July 16, 2025 “When everyone else says, ‘no way! That’s a crazy idea,’ I’m the friend who says, ‘what time do we leave?’” I’ve used some version of that line eleventy billion times over the last month or so as people ask me about going skydiving with my twin sister in early June. My sister achieved a milestone accomplishment and wanted to celebrate in a big way. For some reason, people weren’t lining up to join in her jumping out of an airplane. So, she called me. While I’ve always had a spirit of adventure, I’ve leaned into it in recent years (this was my third time skydiving). Why? Because I’ve spent too much time on the sidelines. Almost exactly a year ago, I had my third hip surgery in six years, my second total hip replacement. While I had a period after the first hip replacement in which I felt like my body was working well, it was only about a year before my second hip started began to fail. During those times when my original-parts hips were giving me problems, hobbies and tasks I’ve always enjoyed – photographing events, participating in sports/martial arts, walking miles and miles and miles on vacations… – became painful or impossible. I feel like God has given me an amazing gift in giving me a second chance to do crazy things with my new, aftermarket parts. That period when I couldn’t say “yes” to adventures also made me consider how many opportunities and adventures I’ve missed in life because I was too wrapped up in being practical and safe. Through those six years (more actually), I was angry at God for the failings of my body, and I struggled mightily with being rendered incapable. But through that difficult season of “no, you can’t do that,” God brought me to a place where I want to say “yes” to every possible adventure, a place where I’m open to where He’s calling me in new ways. Because of those struggles, God is helping me overcome at least some of my fear of failure and He is replacing it with a desire to try new things, take on new challenges, meet new people and grow in ways I never imagined. It’s a crazy idea, and I’m so grateful to God for bringing me to it. |
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