So this past weekend my team and I went to Victoria Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world, and spent the weekend there. During this weekend I did something that I thought I would never really do, I went bungee jumping!
We left on a train from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on Friday night, and 19 hours later we arrived at Victoria Falls! We went to a church of a mutual friend. Then we went to an adventure booking office and I bought a ticket to go bungee jumping! One thing that some people know about me is that I am pretty scared of heights, so of course I was pretty nervous about it!
When we got to the bridge and I looked over the edge, I realized how high up we actually were! Then, we had to go sign a waiver and get weighed. Then, we came back to the bridge and everyone was cheering us on and just telling us to let our minds go completely blank and just jump. So when it came to my turn I got strapped up and got on the platform. I took a seat and they started attaching the bungee chord to my ankles. The first thing that they do is wrap two thick towel around each ankle so the strap doesn’t break or cut your ankles. The man who is strapping me up is talking to me and found out that I am from Atlanta and he loved it! The camera guy asked if I had anything to say to my friends and family and I basically said, “This whole year is about stepping out of your comfort zone, so why not jump off of a perfectly good bridge”
It was finally time to jump so I hopped my way over to the edge, looked out, and jumped off! Falling was one of the most peaceful experiences that I have ever experienced. Something about cheating death made me experience God in a new way! After my first bounce I just looked all around me and saw such beauty. I have never really experienced God through nature until I went bungee jumping.
I am reading the bible cover to cover while I am on the race and I am currently in Psalms. I am pretty particular with what I underline and I underlined all of Psalms 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quite waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his names sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.”
I have preaching on this for the past couple of weeks and it was a huge realization that God is all powerful and all knowing, and he loves me and supports me. The God that created the world, the sun, the galaxy, all of my friends, family and the people that I will meet, is with me. How can I ever fear anything? He will never leave or forsake me. He is my Father and a father loves his son.
So yeah, jumping off a bridge and falling for 111 meters was a lot easier than I thought. I am learning how to live life with courage and conquering fears. Like it says in Joshua chapter 1 verse 9 – be strong and courageous!
I love you guys!
Jack
