At our destination, we had arrived. In the middle of the rainforest, miles from civilian I watched Captain Carl trek through the lush green jungle, swim across the flowing river and climb the rocks to the waterfall, "Your turn", he shouted from the top. A few brave souls followed suit, through the jungle, into the river and making their way onto rocks via a makeshift rope the pull themselves up.
Captain Carl had a plan, but he was only sharing it step by step. These are not the kind of plans which please me, if you know me at all. The mystery didn't phase a few others and the adventure and excitement surely sparked something in an 8 year-old boy, who was first up the rocks and onto the waterfall. As I was cringing my teeth with nervous excitement, his mother was cheering him on joy and excitement. Quickly he climbed rope to the top of the waterfall, as if to win a race, step-by-step made his way to the ledge of the rocks and looked back to Captain Carl.
What if he falls? What if he hits his head? What if he slips? The thoughts raced through my mind and my face surely expressed it. Before even the adventure leader could get it out, much my surprise a few words from his mother. Next to me stood his mother barefoot and smiling, holding Winston her last born in her sunglasses and sundress as if ready to sit by the pool in the suburbs, and out it came "Jummmmp, honey!", followed by little Winston "jump. jump. jump.".
Her voice shook the nervous fear right out of me. The happiness and love she wished for her son and his adventure seeking nature surpassed her (and my) fear for the 'what ifs'. What a beautiful lesson! Off came the sunglasses and sundress and I too joined the adventure. From the top of the waterfall, I too jumped. The mother-son relationship sparked something in me, and though it would be fun to watch others from the shore, it was much more refreshing and invigorating to do it myself.
One by one we swam through the river, trekked through the jungle, kayaked through streams and made our way back to the floating lodge on Lake Gatun, where I contemplated many things. But mostly, I knew I needed that fall and I was glad they were there to inspire me.
.jpg)
Jump, when you can. In the most curious and unexpected places, the inspiration will be there. I promise. And if you ever need someone to jump with you, give me a call.
Captain Carl had a plan, but he was only sharing it step by step. These are not the kind of plans which please me, if you know me at all. The mystery didn't phase a few others and the adventure and excitement surely sparked something in an 8 year-old boy, who was first up the rocks and onto the waterfall. As I was cringing my teeth with nervous excitement, his mother was cheering him on joy and excitement. Quickly he climbed rope to the top of the waterfall, as if to win a race, step-by-step made his way to the ledge of the rocks and looked back to Captain Carl.
What if he falls? What if he hits his head? What if he slips? The thoughts raced through my mind and my face surely expressed it. Before even the adventure leader could get it out, much my surprise a few words from his mother. Next to me stood his mother barefoot and smiling, holding Winston her last born in her sunglasses and sundress as if ready to sit by the pool in the suburbs, and out it came "Jummmmp, honey!", followed by little Winston "jump. jump. jump.".
Her voice shook the nervous fear right out of me. The happiness and love she wished for her son and his adventure seeking nature surpassed her (and my) fear for the 'what ifs'. What a beautiful lesson! Off came the sunglasses and sundress and I too joined the adventure. From the top of the waterfall, I too jumped. The mother-son relationship sparked something in me, and though it would be fun to watch others from the shore, it was much more refreshing and invigorating to do it myself.
One by one we swam through the river, trekked through the jungle, kayaked through streams and made our way back to the floating lodge on Lake Gatun, where I contemplated many things. But mostly, I knew I needed that fall and I was glad they were there to inspire me.
.jpg)
Jump, when you can. In the most curious and unexpected places, the inspiration will be there. I promise. And if you ever need someone to jump with you, give me a call.
No comments:
Post a Comment