That’s what my sign would read were I a shop owner.  “Gone bungee jumping-back soon”.   Definitely not the more common place “closed for renovation” or “out to lunch” or even my favorite, “gone fishing”.   No, my sign would read “bungee jumping-back soon”.  Although realistically,  how soon does one come back from bungee jumping?  (don’t worry, that was a rhetorical question)

At this point I should probably clarify something.  I am speaking figuratively, not literally.  I’ve never had any interest in nor desire to sky dive or bungee jump or even ride the roller coaster at the theme park.  Daily life is exciting and daunting and even dangerous enough all on its own without any added obstacles to overcome.  I’ve bungee jumped before and probably will again,  but this particular jump coming up is different than any I’ve attempted previously.  This jump is farther and  higher and longer and more involved than ever before, requiring more preparation than past jumps.

Now you can be sure I have the most important item for this activity of bungee jumping, which we can all agree is, of course, the bungee cord. (don’t leave home without one)  Everyone knows the proper bungee cord is essential for the success of the jump.  The outcome of the jump depends entirely on the bungee cord.  For this particular jump,  my bungee cord is my sister.  You see I’m traveling farther and longer than ever before to a place I’ve never been, to a people I’ve never met.  But my sister has been there and she does know the people and she loves them.  So I will love them as well.

We will travel to the far side of the world, to another continent, to the other side of the equator.   We will travel.  I will jump and my sister will be my bungee cord. She will be with me.  I have made many jumps before, I realize as I look back at my life. They are called “leaps of faith” and I must and will continue to make them as long as I live. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  (2 Corinthians 5:7)

You see, even though I said my sister is my bungee cord for this particular jump I know Who her bungee cord is because He has always been my bungee cord as well, our Heavenly Father.  He is the One who holds us both, no matter where we travel.  “Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Where can I flee from Your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.”  (Psalm 139:7-10)

A lot of my bungee jumping is done solo, but this jump will be special because I will share it with both my sisters, assorted nieces, a nephew and his girlfriend.  We will be each others’ bungee cords and we will all share the same cord, being held secure in the hands of our Heavenly Father.  He is our ultimate bungee cord, the one that never fails.  How exhilarating it will be to be His hands and feet to the people we will meet.  All I have to do is jump.  or even a baby step will do. He is faithful. He will catch me.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news”  (Is.52:7)

so I’ll be gone for awhile,  gone bungee jumping to be exact.

sincerely,                      Grace Day