Leap and the net will appear

I’ve heard and seen this quote several times in a variety of settings. When I do hear it, I imagine myself staring down at the ant-like people on the ground while standing on a high ledge. I’m nervous, sweaty, anxious, scared, and trying to brace for the inevitable impact when I hit the ground.

If someone told me to “leap and the net will appear,” I’d probably tell him or her to get lost, but probably using much more profane language than that.

But isn’t that what we often do in relationships? The saying can apply in different ways. It takes a leap of faith to even enter a relationship and to begin placing your trust, hope, desires in another person. You’re hoping the person will cushion the leap and serve as a type of safety net. It’s a net you want to not only embrace you, but also protect you as you go through life’s challenges together.

Still, there’s no guarantee.

A friend of mine recently brought this saying to life in a different way. After several years together and one year of engagement, she called it quits with her longtime boyfriend. He was her safety net.

She paced back and forth on the ledge for a while before making the leap. And now that she has, she discovered new friendships, new interests, and a new attitude toward the endless possibilities her future now holds. She found a new net.

By the way, I don’t advocateactuallyjumping off buildings or bungee jumping without a net just to see if one appears. You know what I mean with all this. It’s having faith that you’ll land how and where you’re supposed to. It’s having faith that you’re wrapped in a new net and ready for what life has to offer.