A Leap of Faith

stepping out, leaping,

relinquishing my power

landing in safety

Yesterday at church, I did get my post for today, Jaana.
It was in the message that was preached.  My brother is the pastor of the church, so he brings in many family stories from our childhood as illustrations - and his memory is so much better than mine!

He was talking about faith when he brought up a memory.  The memory of our father and his building up of our trust in him.  When we were very little he used to have us stand on the counter edge in our old pantry and tell us to jump into his arms.
Wow, that was a long way down!  You would look down and see the floor almost a whole kid away from your feet, and Dad's face almost level with yours.  It was such a long way down back then.  Of course, it's a long way down today, too.  I can barely step down from a chair I'm using to change a light bulb.  Jumping down off things certainly isn't what I do anymore.  Wouldn't want to break a hip or an ankle.

I remember watching my brothers just leap off into space and Dad catching them to put them safely on the ground.  They loved it!  They'd do it over and over.

Watching them, I could see that it was really only a small space of a jump before they were safely in my father's arms.  But when I was up there the idea of jumping off was so scary.  I hated it and would stand up there for too long, building up more and more fear of jumping.  I don't remember a day I jumped.  I don't even know if I did ever.  I must have.  My dad wasn't one for just letting things go... But I'm pretty sure it would have been just once. My memory is of watching and wondering at how much fun they were having.

When I stand on high surfaces, my feet and hands hurt.  Even when someone else stands on high surfaces, my feet and hands hurt.  When we sanded and stained our house, my husband used scaffolding to get up to the peak of the cathedral ceiling in the living room, and when he was up there, I had to leave the room. 
I'd rather be on a train than a plane. 
I'd rather play marbles than swing. 
I will dive into water from the side of the pool, but not from the diving board.
I prefer using 6 flights of stairs to riding an elevator.

I like being grounded.  But I don't like being restricted by my fears.  So sometimes I take a chance...a leap of faith so to speak...and I have never regretted those leaps.
Just don't ask me to skydive.
That's not happening.