Go For It

Friday afternoon I took off for the course area to join the Go For It course up in the Balls. They are a group of participants with mental or physical impairments that Summit takes out for a 4 day course every year. They are such a delightful and affectionate and endearing group of people. I spent the afternoon and overnight hanging out, listening to the chatter and the laughter, watching these folks take care of and enjoy each other's company. Saturday I helped with the rappel....that's right, the rappel... The instructor team set up a rappel for these 5 participants - some with Downs Syndrome, CP and one in a wheel chair with little use of his legs. The instructors set up an anchor and belay system that allowed everyone (including the guy in a wheel chair to rappel!) It was amazing to watch him go over the edge of a rock in a wheel chair and hear him (unseen) squeal and scream in delight and fear! It was so fun....the most perfect beautiful way to spend a day off. And what generous energy and heart these instructors have for caring for these dear people in all their daily basic needs... pooping in the wilderness for example...not so simple...I saw them go through about a ton of latex gloves... But, I loved the affection they showed to each other though... pillow talk in their sleeping bags, hand and shoulder massages at the drop of a hat, silly games. If only we would all care and love on each other as freely, I think we'd all get a better sense of how much we are loved...