This Weekend, I Lost My Senses Entirely

There are two words that, when used in combination, have historically struck fear into my soul.

Can you handle it?

Youth Retreat.

Since The Princess is now a part of our church's youth, the King and I are serving as co-co-co-co-leaders. 

The Youth Retreat had been on the schedule for a while.  For the longest, it seemed way off in the future.  The move, etc. had caused it to slip my mind a bit.

But frankly, I'd been dreading the entire event.

I do have to say that it was quite a lot of fun.

The kids were not scary.

The topics of conversation did not cause me to convulse.

I slept well.

(I wore earplugs.)

Then came Day 2...

Day 2 was Adventure Day.

Now y'all know me well enough to know that I am not the biggest fan of the "adventure".

Our day started with a kid or two "falling" into the lake.  

In 38 degree temperature.

One of those kids had one pair of shoes and the other had one pair of underwear.

(Yes.  They were both boys.)

I gave the underwear boy my hair dryer to dry his unmentionables.

He promised that my dryer would not touch his undies.

After lunch, we immediately went to the adventure area.

Our first activity was the zip line.

 

Do you see how high that is?

I mean..really?  Do you see?

The Princess has no fear.

 

Me?  Tons of fear.  I climbed really quickly.  I just didn't think about it.  Until I had to step from the pole to the platform...not so easy.

See how my right hand is attached to something?  It was some teensy piece of metal. I couldn't bring myself to let go of it.  

I asked the fella (who, by the way, said he'd never done the zip line) if he could please, please double check my harness.

The King asked if he could go backwards.  

I was asking how the heck to get off of that thing.  

The King was asking if he could run and jump.

I realized that my options were to either glide down or climb down.

Gliding then became my only option.

I couldn't step off of the platform.  I just couldn't do it.  

So I squatted.  And sort of rolled off.  

Like a semi-somersault.

I'm so grateful that there is not a picture of that roll.

 

That's me.  Gliding.  Without an ounce of grace.

So then the next device of torture was The Screamer.  

Here's the deal.

IT IS CALLED THE SCREAMER.

At the point at which I decided to be a cool, hip, youth leader...my brain quit functioning and The Screamer became a possibility.

Basically, you get pulled way high in the sky...like a million feet...and then you are dropped in a free-falling plunge.

Here's The Princess.

Here she goes...

 

 

Her little arms are pumped in the air in complete ecstasy.

Here's her mom.

 

The King is trying to encourage me.

When I look at this picture, all I can think is "if only".

If only I'd known what I was about to experience.

If only someone had truthfully explained what my body was about to endure.

 

I've spent over 30 years trying to avoid the feeling given by The Screamer.

 

The minute that I began plummeting to earth, I realized the mistake that I'd made.

I couldn't scream.

I think I swallowed my tongue for a second.

It was super quick but also incredibly slow.

It is the reason that I don't do roller coasters.

The reason that I'm terrified of airplanes.

The reason that my legs turn to jello when looking down a stairwell over 2 stories tall.

I don't like adrenaline.

I will never, never, never, NO NOT EVER be experiencing The Screamer again. 

Ever.

Am I clear?

The King was understandably scared to try The Screamer after my HORRIFIC experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hot shot.

Comments

[Hannah]

Awesome, QB! Even though I'm absolutely, utterly, completely, entirely TERRIFIED of being flung into the air and plummetted back down...you were so brave to actually do it.

[Sue]

Hey... soooo glad you're still alive...

[Headless Mom]

I'm so proud of you for even trying. Seriously. Because I wouldn't have gotten within 100 yards of those contraptions!

[Dana Jones]

that looks dangerously close to those trees.

[Lacey]

Looks like a lot of fun:) So, sad Jason was gone. We haven't missed a youth outing in a long time:( Glad u did the zipline! I can't wait to someday go skydiving!!!

[Kellyn]

I hate things like that too, so you are not alone. I had to do the zip line once, and swore I would never do it again.

So glad you did it for the kids though, showed them that fear happens and you just have to try anyway.

[justanotherdayinparadise]

yep. you've lost it. : )

[Michele]

I love it!!! I'm so proud of you for overcoming your fear and doing it!!! Don't know if I could have...now you're my hero!

[rrmama]

Totally think God tested your boundaries that day! And you passed with flying, no pun intended, colors!

[Little Missus Sunshine]

I can sooooo relate! Hubby and I went to Mexico to celebrate our 10th anniversary in January and we tried out the horrifying zipline. As if that wasn't scary enough, I later found out that we zipped over top of alligators! Hubby would have gone MANY times, but once was more than enough for me. Never ever again.

[kyooty]

scary!

[jean]

Two thumbs up for you. You did it. You didn't wimp out and you survived it. After those two experiences you can do anything. (just don't ask me to join you)

[Lindsay @ Bytes of Memory]

okay just looking at those pictures made my heart beat faster.. my palms are getting sweaty! Glad you survived!!

[misty]

so fun, but wow- I would have wet myself with fear. you are brave, even if it's laced with reluctance.

[Tammy]

*GASP*

I mean, BRAVO, QB.....BRAVO!!

My hubby and I are considering moving up with our kids when the first one enters the youth group in 2 years. Hmmmmm, better begin praying about that!

Hope you are doing well, have had LaP on my mind and prayers lately!!

[Sandy]

This will likely be one of the more unpopular comments you ever get on this blog, but I have always wondered how events like this are going to help teenagers be closer to Jesus. Unless, of course, they are crying out to Him as they fall from The Screamer.

[Heather]

To Sandy who wondered how events like this are going to help teens be closer to Jesus: It's about RELATIONSHIP. Jesus cultivated relationships with others to draw them closer to him. Do teens need more than just fun retreats and goofy games? Yes. Do they need to get go know the adults in their lives so that they can trust them and value their more serious teaching times? Yes. Do some teens just need a caring adult in their lives who will do fun, zany things with them in a wholesome environment? Yes. And in that way, the adults can be Jesus in the flesh to these kids.

To QB....never, ever in a million years would I do these things b/c I am oh-so-not cool and hip like you. LOL

[Tater Mama]

I am impressed.

Since I feel the same way you do about heights and flying, there aren't enough drugs in the southeastern United States to make me do any of those things! I'm quite sure I would've fainted on the spot.

Kudos for being a good sport.

[Holly]

I can't decide whether that looks fun or terrifying...hahaha! Good on you for going on it though. :)

[Mari Taylor]

I appluad you for being leaders amongst the youth. That is so needed! Kudos to you and the King.