Aaron Welty I never thought the lives of George Baily and Clark Kent might cross the streams of commonality, tuns out I was wrong.
The breeze passed through the tree trunks below, unhindered, as the sun shined through the canopy and myriad of voices were heard amongst the surrounding; some above, some below. Some encouraging, some concerned for their own safety. In the midst of a darkened metal space one thought pushed out all the rest: “I will not fear; fear is the mind killer, fear is the little death that brings total annihilation. I will face my fear, I will let my fear pass though me so that when it is gone only I will remain”. Repeated. Over, and over and over again as one unstable foot tried to slowly slide its way along; a first step into a larger world, in this case a much higher world. The wood beam, the ropes, could they be trusted when paired with a sense of balance so bad? Maybe, just maybe.
Off to one side, a foot misses and the spiral begins. Suddenly downward movement occurs and the steel wire is at eye level and uncontrolled forward momentum is toward a awaiting tree is suddenly arrested.. Down below there is nothing; above, the canopy and the steel line connected to the harness. Rest, just rest; don’t freak out. Stuck in the middle only able to go forward; but how? If Spider-Man where here he’s just web-swing his way out; not an option. Legs? Dead weight…
As a kid, I distinctly remember an episode of Adventures in Odyssey that involved the character Lucy Cunningham-Shultz competing in a Bible Quiz competition. She loses the contest but it was the material that she flubbed that stuck with me, 1 Thessalonians 4:11 “…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you”. In recent years these words have taken on new significance as I’ve realized I have a wonderful example of this in real life – my Dad.
Growing up, I watched a lot of films from Disney Animation studios that have long been considered classics. While Lion King stands head and shoulders above the rest of the Pride, Scar was never my favorite villain (most of whom I didn’t like). No that honor wants went to another character from a much older film, a villain who long lived up to her name: Maleficent.
I recently spent a sunny afternoon on my parents back porch with a glass of green tea and an unopened box of Star Wars LEGOs, intent on a lazy afternoon. I got more than that as my mind drifted between “Everything is Awesome” on repeat and life lessons as I was building.
In 1989, one Robert Zemeckis led many of us to believe that by the year 2015 Mattel would give the world hover-boards. Even though there is still time left to make good on that, it hasn’t happened yet. Neither has flying cars or jet-packs. Well, it turns out I might have been wrong about the jet-pack, a valuable lesson I recently learned.
The yellow sun cast a small shadow on the endless expanse of sand as the waves crashed again and again. In the midst of island paradise the shadow slowly moved as two two hands flexed into claws and inch by inch a young blonde boy fought to overcome the waves and the deadly undertow. Pulling, pulling, pulling, further from the safety of the sand as if the armored Dark Lord of the Sith was hidden amongst the crashing waves and calling upon the Dark Side to simultaneously choke him and pull him away. Resisting, one arm and leg after the other, the only thought survival. With every inch less water, the sandy discoloration beings to lighten; exhausted but safe. The wicked white waves would not win the day.
The coming of age of a small boy on a desert planet, destined to save the universe from a dark and imperial evil. Before George Lucas, before Star Wars, before the Skywalker family, there was Arakis, there was Paul…there was Jodorowsky’s DUNE!
Dreams aren’t like movies. In a movie, the whole thing is wrapped up in a few hours, generally with a satisfying ending, because that is what audiences desire. Chasing dreams in real-life involve luls and intermissions (something films used to have). Thus continues the real-life “intermission” of chasing a dream to Washington…
Author, Speaker, and Super Nerd. Aaron Welty speaks and writes regularly connecting the dots of life, faith, and science fiction. Originally from Michigan, he now lives and works in the Washington, DC metro area.