A Challenge Faced

I’ve just returned from New Zealand – an amazing adventure with many new experiences. There were opportunities for walking everyday – some easy, and some more challenging. One such challenge for me came about 5 days into our travel. We traveled by bus from Rotorua to the base of Mt. Tarawera, a dormant volcano which last blew its top June 10, 1886. From there, we boarded a 4-wheel drive vehicle to travel through dense forest on a one-way rugged road the rest of the way up the mountain to the beginning of our day’s hike.  By the time we got to our starting point, vegetation was scrubby and the walking path was visible – and not too long to the top. I knew we were to continue our hike down into the crater of Mt. Tarawera – yet when we got to the edge of the crater, it looked to be straight down. I started getting that feeling in my stomach that I get near the edge of the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls. “OK – that’s a long way down there.”

About half of us decided to continue on the crater hike –while the others took an alternate path around the crater to our meeting point. I was determined to face my jitters and joined the group headed for the crater. Instructions were to step heel first each time and slide with each step as we make our way down through the loose volcanic rock. "If you lose your balance, sit down– like skiing." There were other instructions about walking poles and other things which I only half heard in my distraction about the hike. 

It was steep – although not straight down as it seemed. After a couple of steps getting the “feel of the land”, I became much more comfortable – ready to snap away with my camera to try to capture the moment. I did sit several times – and I smiled a lot. What a great feeling to be half-way around the world, walking down into a volcano, facing a challenge – and beating the jitters! At the bottom, we all emptied our boots of loose rock, which we were promised would get in as we sunk into about six-inches of gravel on the way down. Our guide drew in the gravel and told the story of the volcano – while I wandered around snapping photos. And then we trekked out.

We all have fears – no matter how insignificant they may seem. Facing them takes determination –knowing if we do we’ll feel exhilaration at having accomplished something new and challenging. Church involvement can be like that, too. A fear of public speaking is something I hear about from potential church leaders. Fear of the unknown in some totally new experience is another. My experience – in travel and in church – is the first step is the hardest. After that, it’s all downhill. As they say in New Zealand, ”no worries, mate.  It's all good!” What will you be trying next?

In Faith,

Nancy