Dancing on the Rocks

Humbled by the Majesty of Sedona's Rocks


Whenever I can, especially before it gets hot,
I like to get out and hike these magnificent
trails across Sedona. What makes them
especially delightful is that all the snow
that paralyzed Flagstaff and shut down the
Interstate quite a few times this year,
is now rushing down in melted raging rivers
throughout the Verde Valley. This can make
normally dry trails become un-navigable
until the flow recedes for the abundant water
is finding anyway it can to get down from the mountains.

On a trail last Tuesday afternoon,
my friend and I had to cross one of those
side tributaries to get to the waterfalls
we guessed had to be there because of the
great roaring we heard reflected from the cliffs.

To get there, my friend hopped over the
small rocks that were spaced just far
enough apart to step on. The problem was,
they moved. A rock that moves can tumble
you into the water pretty fast and belies
the phrase, “rock solid.” Although this
part of the river was not too deep or fast,
I didn’t want to get drenched either.
I took it pretty slow at first but then
kind of had to go for it to get across.
It was like dancing on the rocks.

However on the way back we decided, wisely,
not to tempt the moving rock gods twice and
found a different way across the river.
The challenge on this part of the trail
was different. There were larger rocks.
Most of them were plenty big and didn’t
look like they were going to move because
of us. The spaces between the rocks were
also larger, much larger than normal
footsteps. Standing on a rock in the middle
of a stream, while very pretty, isn’t that
comfortable, especially if it’s big enough
for just one foot. There comes a point
where you just have to really go for it.
You’ve got to trust that your body will
know what to do to get your across the
river and just jump. Thoughts don’t help.
Action does. Amazingly, it was if my body
knew exactly where to step and how much to
jump and not overshoot the rocks. I moved
swiftly across the waters from rock to rock.
Calculating would’ve been a serious waste of
resources, especially since we were deep
in the wilderness and losing valuable daylight fast.

Where in your life, do you need to take
a “Leap of Faith?” What is something that
can’t just be thought out, but needs to be
acted on and jumped across? Which situations
do you need to trust that when you make your
leap into and cross it, there will be wings
to carry you through? You know what that
situation is. Life is giving you the nudge,
or even the not so gentle kick.

You must leap sometimes along the trail of life.
You will not get through life without the big leap.
Is it time to make your leap?
Is it your time of trust?

Don’t cross anything obviously un-navigable
but when a little trust is needed, if you
can provide the trust,
God will provide the wings.

Was that leap worth it?
Yes!! We came across perhaps a thousand
raging little waterfalls as a reward
for our leaps of faith.

Take your leap of faith.

Live like a hero!

Terri Marie