Belay

Today was my first adventure at rock climbing. Now I must admit that I only climbed twice; this was actually a treat for a friend. I felt good climbing but was much more comfortable on the ground belaying. Not sure what belaying is? Yeah. It is what the person on the ground does that doesn't look all that important or hard.

To belay is first a verb which means to secure by turns around a pin, to make fast, to stop, to secure at the end of a rope, to secure to a person or object. It also means to be made fast, to stop or quit. The word can also be used as a noun. In this form it means the securing of a person or a safety rope to an anchor point or something to which a person or rope is anchored. (Definitions from Merriam-Webster dictionary.)

In the climbing that we were doing I was not just belaying, I was the belay. My friend was anchored to me! It was an interesting thought that I was her security. I suppose there is a machine that could do the job, but this is something that humans do for each other. That made me think of how important it is to have a belay, an anchor point, a person who helps to keep you grounded.

So being a belay is important, but it still does not look very hard. Well look at these hands. (This photo is from Earthworks Climbing School blog.)

Belaying is not easy. My hands don't look like this, but they are sore, as are my arms and my back. Yet as I think about the security that I provided for my friend, I realize that the aches and pains are worth it.

Now I think about the aches and pains we suffer as we belay for people in life. It you are someone's belay it will cost you a bit of discomfort, but isn't it worth it to help them climb to new heights. And remember, you trust in a belay to help you climb to new heights, too. An the view from the top - breath-taking.