Flying Trapeze!

So I did something I never thought I'd do.

I took a Trapeze class!

My sister and a friend had signed up for it and they invited me to go along.  I was like, sure sounds fun!  And didn't think another thing about it.  Until I got there and saw how huge this trapeze contraption was.

First off, I'm terrified of heights.  Always have been.

I looked at that thing and then I saw the ladder.  The ladder I was going to have to climb to get up to this tiny platform that I was then going to stand on.  Oh my goodness.

I decided to go second just to get it over with and I wanted to be brave for my 11 year old niece who was just as scared as I was.  And then I started to climb the ladder.  My legs were turning into jelly with each rung. Higher and Higher.  Yes, my head knew I was hooked in before I left the ground. Yes, my head knew there would be a professional person at the top to walk me through each step. Yes, my head knew she wouldn't let me fall.  I'd be hooked in at every point.

But still.  My heart was overwhelmed.

As I got to the platform, there was a bar to hold onto while she unhooked my ladder safety harness and hooked in my trapeze ropes.  I was gripping it with all my might and trying not to look at the massive height I was staring down!

Then I had to step around the bar to get to the trapeze bar.

Then she pulled the bar up to me.  As I held onto the platform bar with one hand, she grabbed the back of my belt.  I was told to put my toes over the platform and lean forward to grab the bar!  Lean forward!!

I reached it with my right hand.  Now, the hardest part,  I had to let go of the platform bar and while leaning forward, grab onto the bar with my left hand.  I still had not left the platform yet.  I could feel the weight of the bar pulling me into the abyss.  It was such a long swing out there!  Sure, there was netting and I was roped in but this felt like everything in me was screaming "What are you doing!".

As both my hands were on the bar, the only way out was down.  So I leaned forward, the lady still holding my belt.  As she yelled HEP (they don't yell "go" because it sounds like "no") I jumped into the air.  That first whoosh of the arc, my stomach dropped.

The guy below who had me by one rope, encouraged me to breathe and look around.

I did.  Breathe.  Just breathe.

Then he instructed me to drop to the net. And I did that! Flipped myself over the net and I was on terra firma!

And lo and behold, I did it again!  The first couple of times I just swung and hung.  Then, I hung by my knees and let go of the bar!

I tried to do the final trick, transferring to another trapeze swinger!  But I just couldn't get my legs up in time.

Here is my amazing sister doing this trick!  She is awesome!

My body hurts today. I think the adrenaline has finally worn off.

So several things I was thinking about.

Timing, trust, and overcoming.

Timing-You have to react EXACTLY when they say.  They can see where the trapeze is swinging and when you should release, or put your knees up.  You can't hesitate. If you miss it, you'll have missed the opportunity.

Trust-You have to trust that they know what they are doing.  I had never done this.  They had.  I had to trust them to hold me, catch me, take care of me. And I also had to trust that my body could do this.

Overcoming-I had some giant fears to overcome.  I probably would've quit after one or two times if my sister and hubby hadn't been there.  They were encouraging to me.  They told me I could do it! I had to get past my own hangups to get there though.

It's really a lot like the Christian life.  Trusting God, overcoming our fears and waiting on God's timing. And just stop and Breathe.

Mind blown. 😮