Fear and Trust on the High Ropes Course

[i]Winter '02[/i] [img border="1" align="right" alt="high ropes course at Calvin Center" height="240" width="320"]albums/photos/pm0035.jpg[/img] The day had come. We were at our cabins on the campgrounds and the time had come to go on the adventure. For me; it was a big adventure, but for most, or so it seemed, it would be “no sweat”: to be dangling for mercy thirty feet in the air. All I knew was that there was no way I was going to be up there. I mean, couldn’t I have been sick, just that morning? Could I run away? What I could do was beyond me; maybe I wanted to do this and just didn’t know it. The time came. The counselors called the campers, and I had to go with the other “CITs” and wait for my time to die. I got my buddy, who was a counselor and was afraid for her life as well, and we walked together and said we were going to make the “journey” together. We decided we were ready and went together to the location. I wasn’t saying a whole lot and neither was she. The instructors called everyone to get into a circle around these two tall posts that had a cable going from one to the other. About 4’ below, there was another cable. The instructors were going over the rules; I don’t think anyone was truly listening. I was examining the course to see if these cables really could hold us, and not just snap and we fall and fall; the more I looked at the tall, tall course the more the posts began to rise and the bigger the obstacles got. Looking at this made me feel as though I was waiting to be thrown into a jungle during World War II. It looked hard, and it was hard. The counselors were just finishing the rules and began to hand out the harnesses. They walked around to each person and showed us how to snap them on. The metal harnesses have a seat belt type of waist band; I felt a little more secure after seeing them. The instructors divided us up on the four rope ladders to enter the course. I was second to my buddy who climbed all the way up and sat on a little seat that was designed for you to rest on. Permission had just been granted for me to climb up to the top when my buddy discovered she didn’t want to do this, so I had already gotten to the top and had two choices: 1. Climb back down, or 2. Climb up one more level. I chose to go up one level because at that point I decided I didn’t want to give up, and I probably would if I got back down. As soon as my buddy got back down, I climbed down from the second level to rest, and decided to start the course. I got on the platform and yelled across to Paul, “Permission to transfer.” Permission was granted and I was sweating! I began to cross, but I found I could cross without falling because I was wearing the perfect shoes! I had an indention in the soles of my shoes in front of my heel. I was getting stable as I crossed successfully. There were two more crossings to go. I was ready to make my second cross. It was tough to cross because it looked easy, but the rope bridge rocked a lot. I had a little trouble, but I managed to cross rather quickly. I got on the last crossing and requested more time. After discussion with one of the instructors, I leapt off. I was at the highest point of the ropes course, and looking down all the way, I could see I had to travel at least one hundred feet. It took about one minute to get to the end. I was both scared and overjoyed on the way down. One of the instructors unhooked me and helped me down the ladder. I was glad to be released and happy, too. I made it through-- one of the people who made it through! I made it and some of the people teasing me had a new respect for me because they didn’t make it through. We were friends in the end. Fear and learning to trust really do create good friendships. [i]This essay was written by a camper who took the Calvin Center’s high ropes course during Peacemakers camp. The camper wishes to remain anonymous.[/i]