In being confronted with the unexplained it has been my experience to simply let it pass. Reflection is often the way in which man deals with that which his concious mind cannot fathom.
I give for example: when I was about eight I was with my brothers and sisters in the mountains of Vermont. We were swinging on vines (which was a fairly common pastime) playing tarzan if you would. I was young and my older brothers and sisters were swinging on one vine which swung out over 30 feet of nothingness and back. They did not want me to swing on this vine because they did not think I could hold on for the trip (which was about a 8-10 seconds round trip). They said I would let go and get hurt. I still wanted to. I did. both... As I swung out over the span and got to the top of the swing on the far side, I thought I heard a voice that said, let go... and I did.
Guess what: gravity works.
I fell about 30 feet and landed on five rocks (this was an examination after I got up). I don't remember the falling so much as the letting go. I have never thought of it as stupid. I still can't explain why, except to offer the following:
I hit hard enough that I can remember "coming to" as my sister arrived, kneeling over me asking if I was alright(I was out maybe a second or two). I said, yes, of course. I got up, looked down (and saw the rocks, one of which had been under my head, my back, my legs, and each arm respectively) and proceeded to walk back up the hill. Initially I remember feeling a little hurt, but it was gone by the time I had reached the top of the hill; before my sister, who was still kneeling at the bottom of the hill, stunned that I got up at all...
My brothers, needless to say, still did not let me swing on that vine again.
On reflection: I should have been dead. I am not. I can't explain it. I did not even go into shock. The only thing I can offer is the voice which told me to "let go"... |
