The Faith to Fall

While traveling with friends on business, we took an afternoon off to visit one of those massive arcades complete with 3D games, a ropes course, go-karts, and the like. It was great fun, a needed distraction, and I’m pleased to say that I crushed my competition on the racetrack. But my thrill of victory was curbed by the agony of defeat when I faced this funhouse’s four story climbing wall.

You know the behemoth: A slick, black wall with colorful rubberized grips peppered across its face. The climber gets fitted with a harness and hard hat, and off he or she goes to the top to ring the bell of conquest. I tried – with my friends mostly jeering rather than cheering – but I couldn’t do it.

Climbing wasn’t the problem. I’ve got mad monkey skills and a gorilla grip. It was the height. I have a morbid case…