet may not seem like a long way down, until you are standing on the edge looking down. As I walked to the ledge there was a statement etched into the sandstone cliff calling us to “Lean back and live.”
Warren methodically tied all the knots, hooked up the carabineers, and fitted the harness on me. After a quick demonstration, and an impressive, acrobatic display from Reny, it was my turn. I may have looked cool and confident outwardly, but my knees were knocking inwardly. I repeated to myself a couple times, “Lean back and live, lean back and live.” At first leaning seems simple, until you get to that critical point where you begin to fall. I quickly shuffled my feet until I had successfully fallen. A rappeller always falls! He just hopes he doesn’t fall TOO fast. Now the rope has caught me, my body is horizontal, my feet are on the side of the cliff, the birds are singing, and I am alive. I bend my knees and take a small jump, descending quickly. I put on the breaks and once again land on the side of the cliff. Then I take a giant springing leap (at least for a white boy it was a giant springing leap). As I glide further down with each leap, I can’t help but feel completely free and alive.
Lean back and live. Leaning back is never easy. Leaning forward is. When you lean back is risky. But the reward comes in the risk. That’s what faith is all about. It works not just in rappelling but also in life. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Faith is jumping when you don’t know exactly how or where you’re going to land. Faith is trusting in our Father who tied the ropes and has promised to never let go…and it’s our Father’s grace that makes the journey come alive.
Thanks to Warren Martin and Bill Abitz of Wilderness Ministries for hosting Pres, Reny, and me (my partners in crime at Lifetime Guarantee). It was a blast.
Lean back and live!
