ON THE EDGE

We all have moments when we are on the edge.  A little bit of poetry.  A little bit of prose.  An important and transformative moment in my life. 

Sometimes we are on the edge and we don’t know where we are going.   I found myself in that very place as I stood on the edge of an 85 foot cliff.  At that edge, I readied to rappel, not sure of the descent.  Pushing my physical and emotional self to the limit.  I knew I was going down.   And I didn’t know what that descent would bring.  Sitting back into the air, held by ropes, inching over into space, a release came.  I embraced the fear.  I sat gingerly and purposely into pure space, embracing the unknown, I began the trip down.

Sometimes we are on the edge and we don’t know where we are going.  Circumstances happen that take us unexpectedly to a new place. On that cliff’s edge, as I waited, my body merged with an emotional reality.  This year would be a different year.  An unknown year for me.   I would not be going back to a job I loved, students and teachers I loved.  I would not be buying my “first day” outfit for the first time since I was in kindergarten.  I knew my life was changing.  And I didn’t know what that change would bring.   This year will be different.  I sat back and let become, not knowing what the descent into a new place would bring.  On the edge of that cliff, I inched over into space, letting go of what will come.  I embraced the fear and the sadness.  I embraced the unknown and moved into the future.

Resurrection 

Last summer

I rappelled down a cliff.

Planted on the edge,

White knuckles gripping

fear-squeezed rope,

I leaned

into hollow space

to begin the travel

downward to the earth

awaiting my arrival.

Life is a journey,

passing moment by moment

to the unknown—

On the edge,

leaning out into space,

traveling to unknown territory.

On the edge of becoming—

not certain,

becoming not yet revealed.

As I descend, so I will rise.

Becoming my purpose,

Unknown revealed to known.

Please watch the video link below that shows me descending an 85 foot cliff--as well as a number of remarkable events on my week at LeaderShape.  Thanks to my friend, Jen, who put this beautiful video together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYWzWm7OAMA