Wow! That was cool… or… Cool! Was that wow?

Not to long ago, Gaelyn and I went for a little trip around and looked off the North Rim in several places… See, I have always been somewhat intimidated by heights.

When I was a much younger man, I tried to get over this “problem” by getting a job working derrick on an oil service rig. It was exciting work to say the least. I don’t have any pictures of those days, but it was a job where one would be working 25 to 96 feet off the ground, depending on what kind of rig you worked on. I remember how the rig would seem like it was ready to jump off the ground when the weight of a string of pipe, ( the deepest I’ve seen was 24,000 ft.), was being pulled out of the ground.

But although I thought I was conquering my fears of heights, most of the time I was terrified… Even though I could work and function, that same old feeling would eat at my stomach…

 

Now, I have been to the Canyon before, in fact, I worked on the south rim back in 1991. Never really spent much time looking off the rim. Saw all the sights, you know, the stuff without a view of the canyon…

 

When Gaelyn and I went for our little day trip, things changed…

Above, you can see what I’m talking about… I had to sit there for a couple of minutes to get the courage up to get close to the edge…

Above is a view of the window I was sitting on, it’s a “fin” that juts out from one of the points, sorry I can’t remember all their names. But I think it is called The Angel’s Window…

As time went by, I was able to swallow my fear enough to get out to the end, and stand at the rail and look into the depths of the canyon. While I stood there, a strange feeling came on that I wasn't familiar with. I wasn’t thinking about the rail giving way, or the rocks collapsing, or any other catastrophic event occurring. I was so blown away by the beauty of the place, that all fear was gone.

I had gotten comfortable enough that I could lay down on the edge and take some pictures. it was quite exciting to see all that splendor!

As I stood there with my arms open, I could feel the wind trying to lift me off my feet… It was so cool, I felt like I could take off and fly! When I sat down, even forgot I was wearing my pack, and just took it all in, I was totally at peace… if only for a few moments… but in those few moments, there wasn’t a care in the world, no fear, just perfect peace…

 

A smile came over my face, and and a whole new attitude about heights and all other irrational fear that may pop up in my head, became rooted deep in my heart.

 

So, the next time you feel like the wind is about to lift you off your feet… Just spread open your arms and let it take you away… What’s the worst that can happen? Something might scare you? Big deal!

 

I’m going to leave you with one last thought…

 

If we are part of this beautiful creation… Than what does that make us?

 

 

                              I am what I am…