FEAR FACTOR

I am back from Utah with such wonderful memories and good reports. I started our first afternoon with a ski lesson. 'Beginner , trying to get comfortable with parallel skiing' is the group I opted for. I got a fantastic guy named Chris that took my skiing to a new level. He had a wonderful way of giving criticism and encouragement that just fit my style of learning. He challenged me and the three other women in our group to give up the snow plow and start having more fun. As I got more skilled at parallel turning my fun factor went up to 80 per cent from 30 per cent because of the previous FEAR FACTOR of facing a fall line out of control.

The second day we changed from Park City to Alta. What a beautiful place! The visibility sometimes was not great, but I made progress in what I had learned the day before with Chris. How funny...I have to tell you that I had to backspace and delete the 't' on the end of Chris. I had written...'what I had learned the day before with Christ'. Subliminal typo, but to the point of what I wanted to share. I believe I had a decision to make this trip as to whether I would continue to ski based on my lack of physical ability and how scared I was more than not on the runs. I also knew that much of my slowness and control was going to have to be surrendered in order to accomplish any progress in skill. Chris was the perfect challenger and fit for me to let loose and trust the new skills I was learning.

I knew by the last day that I would be returning to go skiing. I did an early quit on the last day in the afternoon because my legs just didn't have any more strength. I turned my skis in and got back into my hiking boots. I found a funky hat that perfectly matched the two purples of my coat (I know many of you are laughing right now) because I knew it would be getting more use. Also, just because I am a nut for fun, bright colors and matching pieces in my wardrobe.

I found myself in the two days after my lesson that the only time I got scared and returned to the snow plow was when I was skiing in flat light and heavy snow or my leg strength was gone and I needed to stop in order to avoid injury. Isn't it so true, at least for me, that when I get scared I will return to less than desirable behavior or actions to try to protect myself?

Before I left on this trip I asked God to link me up with the right instructor. I asked Him to show me right technique and the willingness to let go of wrong and bad habits I had accumulated or kept out of fear. When the student was ready the teacher appeared! My husband, who is a very good skier, told me that I was skiing twice as fast and keeping my skis parallel most of the time. The friends we skied with told me they were proud of me. I can tell you personally that I had a much more joyful time skiing than ever before. I was letting go and taking in spiritual energy to keep flying down the mountain (by my standards) by following directions from Chris and putting my hope and trust in God.

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If any of you lacks wisdom,
he should ask God,
who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

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Those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31