The Tandem Guy

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Hi All!

 I was thinking this morning about a family vacation that we had years ago.  It probably resembled many of our family vacations…full of outings, packing, unpacking, a little drama and lots of laughs.  On our last day before heading home, we decided to go hand gliding. 

It’s the only time that I’ve ever done it so maybe things have changed since.  But essentially, I stepped into a suit covered in straps, buckles and attached to a second suit for the tandem guy.  This guy, pretty sure his name was Charlie, was really the one that was flying the hand glider, not me.  I really was just there to enjoy the ride. 

So we get strapped in to our suits and then into the glider, which is attached to a small plane by a cable.  The plane takes off, accelerating along the ground and finally pulling us into the air.  We climbed higher and higher, with the rush of the wind in our ears growing louder and harder.  Once we hit a certain predetermined altitude, Charlie detached us from the cable, and it became so quiet as we began to glide on the air. 

And while the ascent was fast-paced and exciting, the quiet glide was perfection.  Charlie pointed out a few things way down below in the coastal town, but for the most part, was quiet as well.  (And luckily for the tandem guy I hadn’t eaten anything yet that day, as motion sickness and I are well-acquainted!!)

And for about 25 minutes, we just let the wind carry us.  We watched people, birds, boats, planes and cars go about their daily business from the sky.  I could tell that the tandem guy knew what he was doing.  Without seeing the wind, he could feel it move and shift around the glider, and he rode it like a surfer rides waves.  At no point, did I ever question his ability…only trusted.  And because of that, I was able to hang on and just enjoy such an amazing experience. 

So I found myself this morning thinking about the tandem guy and wondering if life isn’t just like those moments of hand gliding.  Or at least maybe it’s meant to be like that.  At times in my life, I’ve felt that same kind of quiet trust.  Felt the push and pull of something greater than me…guiding me.  Even times when I don’t realize it in the moment, but later… in a more peaceful time looking back at how something has played out…realized that so many things outside of my control, had to come together to lead me to that exact place.

What if we all have something like a tandem guy in every moment of our lives?  Something so much greater than us…that knows all of the details…that’s waiting for us to let go of the bar and just enjoy the ride? 

How much is really ours to do??

I’ve sat with this question quite a bit lately…with my business, with what’s going on in the world, with my relationships with family and friends, and as a mother.  How much is really mine to do?  How much do I think is on me, that truly isn’t?  How much is far, far beyond my control? 

And this leads me to the next questions.

If I wasn’t running around in my mind or life trying to constantly take hold of the bar and steer things that aren’t mine to steer, what could I be doing that is mine to do?  If I freed myself up from all of that, who would I be?  How much more present with others and myself could I be at any given moment? How much more could I be impacted by life and impact the lives of others?

We are so much more than we realize and connected to something so much greater than we can imagine.  (Ask any toddler, they know it!). Call it whatever you like because it’s all the same.  For today, for me…it’s the Tandem Guy of Life.  The one that’s ready to take over when we let go of the bar for a bit…that’s always cheering us on no matter what we are thinking or doing…the one that loves to guide us around and through all of life’s waves…giving us a wink when we need it.

“And when the parachute opens...when the hang glider catches...it’s the most incredible feeling...of being held aloft with nothing underneath you to hold you up...that’s life...that’s the nature of life that is on offer at any moment you can step beyond the known...beyond the edge of your idea of what’s possible…And there’s something there that will carry you and it is thrilling!  And it’s a way of life if you want it to be! This invisible safety net catches us every time...this invisible updraft lifts us every time…If we are willing to not know...if we are willing to go past the edge of the known...there is something there...and it’s so unexpected most of the time.  That’s the fun of it...that’s the joy of it...that’s the beauty of it...that’s the exploration of it...that’s the adventure of it…Going out on the edge of your knowing...over the edge of your imagination...and letting yourself be carried.  That is where genius lives.” 

-Michael Neill, excerpts from “Life As A Daring Adventure”

Think maybe I’ll let life carry me a bit more.  Maybe I’ll try to steer a bit less.  Maybe I’ll sit back and enjoy the ride a bit more…all the turns, dips and updrafts. 

And maybe one day, it won’t even feel like needing to trust.  It will just feel like a quiet knowing that this is what life is all about.