I swallowed down the lump in my throat and stepped toward the edge of the platform, built into the side of the mountain. About ten stories below me swayed lush vegetation. It looked soft, but I knew the truth–if the cords and buckles of my zip line harness failed me, I was a goner.
Worse, I was expected to jump off this zip line BACKWARDS.
“Can I jump forward if I want?” I asked the guide.
She shook her head. “You really can’t on this one. For safety reasons.”
Safety reasons? Like what kind? If it wasn’t safe to jump forward, what made jumping backwards safe?
I didn’t ask. My husband and kids had already completed the jump successfully. They were waiting for me at the bottom of the mountain and I didn’t want to take the “chicken bridge” to where they stood. This was a trust fall. A way-out-of-my-comfort-zone-but-I-want-to-live-life fall.
I edged my Nike-clad heels so they hung over the wood platform…backwards. I breathed deep around my racing heart. I just wanted it to be over. But I wanted to do this. I wanted to meet up with my husband and boys at the end of the zip line, not the end of the “chicken” bridge.
I jumped.
And you know what? It was amazing.
After I jumped backward, the zip line swung me forward and I was facing my family, rushing toward them through the air. It was the closest I’d ever been to flying, and it was glorious.
While I’ve never offered a book for no cost, I’m viewing it like this zip lining adventure. I’m jumping ALL in, because I want this story in the hands of as many readers as possible. It’s my hard work. It’s a bunch of edits. It’s a story of my heart. And it’s my expression of hope, wrapped in a story just for you.
For a very limited time, The EDGE OF MERCY will be FREE on Kindle.
I hope you enjoy, and I hope your summer is filled with many adventures!
