Angel's Landing

Once in a while we get the opportunity to prove to ourselves what we are truly made of. Yesterday that opportunity came for me. It was an equal opportunity for all of us, but as we are so decidedly different, we confronted the challenge in five uniquely different ways.

Our challenge was to climb Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. It is only a 4.6 mile round trip but we gained 1500 feet in elevation. The trail was steep and windy, especially through Walter's Wiggles and at times it was little more than an outcropping on the edge of a cliff. The real challenge however, began at Scout's Lookout where the trail appeared to end and a ridge like that of ancient vertebrae became the only way to the top. The incline was somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees and all that indicated this was in fact the trail, was the occasional series of posts anchored from rock to rock with a chain strung between them which I assumed was the National Park's idea of safety.

We took off our back-packs, carried one bottle of water, and I said a fervent prayer. We proceeded in a line, lead by Eden who was all too anxious to reach the top and way too confident for her mother's heart. She hopped, jumped, and all but danced from rock to ledge, barely hanging on to the "chain of safety!" Tim followed Eden, confident and stoic, buffering my anxiety with resolute assurance. He also became the keeper of the camera as I had no inclination, inspiration, or motivation to take pictures of the rock that would surely become my tombstone. Eli followed Tim in front of me, and together my son and I faced our demons one step at a time, neither looking up, nor down, and barely looking out at the magnificent view - the reason of course for which we commenced this challenge. Naomi, like her father, followed me at the end of our little line, with confidence and encouragement.

We did in fact make it to the top - and as was expected it was a glorious view! Nevertheless, the glory faded quickly at the realization that our descent was unavoidable and would be just as challenging, if not more so, at which point my overly-stimulated-under-oxygenated mind conjured up faster ways to descend than climb.

It was an occasion of immense emotion, compelling challenge, powerful exhilaration, undeniable achievement, and intense faith - in our selves, each other, the people who secured the "chain of safety," and God Himself, who created such vast amazement for our ecstasy and conquest.