Epic Adventure Update: Alaska, Cliff Jumping, and Sky Diving

Last summer I was offered the incredible opportunity to work at a camp in central Alaska. It was a blast but also riddled with challenges in different ways. Hopefully more details on the Alaska time later. During the team-building activity time at camp, one of the things that we challenged the kids to do is to face their fears. Sometimes fear is healthy and can keep someone from making poor choices, but more often it seems like fear is something that paralyzes us when we need to step out and act. Courage is choosing to do the right thing even in the face of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 says that, "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (NKJV). I love this verse because it is a reminder that the power of God is bigger than fear and He gives that to us, along with a spirit of love and a sound mind.

Hiking in Denali National Park in Alaska

If you really believe something, it's going to change how you live. In order to teach myself to overcome fear, I've done things that force me to confront my fears and to act in spite of them. Among other things, I have a fear of heights. This past semester, I went cliff jumping and sky diving for the first times in my life. When I went cliff jumping, I jumped off a 30-footer into the water of the Colorado River near Squaw Lake. Sky diving entailed jumping from a plane at 10,000 feet and plummeting toward the good ground of San Diego. Honestly I think cliff jumping scared me more than sky diving. Both were definitely awesome though. I don't think there is a greater feeling on earth than knowing the freedom of overcoming fear. I'm out of steam already but I'll leave you with a quote from the Lion King: "I laugh in the face of danger. AHAHAHA!"

My Favorite Things, Part 1

Ten Mile Stilts

By The Wailin Jennys

Imagine you're a girl on ten mile stilts
You travel round the world, taking it all in
You'll never touch the ground
Is it a blessing or a curse
And if you're too high to be found
Are you lost or just rehearsed

Got a heart that opens clear in this cool September dark
It rests on treetop leaves
And bursts its little sparks
And sometimes it sings its songs
And it lets its secrets out
Except for one that sears inside
That it cannot live without

But if I tell you will you take it
Will you shine it up to me
Can you be strong to let me go on
And set this freedom free

The stars are out tonight
Up here they're ripe to hold
But I have learned what comes to those who get too close
I'm no Icarus in flight
And I'm old enough to know
That love is patient, but still unyielding
If you leave it long enough it lets you go

But if I tell you will you take it
Will you shine it up to me
Can you be strong to let me go on
And set this freedom free

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The Wailin Jennys are one of my favorite artist groups. They have a knack for combining simple melody with delicate harmony and engaging ideas. Shameless plug:http://www.thewailinjennys.com/