Focus on losing fear

Beautiful summer weather in north Idaho. Vacationing daughter with her three children — 7, 11, and 14. And her visiting sister. Where to go for an adventure. What about the Lion Head rock slide.

It’s way up there. Lots of gravel washboard road shaking us around. And hot. Mid-afternoon on a near 100 degree day. We started down the trail in the full sun. I felt myself over-heating. Disgusting because everyone else seemed fine. Eventually shade befriended us. Crossing creeks on rocks,climbing over logs, twisting and winding through the woods — we finally made it to the slide.

It looked plenty scary to me. Steep. Clear water ran across smooth rock layers in a steady flow, filling a small pool at the bottom — a natural stopping place — before continuing on. Kids were riding black heavy duty trash bags across the rocks. Going fast, tumbling this way and that, kicking up huge spray when they hit the pool at the base. Having a blast.

Our own group, one by one, rode the trash bags we’d brought along. Getting braver each time. But not me. The water looked inviting in the heat. I wanted to go. To be part of the fun. I’d worn a ridiculous pair of pants I didn’t care about ripping. There I waited on the edge. Watching. Trying to summon some sort of non-existent courage.

Finally I couldn’t stand it. I thought I’d start lower down. Just me and the rock. No way was I going fast on a trash bag. So it was a slow run. I didn’t even make the pool. But I tried again and gained a little speed. I felt brave enough after that to begin a bit higher on the slide. Slid fast enough for a yelp.

Then came the big one. I went for it. “You gotta hit the pool, mom!” Still not from the very top — but close. Squealing the whole way I made it to the pool in a shower of spray. I’d done it!

The next thing I knew my 14-year-old grandson was making a hilarious run imitating grandma. “I’m pretty sure we have a new family meme,” he said. Oh brother. The laughing stock of the rock slide. However, I was by far the eldest of all the sliders that afternoon.

I would have disappointed myself if I hadn’t gone down that run. I’d come a long way to do it. I was with family I don’t see often. I wanted to share the play with them. To know the feeling of sliding across those slippery rocks on a hot summer day. Laughter echoing through the forest. This wonderful God-made water slide.

Sometimes you’ve got to forget about finding courage — and focus on losing fear. It’s then you come home with a trophy rip in the seat of your pants. Ridiculous pants you can now throw away.