I found myself climbing down a loose and rocky peak in Alaska, clearly a place I should not have been. Moments before I had convinced my partner to go ahead up the peak without me, I would wait below because my legs were sore from previous climbing we had done. Time clicked on, I’m not sure if I was lonely or concerned he was still gone. I gazed up at the mountain front, it was a steep incline with grass tuffs and trails made by the dall sheep. My brain urged me to stay put, but I ignored it and headed up.
Following the sheep trails back and forth until I reached the top. My legs were on fire and I was breathing heavily. I looked around for my partner, but he was nowhere. I decided to go around the bend to see if he was near the cliff’s edge. Peering over the cliff, it didn’t look too steep, I thought. Meeting him at the bottom would be better, I thought.
Sitting on my bottom I started to slither my way down. Loose rocks were sliding all around me, taking on speed as they fell to the ground below. I realized quickly that I was in a serious and life threatening situation.
By the time I was about half way down I was praying aloud. With no previous religious training or education, speaking with God was a routine I had made up over the years. I said, “God, if you see me through this, I promise next time I’m going to do something stupid, I won’t do it. I just won’t do it. I promise!” I said this over and over again.
Remembering a caving trip with a friend who was skilled in this area, she told me to always have 3 points of contact on the ground. One point of contact can be your bottom. I took my time, breathed through the anxiety and eventually made it to the bottom. Sitting on my knees and wrapping my brain around what I just did I swore again I would avoid doing something stupid in the future.
This isn’t about not taking chances. I think for me it was about bodily harm and staying out of harm’s way. Before I jump into something that may – I don’t know, kill me for example; I will take a closer look at the situation before I move forward.
I have begun to view prayer like setting an affirmation for myself. Sending a message out to the universe and hope that I have the courage to follow through when it’s my turn to do so.
PS. The picture is one I took near the top of the incline. That dall sheep is looking at me wondering why I’m up there with him.
Melisa Peterson Lewis 
The biggest risk and reward is trusting the uncertainty. The uncertainty of what is out there and the uncertainty that we are able to overcome it!
You have course my dear!
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