Overcome

Los Siete Altares

Saturday we had the opportunity to go to Livingston where we spent a majority of the day getting to the waterfall and spending time there. It was quite the adventure just to get to the waterfall. We started walking and found a guy who would take all 15 of us a part of the way. Then we walked for about 30 minutes along the coast, which at one point in time had been absolutely beautiful, but pollution had found it's way. The water was at times extremely dirty, and trash had been wash up along the side of the beach. As we walked, the inevitable happened and my flip flops got wet., which normally would not be a problem, except when they and my feet are wet they become very slippery. I wanted to take them off, except that there were tiny seashells all around and I was afraid I would cut my feet on them. Let us not forget all the trash we were tramping through, it just would not have been a good idea. We walked around ant hills and across "bridges" until we finally reached the entrance to the beginning of another hike to the highest waterfall.

I wish I was the out doorsy type. But I'm not. I do not like bugs. I don't like being barefoot. I don't like getting mud all over me with who knows what parasites living in it. The walk to the waterfall was just not very fun for me. Keeping in mind that my flip flops were making it extremely difficult for me to walk, every step I took had to be taken very carefully. After almost falling in several times I decided I would take my sandals off. Each step I took was a little painful. I was walking on rocks. Oddly shaped, rough rocks. I had to analyze very carefully where to place each step. I didn't want to get to deep in the water, because I was carrying my bible, camera, and iPod and didn't want them to get wet. Pause.

I had just finished reading Hinds' Feet on High Places a marvelous book by Hannah Hurdard. It's a great analogy of the Christian walk. It tell's the story of Much Afraid, a young woman living in the Valley of Humiliation. She has a desire to go with the Shepherd to the High Places where the Kingdom of Love is. However, she has crooked feet, and can not make the journey herself. So in His infinite wisdom He gives her Suffering and Sorrow as guides.On her journey she encounters her relatives Bitterness and Self Pity. However, the Shepherd is always just a shout away. When she calls for Him, He comes and her enemies scurry.

Unpause. I felt very much like Much Afraid during our little hike up to the high place (waterfall). I was afraid of getting a parasite. I was afraid of falling and hurting myself. I was afraid of dropping my purse in the water and damaging my Bible, iPod, and camera. I like Much Afraid, started listening to the voices of self pity and bitterness. I was frustrated that I didn't have the right shoes. Bitter that I had brought my iPod, because I wasn't going to use it, neither would I use my Bible or journal. I started feeling sorry for myself and wanted to be anywhere but there. I remembered Much Afraid and how she called out to the Shepherd, so I thought I'd do the same. Even though Christ didn't come and carry me to the waterfall, He sent people to help me along the way. One of the guys that volunteers at Casa Verde very patiently helped direct my steps, and lent me his hand when I needed them. Others would catch my by my small back pack to keep me from falling into the water. When we finally reached the waterfall it was glorious. All the girls had already made it and were jumping off. They were having so much fun! I went to put my stuff down and saw a crab. I don't know why it would shock me that there were actually living organisms in nature, but it did. I then said to myself, "I am NOT getting in that water." After a few minutes of mopping to myself I decided I would take pictures of my girls. When I got up I miss stepped and fell right on my bottom. Oh did it hurt. I could no longer hold it in, and I must admit I cried a little bit.

The Lord reminded me that I would only be in this spot at this time only once in my life. I could spend that time having a pity party for myself or I could "get over myself" and have fun with my girls. So I choose to be joyful in my circumstances. I climbed up to the top of the waterfall and after a few moments of hysterical laughter, overcame my fear and jumped.

                                                                         Team Jump