On Friday, September 4th, 2019 I jumped off a 700 foot bridge while connected to just a bungee cord…
Once I paid there was no turning back, I had to be all in. We had to zip-line to the center of the bridge where we were actually going to jump. That was a blast and I look a little like a grandma in the pictures for that part because of my all yellow outfit. After that I really had to mentally start gearing up to jump. I ended up going second to last within our little group of 10 people that went to jump so I had some time to prepare myself.
I didn’t think I was all that afraid. And then that started to strap me in and internally ya girls was real nervous and a little scared too. Not an overwhelming amount, but it was for sure there. At this point there is absolutely no way I’m not jumping. I’m strapped in. I’m committed.
So I’m standing on the edge of the bridge, toes hanging off a little, just as instructed, and I hear “3..2..1..bungee!!!” Next thing i know i jump/fall/there is no longer anything under me and i am free falling towards the ground. I was also screaming. But I wasn’t screaming out of fear, i was screaming in awe of the fact that i had actually just jumped off a bridge.
About half way down i stopped screaming and i actually took it in. I looked around and i saw the trees, the river, the sky, and all of the amazing detail in everything. I was no longer in awe that i had jumped off of a bride but in awe of the beauty of every tree, rock, and rush of water underneath me. In awe that God had given me the courage to jump, the eyes to admire His creation, and the ability to praise Him for it all. In awe that He has out more detail and thought and love into every single one of His beloved children than He has into the wonderful landscapes and nature that we have the privilege to witness.
While hanging there waiting I felt myself being pulled up and all i could think was that I didn’t want to go back up yet, because i wanted to keep looking. I wanted to look at all the different shades of greens, yellows, and browns in the trees. I wanted to keep looking at the thousands of blues in the water and the way the rocks caused the water to flow in a million different ways.
But alas, i had to go before all the blood rushed to my head. so I was pulled up, unhooked, and sent back to my friends. Everyone was asking me how it was and how I liked it and I had a bit of a hard time answering the question. No words would come to mind because I couldn’t think of one good enough to explain how amazing I was feeling. No word was worthy enough to explain the wonder of the creation of God that had brought tears to my eyes. But they understood, because they had jumped, and seen, and felt.
I’ve come to the realization that if I can trust a bungee cord and some strangers that I just met with the entirety of my life as I jump off of a 700 foot bridge, i should be able to leap, full force, with my whole heart, mind, and soul toward my Father in Heaven and fully trust Him to catch me with open arms and hold me tight. I am still working towards that. Still growing in Him, trusting Him more, learning more from Him. But my goal and desire is to leap to Him with no hesitation.
