Occasionally as I am traveling down one of the Hill Country rivers I encounter young men diving into the river from branches high in the trees.
Sometimes it is obvious that this is the first time the guy has ever done this. That scene always seems to play out the same and I found it to be a great metaphor for life.
The nervous young man is balanced precariously on the branch, equally eyeing the long drop to the cold water below and his friends watching him.
He fears to step forward, the risks unknown but his pride will not allow him to retreat with his friends watching and is fairly miserable staying where he is at.
He is at a point where something has to give; his pride, his fear or perhaps even that branch.
In the end, it seems the fear usually gives in first and the young man makes that leap.
Something always has to give.
