We have stairs in our house. (That seems like an odd thing to share, I’ll admit, but it’ll make more sense in a moment.) We’ve lived in this house for over two and a half years now, and I’ve gone up and down the stairs multiple times a day.
Suffice it to say, I’ve had a lot of experience with those stairs.
And yet, some days, as I’m running up the stairs, I have a moment—a strange moment when there’s a shadow or the light flickers and my brain goes “Where’s the next step?!” (more…)
There’s nothing quite like it: being high up on a wall, just a rope to keep you from plummeting to the ground if your hands or feet slip. The rope and the person holding it.
I used to go indoor rock climbing occasionally when I was in high school. And I trusted my climbing partner. I knew when I said “falling” and let go of the wall, I wouldn’t hit the ground.
It’s hard to climb if you don’t trust the person belaying you. It makes you overly cautious. It keeps you from reaching out to that rock that you can probably sort of reach…. maybe. With her, I knew I could take the risks I wanted to. Even if I slipped, I was safe. (more…)