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Buckle Up

By Kayla
8/30/2017

I recently went on vacation to Yellowstone National Park, where I got to experience my first Zip Line adventure. Although we have them at almost all of the Christian Retreat Network properties, as a fairly new office staff member, I had not been granted the opportunity to give it a try. However, I’ve been wanting to.

So, I went online and booked 3 lines. I was good on the way there, as we got strapped into our harnesses, and even as we began the trek to the towers. But at the top, I’ll be honest with you, a few prayers were said while waiting to go down. I was terrified. I’m not the biggest fan of heights, and 9 people on one little platform at the top of a telephone pole equivalent was not comforting to me, no matter how many clips and straps I had connected. But I stepped onto that platform, got hooked on the line, and after counting to 3, took that first step. What a rush!

We have written blogs before about our zip lines and specifically how they can be a good team-building activity. Although only one person goes at a time, it really is all about the group. You are all in it together, trying to accomplish the same goal. The support from my fellow zip liners (who were all complete strangers) was monumental. Even though I had to make the physical step myself, I felt like we each went down together every time. I can only imagine the bonding potential of such an experience amongst friends.

It made me think about how we are all on the same path of life. Just like the zip line, our lives have a beginning, middle, and end in which we ride it out. Sometimes we are hanging on for dear life, and other times we are bravely holding our fist in the air with the highest sense of accomplishment. But the entire time we have the harness. What does that represent? Your supporting structure that keeps you safe during your entire journey: God. Where would we be without that support? Well, I don’t know about you, but the thought of going down a zip line without multiple straps holding me onto the line is terrifying. As is spending my whole life without God in it.

So, if you ever get the chance to go zip lining, I am telling you, you won’t regret it. Grab the family, congregation, whomever, and buckle up.



Christian Retreats Network /

Based at Lake Williamson / PO Box 620 / Carlinville, IL 62626

info@christianretreatsnetwork.org