The anchors of our lives.

Recently I decided I was in need of an adventure. Something that would challenge me in ways I am not usually challenged. I was not altogether sure why I was having this feeling. Perhaps it was becoming single after many years of marriage. Perhaps it was just needing a break from all the responsibilities of work. For whatever reason, I felt a need to stretch beyond my normal boundaries, to test my mettle, as it were.

After doing some research on-line I decided on a journey into the canopy of tall tress. I was going to learn the exciting pastime of tree climbing. So off I went to Fayetteville, Georgia and hooked up with a wonderful man named Abe Winters, who looks surprising like Santa Clause. For two and half days I learned all the basics: safety, rope knots, types of harnesses, problem-solving, the language, how to read and protect the trees during climbs, etc.

It didn’t take long to reach the boundaries of my comfort zone. I came face to face with them my first time up.

After anchoring my rope and demonstrating that I had successfully secured the proper knots to my harness Abe sent me climbing. My first objective was to ascend higher than, and then swing over on to, a large branch about fifteen feet up. This went along fine.

Upon successfully completing this task Abe had me secure a second anchor to a different, higher, part of the tree. In this way, securing and releasing anchors, I would be able to traverse throughout the canopy.

But before I undid my first anchor Abe had me walk backwards on the branch while continuing adjusting both anchors so that each maintained steady tension with no slack. It was here that I experienced my first wave of fear.

Fear is such a fascinating experience. It certainly doesn’t listen to the intellect. I was safely secured to not one but two anchors; but that made no difference to the fear I felt as I breathed my way through the task at hand.

Having completed that exercise I spent the rest of the afternoon traversing up through the canopy. I came up against and made my way through additional fears, encountering problems and with Abe’s expert, gentle assistance learning the tricks of the trade to solve them.

At the end of the day I was standing on a branch as Abe assisted Rick, another student in the class. I was just comfortably standing there, my anchor rope relaxed, enjoying the view, reluctant to make the final descent of the day.

The surroundings were magnificent. We had been climbing in a public park and the trees, affectionately named Mary Alice and Little Tree, were near the edge of a large lake. The sounds of Canadian geese filled the cool, crisp air. The sun was setting and the last rays of light lit up the sky with beautiful reds and oranges. I was perfectly at ease.

It was then that I noticed I was standing on the very same branch I had experienced my first wave of fear on earlier in the day.

The contrast between my experiences on the same branch was considerable. Earlier I had been anchored to two different limbs with both anchor ropes being taunt at all times. And I had been terrified, completely oblivious to the beauty around me.

Now I stood, peaceful, secured to only one anchor with a relaxed line, thoroughly enjoying the surroundings.

It got me thinking about feeling safe and anchored in life and how we can, should we so choose, explore and create other anchors that afford us deeper insights into who we are. And to what exactly are we anchoring ourselves to in life? Do we hold onto perceived “safety ropes” like self concepts, or preconceived limitations? In our preoccupation with these safety ropes do we become oblivious to the beauty and wonder surrounding us in each moment?

Perhaps in life, like tree-climbing, throwing a line higher up (however that looks like to you) affords us a more expansive view of who we are, where we’ve been, where we are going, and the magnificence all around us.

Enjoy life's sacred journey.

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