It’s about a sport I’d never do, but it certainly caught my rapt attention—a man rollerblading down a mountainside road, not upright on his feet, but lying down on his stomach.
The courage of this man fascinated me. Like a speed train zipping ahead with little means to stop if necessary, this thrill seeker headed down the asphalt decline with determination to succeed, refusing to let fear hold him back. His choice sure looked dangerous to me, but he maneuvered skillfully and intelligently through every curve, around every oncoming car, and made his way safely to the bottom. He obviously had significant experience in this sport, and knew what he was doing. He was not afraid, which made him able to attain his desired goal.
I admired this pro because he conquered a new opportunity and gained an experience timid souls can only fantasize about. I’m still not convinced it’s the safest sport around, but I don’t have to make that judgment for him. He broke through a certain kind of resistance to new possibility, made his committed plunge headlong, and left his example to stretch the minds of others standing on the sidelines.
Hmmmm….I wonder what new similar metaphysical possibilities I could master likewise…?
“Had Blondin believed it impossible to walk the rope over Niagara's abyss of waters, he could never have done it. His belief that he could do it gave his thought-forces, called muscles, their flexibility and power which the unscientific might attribute to a lubricating oil. His fear must have disappeared before his power of putting resolve into action could appear.” Mary Baker Eddy
