Free Falling

I climbed the rock formation wondering… What exactly have I gotten myself into?

The distance between myself and the ground increased with every step I took forward.  It was the summer of 2011 and I was on a missions trip on the tropic island of Eleuthera, Bahamas.  The ocean’s waves pulled and pushed against the cliff’s right side as if taunting me and my companions.  There were eight of us, four American and four Bohemian.  Our close relationship with the Bohemians is what had brought us to this place.  They invited us to enjoy one of their favorite past times…. cliff diving.  Being the adventurous type, I had readily agreed.  But as we climbed higher and higher, and the ground below got farther and farther away, I began to question my decision.
The Bohemians made small talk with us, noticing our unspoken nervousness.  They explained that it didn’t matter so much where you jumped, but how you jumped off the cliff.
“You can’t tink about it,” One chimed in, “If you tink about it, your mind will stop you.”
We got to the top and I couldn’t help but glance over the edge.  The water was crystal clear in some areas, and dark royal blue in others.  The darker the water, the deeper the water.
“I go first, one at a time,” one of them said.

He took a few steps back, and then charged forward in full speed.  A big white smile flashed as he called out, his feet left the ground and his body surged over the cliff.  Adrenaline pumping through his veins, he did a somersault and then pointed his toes down and pressed his hands against his sides.  With a splash, his body disappeared into the water below.
We all waited in anticipation for him to resurface.  Seconds clicked by and then, there he was, swimming over to a large rock a few yards away.
One by one my companions tossed themselves over the cliff’s edge and into the water below.  Finally, I was my turn.  Two others stood beside me.  I braced myself and ran forward.  My body tingled all over, and my mind was filled with fear.  I stopped at the edge and I fell backward.  As I stood up I glanced back the way we had come and contemplated climbing all the way down the cliff to the safe ground below.  But it wasn’t an option.
I wanted to do this.  I wanted to.  I knew I would enjoy it, and come out okay.  So why couldn’t I just DO it?
Others called to me from the water, encouraging me to jump.  I took a few strides away from the cliffs edge and took a deep breath.  Then, I sprinted forward.  My feet pushed against the ground until there was nothing left to push-off of.  In no time I was mid-air.  An electric shock of adrenaline shot through me.  I was free-falling.  I covered my nose with one hand and pointed my toes down.  My feet graced the water and I went under in swift, torpedo-like fashion.
I still have never experienced anything like it….

Much like cliff diving, I have been on the edge of something great these last few weeks.  I’ve known that Christ has wanted me to jump.  I’ve wanted to jump.  But, my mind has been filled with the “what if” questions… and frankly, fear of the unknown.

I’ve  literally had to force myself to stop thinking and start doing.

In honor of that….. **drum roll please** …..

I’m officially going to move to Mobile Alabama and attend The University of Mobile next semester.

I’m trust falling into the arms of Christ and moving 14 hours away from my life in Powhatan, Virginia to explore the next season of what Christ has for me.

My adrenaline is pumping.