Our High Dives.

Viv was excited to jump off the diving board.

She had talked about it all day. Throughout the 4th of July parade and park festivities, through the family barbecue and during the backyard waffle ball game. When the family had finally set

, we headed to the pool. Our whole family had rented the Parowan City Pool for the evening, and seeing her big cousins jumping off of the diving board and into the 'deep end', coming up cheering and laughing made her to want to join them.

As that tiny girl lingered near the bottom of the steps leading to the top, her cousins started chanting her name. Soon, every person inside and near that pool was chanting Viv’s name, helping her make her decision. Her little wet hands confidently grasped the rails on either sides of those stairs leading up to the board. What seemed like a small step for me probably felt more like a strenuous climb for little legs.

The cheers made her smile, and effectively kept that smile on her face until she was about half way down the length of the board. Suddenly, even with everyone’s support, her excitement was quickly replaced with hesitation and even fear. Instead of confident steps forward, she froze, seriously considering heading back down those steps. She stood there, not moving an inch. She looked around.

Viv instinctively yelled for her dad. From the middle of the pool he made his way underneath the diving board, with arms outstretched. I don’t think the look on her face changed any, she was still scared. However, the look didn’t have to tell us what this added support had meant to her, we all knew as soon as she took the final steps and leaped off the edge of that Parowan City Pool “high dive”.

Her efforts were followed by cheers and words of encouragement, and her smile of accomplishment can make my eyes sting a little even thinking about it now.

She did it. And the rest of the night was filled with Viv and every other little Townsend Cousin, making their way off the diving board and expecting the same chanting and attention each time.

Perhaps I read too much into things, but my Dad has taught me that no experience is ever wasted. This small event which transpired in under about 15 seconds taught me valuable lessons.

The High Dives Will Be There - Always.

In our lives, we have hard and scary things to do. Trying new things, saying goodbyes, making big decisions and fixing wrong ones we have made. We all have our own Parowan City Pool High Dives.

The last several months have removed me from that sheltered umbrella my parents worked so strategically and intentionally to hold for me. The more I am exposed to, the more I am stretched to live the things they taught.

Part of the reason this story strikes such an emotional chord with me is because I have, in fact, made my way up those slippery steps my fair share of times - and I know I will continue to.

Though He asked, the bitter cup was not passed from Him. Neither will it always for us.

Just Because They're Smiling, Doesn't Mean It Was Always Easy On Them.

We see others as they confidently make their way through these things, and often receive significant support on our way up the steps. It’s not until we are at the top that we can see how far down it is, and how many things could go wrong.

I image Viv was confused when the first time she tried, she wasn't feeling the same joy her cousins were. Neither should we expect our first try - or the ten tries

after - to bring such a faithful and hopeful and joyful response.

Perhaps the experience is to be hard and scary, warranting that sort of response. Blessed we are to know, then, that Christ felt the hard and scary, too, when in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Call First For Our Father - He Swims In Deep Water.

I wonder how different these difficult things in our lives would go if we were as quick to call for our Father as Vivi was. I know that we’d probably spend a little less time alone on the top of the diving board, walking defeatedly back down the steps if we had faith like that in our Father.

“My dear brothers and sisters, it may be true that man is nothing in comparison to the greatness of the universe. At times we may even feel insignificant, invisible, alone, or forgotten. But always remember—you matter to Him!... please understand that what you see and experience now is not what forever will be. You will not feel loneliness, sorrow, pain, or discouragement forever. We have the faithful promise of God that He will neither forget nor forsake those who incline their hearts to Him.”

“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

Our walls, and our high dives.

#StartingToday #HearHim