We crowded around the foot of the tree, all giggles and energy, as our group leader climbed up to a platform at least three feet above our heads.
“Catch me” she said and turned around to face the tree.
Really? We are supposed to catch a falling adult? I watched everyone else with their arms outstretched, still laughing, confident in their ability to catch her. I reached my arms up too, but I stayed toward the edge of the cluster.
She leaned backward and fell into us. Shrieks of laughter exploded all around us as we jostled her onto her feet. Relief flooded me – we hadn’t dropped her.
“Now you do it,” she announced.
As quickly as it came, relief fled. I couldn’t. I didn’t even trust me to catch, how would I ever trust them to?
I hoped they’d forget about me, but our leader kept count. I climbed the ladder slow and trembly. When I finally dropped off the platform, my knees were buckled and my arms outstretched to break my fall. Just in case.
They caught me. But I still didn’t trust them. Or me.
***
Some Fridays, I join The Gypsy Mama for her five-minute writing exercise. She gives a writing prompt (this week it was trust), and we just write for five minutes. That’s it. Simple, easy, no agonizing over word choice or topic. You can join in too — just head over to her page and link up your five-minute Friday post with hers!
Available for RSS readers and email
so bad at trust that i didn’t even TRY to write the prompt. this is a great one.
kendal recently posted..bring quickly the best robe
Love your honesty, and way of writing it
omily recently posted..Trust -five minute friday-
I too appreciate the honesty of this post. I have participated in this exercise before and like you I was quite skeptical….
On a side note – I like the way you tell a story with dialogue.
Oh, i can almost see this happening as I read your account! And yes, even when I know in my head I’m supposed to be at a safe activity and that trust is the whole point of it, sometimes it really is hard to trust anyway.
Oh, i can almost see this happening as I read your account! And yes, even when I know in my head I’m supposed to be at a safe activity and that trust is the whole point of it, sometimes it really is hard to trust anyway.
Amy recently posted..Trusting His Plan
I am not sure I would have trusted in that moment either. Glad you conquered your fear and jumped!
Barbie recently posted..Fresh Brewed Sundays: {His Deep Love}
Wow, you are brave. There is no one I trust enough to get me to do this. I would NEVER do that! Again, WOW!
And, I appreciate your honesty at the end.
Candice Jenee’ recently posted..Trust & Dreams…Part 2.
Well, you just can’t hand out trust like candy from a PEZ dispenser
Very well-written post.
Nowhere Man recently posted..How I Found Faith: kmj’s Testimony
I dunno, I think you’re wise. Knowing who to trust is more important than just trusting. (Like the last comment says… ) And there’s really only One Who can be fully trusted always. (Jumped here from Lil Napoleon linked from 5 Minute Friday.)