Rock Climbing

I’ve never tried rock climbing. It’s on my fantasy list--things I dream of doing, but in which I’m not really willing to invest time or energy. I have very little upper body strength, so I’ve resigned myself to just looking at pictures of rock climbers and reading up on climbing techniques. One of the things about rock climbing that I find fascinating is the technique of belaying.

Belaying is a climbing technique in which a person stands below the climber and holds on to a rope that is attached to a pulley, which then attaches to the climber. The belayer prevents the climber from falling too far. This person provides a counter weight, so that if the climber slips, he only slides down as far as the protective pulley. The belayer applies friction when the climber is resting and provides slack in the rope as the climber is ascending. The belayer never pushes the climber, but provides support from below. The belayer stands on solid ground, while the climber is barely hanging on to the side of a cliff. The one that is climbing needs time to plan where to place his hands and feet. As he searches for a crevice, a ledge, or a nook, the belayer must be patient. The belayer must always be alert, paying attention to the climber’s every move. Once the climber has reached his goal, he often switches roles and belays for his partner.

The imagery of this partnership between climber and belayer is riveting. Those of us who are parents support our children while they ascend to new heights. Yet, we sometimes overstep our role and try to push them. Our role is to prevent them from falling too far and injuring themselves. We must be grounded, alert, and know when to cut them some slack and when to provide resistance.

 

We might also have occasion to belay our spouses, our siblings, our relatives, or our friends. Be encouraging, dependable, grounded, and supportive, but don’t be pushy. Allow them time for rest, orientation, and falling. Provide them with a secure anchor while they scale rocky precipices. And remember, it’ll be your turn to climb soon.